RUBEN YOUNG

Something new, something classic.

What began on a keyboard in an immigrant single Trinidadian moms basement in Calgary has blossomed to become Apple Music Canada's “New Artist of the Week” attracting +5 million streams and landing on the stages of industry tastemakers such as Live Nation's ‘Ones To Watch’, and direct support slots for international icons such as Kiesza, Akon, The Chainsmokers, Jarreau Vandal, Nelly, Phony Ppl, Classified and Jocelyn Alice. Yeah his musical DNA laced with influence from the essence of Childish Gambino, James Brown, Justin Timberlake and Raphael Saadiq, but his stories, sound and vision are the rarity of his own - a mixed race kid from humble beginnings in a world of wonder, lust and dreams.

His 2019 debut EP, Dreamstate featured American rapper Hodgy Beats from Odd Future and Grammy nominated producer, Lord Quest leading to features on Beats 1 Radio, BBC Radio One Extra, CBC, and FM and satellite radio across Canada. 🌸

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The debut EP from Calgary R&B phenom Ruben Young comes by its title honestly—Dreamstate is a synth-imbued future-soul fantasia that’s tailor-made for the club and boudoir alike. But its plush, soft-focus production can’t completely anesthetize the restless energy at the centre of these seven tracks. “I got insecurity issues,” Young offers by way of introduction on “Vienna,” a downtempo, tropically tinged ode to the one who got away, and that sense of yearning rarely abates over the course of the EP. But Young recruits some seasoned wingmen to help him get back on his game: “Rachel Green” finds him pining for a girl that reminds him of his favourite Friends character with a sweet-talkin’ guest rap from Odd Future cofounder Hodgy, while stone-cold Toronto MC Terrell Morris helps steer the seething neo-soul kiss-off “Subtle Savage” toward a mind-melting psych-funk guitar solo.

- Apple Music - September 27, 2019