There’s something wonderfully infectious about the music Blu DeTiger makes. It’s playful, effortlessly cool and, perhaps most importantly, built around a genuine love of music. With her sophomore album N.Y. Baby, arriving on 6th November, the New York born bassist, singer, songwriter and producer takes that passion and runs with it, delivering a sound that feels both instinctive and unmistakably her own.
What makes this new chapter particularly interesting is that it doesn't feel like an exercise in nostalgia. Yes, there are elements of funk, disco, boogie and dance music woven throughout, but N.Y. Baby isn't about recreating another era. Instead, it feels like the natural result of an artist absorbing the music she loves, understanding what makes it special and finding exciting new ways to express those influences. DeTiger isn't looking backwards. She's simply making the kind of music that makes her want to move, and inviting everyone else along for the ride.
At the heart of the project is her extraordinary relationship with the bass guitar. It's an instrument that often sits quietly beneath everything else, but in DeTiger's hands it becomes a personality all of its own. Her playing is expressive, funky and full of character, giving her music a distinctive pulse without ever overshadowing the songwriting. There's a looseness to her approach that makes everything feel alive, as though the groove is leading the conversation rather than following a carefully rehearsed formula.
The album's title track, ‘N.Y. Baby’, featuring Holly Walker, Say She She and the unmistakable Flavor Flav, captures that spirit perfectly. It's a celebration of movement, spontaneity and the unpredictable energy of the city that shaped her. There's a real sense of freedom running through it, with DeTiger embracing the idea that sometimes the best nights are the ones you never planned.
As she explains: "I’m restless, independent, curious, I love movement, meeting people, and not knowing exactly where a night is going to end."
That sentiment feels central to the whole project. Rather than trying to fit neatly into a particular musical category, DeTiger seems far more interested in following her instincts and seeing where they take her.
Elsewhere, ‘Feel Good’ does exactly what its title suggests, embracing the uplifting, carefree energy that has become such an important part of her musical identity. ‘Whisper’ offers another glimpse into her evolving sound, bringing together her distinctive bass playing and an increasingly confident pop sensibility. Meanwhile, ‘Shock!’, produced by Robin Hannibal and Dan Edinberg, reinforces just how comfortably DeTiger moves between funk-driven musicianship and contemporary dancefloor appeal.
The involvement of Hannibal and Edinberg, alongside contributions from her brother and drummer Rex DeTiger, adds another dimension to the project. There's a strong sense of musical chemistry here, with the emphasis firmly on rhythm, feel and the enjoyment of making music together. It's that organic quality that helps distinguish DeTiger from so much of the polished, predictable pop landscape.
What I particularly like about N.Y. Baby is the sense that DeTiger is completely comfortable in her own musical skin. There's no desperate attempt to reinvent the wheel or manufacture a sound to suit current trends. Instead, she's drawing from the records, musicians and dancefloors that have inspired her, then filtering those influences through her own experiences and personality. The result is something that feels fresh precisely because it comes from such an authentic place.
And perhaps that's the real beauty of this record. It's not about trying to transport listeners back to some imagined golden age of funk or disco. It's about recognising that great grooves, strong musicianship and the simple pleasure of dancing never really go out of fashion.
DeTiger's own words perhaps sum it up best: "I wanted the song to capture that feeling of letting go of control and surrendering to wherever the night takes you."
That willingness to let the music lead is what makes this era so appealing. N.Y. Baby is colourful, confident and full of personality, with an artist who clearly understands where her influences come from but has absolutely no intention of being confined by them.
For me, that's what makes Blu DeTiger such an exciting proposition. She's not simply a brilliant bass player who happens to make pop music. She's a musician with a genuine appreciation for groove, an instinctive understanding of what makes people move and the confidence to turn those influences into something distinctly her own.
‘N.Y. Baby’ isn't a nostalgia trip. It's a celebration of musical freedom, individuality and the joy of finding your own groove. And Blu DeTiger sounds like she's having an absolute blast doing it.
