“Still Luv Me?” and “Gas U Up” by Devinn Le’Raay

The swell of the bassline in “Still Luv Me?” would normally be a little too much for most R&B singers to handle. It’s big, a little brutish in spots, and steeped in a certain bombast that feels almost ambient-inspired, but that isn’t stopping Devinn Le’Raay from straddling it with ease, eventually incorporating it into a decadent vibe unlike any other you’ll hear this season. If you’re to understand this man’s trademark sound, I’d think it best to start by making your acquaintance with this track and its video, as “Still Luv Me?” isn’t just Le’Raay’s first hit, it’s also one of his most artistically assertive. 

“Gas U Up,” the latest single out of this artist’s time spent in the recording studio, embodies more of a throwback funk weightiness to its bass, and instead of a volume swell, we instead encounter a gust of a groove that Le’Raay is left to fend off with his voice alone.

His nimbleness ensures his survival amidst the enormous sonic blows, but it never feels particularly apocalyptic as we move from the start of the track into its latter half. The video only amplifies its swaggering energy, and when all is said and done, it feels more like an exhibition than it does a direct statement about the creator’s artistry. 

Those who have come into this early fall looking for something a little extra sensuous in the R&B department really need to get their hands on both “Still Luv Me?” and “Gas U Up” as soon as possible. These songs are two of the more hypnotic pieces of material I’ve reviewed from a completely independent musician in the past year, and though they’re not the only interesting tracks in his body of work – check out “After Midnight” and “FaceTime” as well if you have the chance – they signal the start of what could be a very successful career. 

Mindy McCall