Baby Rose - “I Won’t Tell”

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 8

Pairs Well With…Celeste, Danielle Ponder, Lizzo

Baby Rose’s third full-length Through and Through is due this April and judging from a trio of preview tracks, this is gearing up to be a leap forward for an artist that has already established herself as an R&B vocal powerhouse. While her earlier material linked back to blues and Americana influences, Through and Through leans into pop, hip hop, and soul concurrently. It’s much more modern, even future-focused, while still drawing old-school R&B influences into her vocals and spacious grooves. While there’s nothing over the top on the early singles from Through and Through, they present a big and ambitious sound, well-rounded and making a clear statement amid head-bopping hooks. Part of yearly SXSW digging is trying to figure who is going to the breakout artist next March and I’ll place some strong bets on Baby Rose, showcasing Wednesday night at Seven Grand for A2M and a church set at Central Presbyterian for Secretly Distribution Thursday night in between other recommend artists Madison McFerrin and Sir Woman. (Kevin McStravick)  

2020 Review: Employing one of the richest pure vocals of SXSW this year, Baby Rose harkens back to R&B greats on her lushly produced debut LP To Myself. Singing over bluesy and country-tinged instrumentation, Baby Rose is closer to a classic soul revue than her experimentally minded peers, and that’s plenty as the focus keeps going back to the emerging Atlanta artist’s voice. Most comfortable in a low, textured space, Baby Rose is able to break out on a dime too, consistently singing with the upmost pain and passion. It makes her ballads reach right for the tear ducts and her grooving material (rarely moving quicker that a mid-tempo funk/soul rhythm) turn into an equally stirring performance.