After sharing “One Last Dance” in March, soul vocalist Baby Rose and Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD have released their new EP, Slow Burn.
The 23-minute set takes listeners on a genre-defying trip through the underbelly of Americana, psychedelic rock, blues, country and beyond.
Slow Burn includes a feature from Mereba, who appears on the centerpiece track “Caroline.” The acoustic-driven tune, enriched with a fluttering flute by Leland Whitty and Alexander Sowinski’s soft drum taps, is steeped in longing and regret.
“Caroline / I know I left so soon without goodbye / And you were kind / When I was hard on you,” Baby Rose sings. In the second verse, Mereba coos, “Didn’t want you then / But I miss your voice.”
“Slow Burn is our eclectic chemistry and the captured essence of our worlds colliding,” says Baby Rose.
“Recording on tape with the band was a first, I felt like we were channeling Muscle Shoals’ rawness. It’s a reflection of past loves and losses, reminiscent of long drives down rural 95 from DC to NC as a child. This record represents venturing beyond boundaries, embracing freedom, and finding comfort. Enjoy the journey.”
As noted above, Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD launched their collaborative project with the downcast ballad “One Last Dance.”
Regarding “One Last Dance,” Rose noted, “BADBADNOTGOOD and I recorded this song on the day we met, just as evening approached. I asked for one more, a country song, and when the chords came, I sang from the heart without needing to write the words down. ‘One Last Dance’ is important to me because it reflects my feelings of longing and love for someone who sees me as a villain in their story.”
Rose added, “I used to blame them too, but with time, realized where I was wrong and ultimately hoped for a chance to make it right. There’s a strong part of me that wishes we could try again, pretend it never fell apart, even while knowing it will never be the same. The longing is less about the person and more about the feelings behind the memories we shared. A true testament to the growing pains in life, the music is a sweet underscore of a longing, pride-less goodbye.”
Slow Burn is the follow-up to Rose’s 2023 album, Through and Through, which featured Smino and Georgia Ann Muldrow.
On June 16, Rose will perform at the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival hosted by Arsenio Hall. Robert Glasper, Yebba, Kamasi Washington, Cory Henry and The Soul Rebels are also on the bill, among others.
Stream Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD’s Slow Burn EP below.
