THE BACK STORY: Meghan or Kate? Neither. If you’re a keen fan of British R&B, there’s really no debate about 2020’s greatest duchess – hotly-tipped R&B star Duchess.
London-based Duchess may have only one official release to her name – debut EP Early Days – but she’s firmly well on her way to becoming true musical royalty. Already receiving a wealth of support from Radio 1, 1Xtra and Spotify, the 22-year-old is the latest Brit starlet to take the R&B/nu-soul genre into wonderfully quixotic new places.
Raised in Plumstead, south-east London, Duchess – who comes from a family of eight siblings – owes her musical education to a diverse range of influences, from Whitney Houston and Tracy Chapman to Prince and, of course, the Spice Girls.
Fast forward to the present day and Duchess’ girl power credentials are still very much intact. Aforementioned debut EP Early Days, released last week, is a glorious statement of intent, showcasing her impassioned, full-throated vocal power – a versatile instrument pitched somewhere between Jill Scott and Minnie Riperton – and songwriting of rich emotional acuity. From tackling self-esteem and empowerment (‘Blame’) to romantic tribulations (‘Why Can’t We?’), Early Days is a debut EP of sharp, nuanced self-knowledge – and, most importantly, it’s delivered with some of the finest, most compelling R&B tunes you’re likely to hear this year.
Even if you’re a staunch republican, here’s one Duchess you can surely get behind.
FOR FANS OF: Jill Scott, Katy B, Jorja Smith.
KEY TRACK: ‘Why Can’t We?’ – Combining slinky R&B melodies with bold hip-hop production, this recent single highlights her talent for writing intimate, relatable lyrics with mighty pop hooks.
