eLRoi? Steven says 4/5

Angelo LeRoi’s been the guy behind the guy for a minute. Penning for MAVI, co-producing Ovrkast’s new single, and floating through the alt-R&B scene like a quiet genius in the corner of the room. But with eLRoi, his first solo EP, he’s not just stepping into the spotlight, he’s dimming the lights, lighting a candle, and whispering something soft into your ear.

The whole project feels like a throwback in the best way. It’s giving doo-wop, Black blues, and soul. But it’s also modern and intimate, like you’re sitting in LeRoi’s apartment while he plays you songs about being in love with someone who’s already taken, or catching feelings on a quiet Tuesday evening.

“If You Knew,” the opener, is one of those rare first tracks that hits you in the chest. It starts with this gorgeous cello line that’s lowkey devastating, then LeRoi comes in with a falsetto that’s not showing off—just honest. The production is warm and a little dusty, like an old record that’s been played a hundred times because someone really needed to hear it. And that’s kind of the vibe of the whole EP—simple melodies, but the kind that stick to you.

LeRoi plays almost everything on the project himself, and it shows, not in a flashy way, but in a “nobody else could’ve made this exact thing” kind of way. It’s personal. It’s handmade. It’s not trying to be trendy or loud. It’s just good.

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