If you’ve been tapped into the Australian music landscape over the past few years, you’d be aware that the country’s female R&B talent pool has been consistently stacked, yet often unfairly overlooked.
Amidst the boom of local hip-hop over the last decade, Aussie R&B artists still lack recognition despite the genre arguably being the country’s best.
Names like Billymaree, Chanel Loren, Shanae, Kaiit, R.em.edy, and many more have helped to shape a strong nucleus for local female-driven R&B to continue thriving. Joining the list is Naarm’s shining gem, SHRETA, who recently dropped her latest single, “LOVE&LUST”.
If you weren’t already a fan of the rising star, this song will prove why her next 12 months will be momentous.
“LOVE&LUST” is a hypnotising sonic trance in which SHRETA displays her strengths as a vocalist to go along with her undeniable presence and extremely sharp pen. She glides through the upbeat first half of the song before a change in production midway through pumps the brakes.
It’s catchy, melodic, and has an abundance of replay value as SHRETA captures the essence of both love and lust, focusing on the similarities and contrasts between those two feelings.
“‘LOVE&LUST”‘ explores the duality of these two emotions, capturing the excitement of new love alongside the intensity of lust”, she says. “This song is about capturing the thrill and purity of love and the raw passion of lust.”
Whether she’s making you reminisce about an ex, failed situationship, your current partner, or a crush, listeners will always feel exactly what SHRETA wants them to. Previously on “Messy”, her toxic-driven lyrics drove home an overwhelming sense of heartbreak and emptiness, but on “LOVE&LUST”, you’re left feeling empowered.
This is SHRETA’s second single of the year following “Only One”, January’s collaboration with PxRRY, continuing the momentum from the aforementioned “Messy” which was released last September.
Now, with her eyes set on a debut EP in February, SHRETA is poised for her breakout moment.
While many up-and-coming artists may require an A&R to see their full potential, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the hype behind SHRETA. Previously releases like “Cruise” (2019) and “Go Get Her” (2022) were bold indicators of a potential R&B star in the making, and “LOVE&LUST” confirms this status.
The years of work she’s put in as an independent artist are finally paying off. “LOVE&LUST”, alongside her upcoming EP, will be distributed via Ty Baisden‘s Playbook Distribution, who’s also known for being R&B heavyweight Brent Faiyaz’s manager.
The R&B revival in recent years has been great to see, with artists like SZA and Leon Thomas III dominating the global space over the last 12 months. Upcoming talents such as SHRETA prove that the genre remains in safe hands, with “LOVE&LUST” being evidence that she can kick it with the best.
SHRETA’s “LOVE&LUST” is out now.
