People think they know me. They do, but only certain parts of me. ‘David likes hip-hop. David likes metal. David listens to that wild shit, bro.‘ Yeah, but there’s a lot of outliers to my taste as well. I really can’t be bothered to box myself in anymore, there’s just too much good stuff out there to enjoy, and if it speaks with me then it gets a seat at the table. A few years ago, I found orion sun‘s Hold Space For Me album and it really opened me up for a much more tender modality of music that I usually didn’t listen to. I’m so happy to see the r&b/neo-soul artist return with what is effectively a self-titled album, Orion.
Really, what prepared me to like someone like orion son was my adoration for Frank Ocean, particularly channel ORANGE. While I don’t seek to compare the two because they both do pretty different things, there’s commonalities for sure. Like Frank, her relationship with love and how it’s conveyed in music is special. While it’s certainly longing at times, mushy as it were, there’s a vulnerability that feels so conveniently, specially millennial. Down bad, but beautiful – sending that text to someone you probably shouldn’t, but they respond and get you high like before.
The single “Sweet” is emblematic of this and more. Absolutely love the bass line on this track, but the lyrics captivate to the point of summoning chills:
‘Wanna know what it mean to me
Was addicted like I’m on nicotine
Tried to kick it like fuck this nicotine
Mid-July you were that warm to me
Just wanted love, that’s all I really need‘
This coupled with the simple, saccharine chorus that reminds me a bit of older Sampha, it’s a total love-sick vibe. It’s a bit of a downer, but also approximately positive, reflecting on the good that someone once was for her. “Nights Like This” is a companion to that where we’re met with a sunnier mood instrumentally, but the lyrics still expressing this deep longing, wanting to call someone special, but pride stops her from reaching out.
The music itself is neatly layered, like a wrinkled notebook used as a diary for years. Bass manages to stick out the most on tracks, warm and humming, but honestly the drums are also pulling their weight in the most understated, lo-fi-esque way. It’s delicate and allows orion sun to take center stage, her words and melodies unmistakable because of this pristine production and mix combo. One of my favorite things on the whole album is the snare on “Twilight Zone” – I found myself tapping along to the rhythm on the bus whenever it came on, though my thumb beating against my phone case was no match for its crispness. I also love the rapped mini-verse at the end of this track that plays well with the supernatural implications of its title and being able to feel a missing lover’s presence in an ominous way.
To that end, I must also shout out the sitar used on “Already Gone” which elevates an already strong single into something unique, almost majestic. Smartly, sparsely used uncommon instruments like this tend to imprint the songs they’re used on in your memory the hardest and as such, it was a great decision to use this as the lead single because it got me so hype for this album. Hell, might as well talk about the third of three singles, “Mary Jane”, because it too is a gentle banger among many gentle bangers. It’s about smoking your troubles away (‘Problems, roll them all up with tree/That’s just all I know‘), housing a strong indie rock soul with the guitar and more prominent drums during the catchy hook, but also utilizes fluttering strings personifying the feeling of letting loose and feeling yourself succumb to a tingly high.
I know it’s nearly fall, at least here in the US, but so much of this album screams cool summer evening. It’s for the lovers, the introverts who have that one person who can get them out of their shells. These are songs you can riskily send to someone you can’t stop thinking about and only wanna know how they feel about you back. For orion sun specifically, it’s great to see her unfaltering exploration of love and emotion, expressing who and what she is paired well with demure, yet impressionistic instrumentation. This especially hits harder after you learn that she was exiled from her home for being a queer woman when she was younger, a bigoted, narcissistic betrayal becoming all too common lately within the queer community. To still find the magic and solace in the very thing that that indirectly caused so much pain before is massive – sharing it out with us is defiant and affirming. It becomes clear why she does what she does and why she’s so good at it: she found her new home within it all.
This album yearns like a motherfucker. It’s a backbone of r&b, sure, but there’s an alluring authenticity to Orion that comes across so well, far from desperate, just honest. It’s no wonder this album is eponymous, distilling all the finest details and amorous relatability down to one 40-minute opus that’s as much throwback as it is profoundly contemporary and passionate in a way that I can connect with even though my experiences are quite different. If you’re new to orion sun, you’re in for such a treat here, but I also challenge you to work your way backwards as well. Catch up on the lore, see the evolution, discover your new favorite artist.
