Ralphie Choo - “WHIPCREAM”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 7

Pairs Well With…Alvaro Diaz, Joji, Chico Blanco

Latin pop imbued with dreaminess and psychedelic patterns, Ralphie Choo finds new space filled of cooled out grooves on his latest LP SUPERNOVA. While there’s a pop-R&B center to Choo’s music, his tracks are more likely to float in waves than be found on a sweaty dancefloor. He adds glitchy beats and hip hop vocals here and there too - SUPERNOVA is a notably adventurous while still keeping accessibility in mind. With millions of streams, SUPERNOVA has proven international appeal emanating from his home base of Madrid, Spain. His genreless tendencies widen that appeal as he’s pulling in global influences, while still keep a mild tone throughout. Halfway through the record, it’d be tempting to even classify SUPERNOVA as a contemporary jazz record, then a deep-trap baseline will kick in to rattle any notions of expectation. Analysis aside, Ralphie Choo’s music is fun and groovy looking down from higher elevations, an artist easy to catch onto on his way up. (Kevin McStravick)