Progressive soul vocalist Naomi Sharon has a deep connection to horses. “[They’re] one of the most beautiful creatures on earth,” she tells Rated R&B over a Zoom call on an April morning. “They’re so spiritual and special.” Check her Instagram feed, and you’ll see an occasional post from a stable she frequents while home in Rotterdam.
She compares horseback riding to dragon riding — not literally, of course, but in the way a rider must bond with their beast. “A lot of people think it’s so easy to jump on a horse. No, it’s like riding a freaking dragon. You have to connect with the animal you have. It has to allow you to be like, ‘OK, you can jump on my back. We can do this together,’” says Sharon.
That kind of trust — the slow, mutual kind you build with time — is what Sharon leans into both in the saddle and in life. Sharon’s EP The Only Love We Know, out today (May 9) via OVO Sound, rides on embracing personal growth. “It was more like a transformative vibe that I was in,” she says of her mindset when making the follow-up to her 2023 debut album, Obsidian. The latter project explored the process of healing. “I mean, I’m still healing always, this feels more transformative,” she adds.
Sharon worked closely with her OVO labelmate Jordan Ullman, one-half of the duo Majid Jordan, who executive produced the EP. They previously collaborated on Majid Jordan’s dreamy soul track “Waiting For You” from their 2023 album, Good People. “With Jordan, it’s a really beautiful and honest energy between us,” Sharon says of their creative chemistry. “We’re friends first and foremost. So it’s something that almost comes naturally when we’re in the studio.”
The Only Love We Know is preceded by the singles “Can We Do This Over” and the titular song. Whereas Obsidian floated in the atmospheric arena, The Only Love We Know feels more grounded. The former musical theater artist showcases more of her vocal prowess and texture as she explores new sonic territory that remains authentic to who she is.
Sharon previously explained, “The music my father loved was also a big influence, especially deep house and artists featured on Buddha-Bar compilations. Buddha-Bar curates a unique blend of world music and electronic sounds that create a distinct atmosphere. That aesthetic and vibe have now been translated into this EP. It carries a certain allure, a style that feels both relaxed and sophisticated. That sense of maturity and refinement is also reflected in this EP.”
Opening with the soul-stirring “Bittersweet,” Sharon examines the grey area of a fading love. Though she recognizes the relationship isn’t working out, part of her clings to what’s familiar. The previously shared “Can We Do This Over” is a plea for a resolution and to start anew.
The rest of the project explores Sharon’s personal transformation as she frees herself from toxic love and prioritizes inner peace. “Although I feel right awake / I’m dreaming about a great escape,” she sings in “Feels Like Home.”
Below, Naomi Sharon talks more about her artistic transformation, her intent with The Only Love We Know and her love for horses.
Your debut album, Obsidian, was rooted in healing. What was your mindset when creating your new EP The Only Love We Know?
It was more like a transformative vibe that I was in. I mean I’m still healing always, but yeah, this feels more transformative, especially with me singing certain songs; the intensity is different. I’m showing more of my voice and of myself. I think that on Obsidian, I was kind of hiding as well.
When you approached the project, were you already in transformation, or did that come with the process of making it?
I think it came with it. I see myself making music in different eras of my life. So the music feels transformative because I’m in it. That’s the best way to put it.
Your new EP is executive produced by your OVO Sound labelmate Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan. How would you describe your creative chemistry?
With Jordan, it’s a really beautiful and honest energy between us. We’re friends first and foremost. So it’s something that almost comes naturally when we’re in the studio. Of course, we need to make a song, but it exists in this vulnerable energy where we talk about life and real stuff. It’s important to be with people that not only understand that vulnerability is key in a session but also respect it.
In a recent Instagram Live, you talked about stepping outside of your comfort zone musically. How do you give yourself that space while staying true to yourself?
I think it’s trust in myself. Before, I was always cautious with trying new stuff. I wanted to stay credible and obviously authentic. After a while, I was like, “So you want to do this for the rest of your life. Is there not more to explore?” I started to trust a little bit more in the fact that it will be rewarded when you step out of your comfort zone. If you don’t step out of your comfort zone, you’ll be the same person. I think it’s always time to evolve from who you are and what you think you are. At first, it’s scary, but you just have to find it and explore it. If you don’t do that, then you never know.
You open the EP with “Bittersweet,” which has some gospel undertones. How did that record formulate?
I remember the synergy in the session was pretty insane. It was me, Thom Bridges and Beau Nox. Beau had the sample, and we were like, “Oh, that’s so interesting.” From that, we built on top of it. Sometimes you make a song in an hour, and that was the type of song that we did with that. It came very naturally. It’s one of my favorite songs.
Traces of gospel also appear in songs like the title track. Could you speak more about how gospel has influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of everything that feels nostalgic. And to me, that was ‘90s spot on for me. When Beau [Nox] played me that, I was like, “Yeah, that’s amazing.” With “The Only Love We Know,” it was something that I just heard. I am a big fan of gospel music. It’s beautiful, and it amplifies the song. I just want to make my songs bigger as well. Right now, that’s my thing with making new music. I’m like, “It needs more.”
You spoke earlier about creating music outside of your comfort zone. Which song on the EP would you say took you there?
That’s for sure, “Feels Like Home” because it’s pretty much pop. That was the moment when I was like, “OK, I’m really doing this I guess.” But I had so much fun with it. I was writing with Sebastian Kole. He’s from Alabama, so there is something almost country to it as well. But it was all good. It was part of this bigger process. Right now, I’m in LA working on new music. I don’t even think about it that much anymore. It’s like now I’m studying pop. It’s becoming more of my comfort zone, which is interesting, [because] at first it wasn’t.
With you spending more time outside of your comfort zone and still in the studio cooking up more music, where is it leading you?
I was joking about it yesterday, but I’m like, “I wouldn’t be surprised if I go into this rock or a country era.” I don’t know. It’s music that I listen to as well. I know that I’m in a category, soul and R&B, but I think it’s just going to change. I listen to so many different genres and get inspired by them as well. I don’t like to box myself in. I definitely see myself doing whatever I creatively want to do. Of course, I’m not going to jump and make the next album rock and roll, but I’m just saying it will evolve with time. Most important to me is that my world is my world.
Since you titled the project after “The Only Love We Know,” could you talk more about the inspiration behind it?
I thought it was a beautiful title. With transformation comes the realization of where you are right now in your life or what you’re doing. For me, I recognized it before, but I was really aware of the fact that I had certain patterns and I was attracting certain situations or people. I was like, “Yeah, it’s because that’s the only thing that I know.” You gravitate towards things you know or that you grew up with.
When I made that song, which is a very special one to me, it’s like, I mean, “Bittersweet” is a favorite, but “The Only Love We Know,” I think that that will be a timeless thing that I’ll go back to and be like, “Wow, we made that.” It was a very captivating moment that we experienced in the studio as well. Automatically, I was like, “You know what? That should be honored and be the title of the EP.”
I love how poetic “Soft Like Dawn” is — the title and the sonics. How did that song come together?
I was with Willy [Will Yanez], who’s a guitar player, and Thom Bridges. I love guitar. It does something to me. Whenever someone is playing guitar, especially with the technique that he gives, it just opens my heart. “Soft Like Dawn” is a track where you keep forgiving the relationship or the situation you’re in. You keep trying and you tell yourself this is your last time, but it’s like a loop. At the same time, it’s that part where you might not realize that this is not working. The track sounds very fragile to me and also the way I sang it.
What do you want listeners to take away from this The Only Love We Know?
I feel like we’re all transforming right now. There’s a major shift going on spiritually, and so I hope that it resonates. I’m glad that I’m showing more of my vocal ability, and this is not it yet. There’s so much more that I can do, but I’m having fun.
View this post on Instagram
When you’re not making music, you can be found spending time with horses. I know you enjoy horseback riding in your spare time. As a horse lover myself, I must ask, what do you love most about them?
I think they’re one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. I know a lot of people are scared of them as well — so intimidating. I feel like they’re so spiritual and special. Riding on them is very interesting. A lot of people think it’s so easy to jump on a horse. No, it’s like riding a freaking dragon. You have to connect with the animal you have. It has to allow you to be like, “OK, yeah, you can jump on my back. We can do this together.” It has to carry you. You have to really connect.
My trainer, when I’m riding, she’s always like, “What do you feel? What is the horse telling you?” It is a whole conversation you were having with him or her during your ride. You have to pay so much attention. I fell off, and it was insane. Afterwards, I was like, “Why did I fall off? And it was because I was not with the horse anymore. You can definitely sit it out. I mean, sometimes it’s like you don’t, but you have to stay connected. To me, it’s like therapy. The horse has a frequency. It’s healing. It’s everything I need in life.
I agree..
And they’re so in tune with you as well. Whenever I go to the stables, I have different horses that I ride. The day I’m riding, I never know which horse I get, and I always end up getting a horse that is resembling my day or the mood I have. So I really have to check in with myself. If I’m anxious, most of the time I get an anxious horse. So, what do I do instead of mirroring it? I need to control myself and be the peaceful one.
If you were to go on a horseback riding trail, which song from the project would you play first on your journey?
“Soft Like Dawn.”
I know you mentioned you’re still in the studio recording. Is there something coming down the pipeline?
Lots of new music, I would say.
Stream Naomi Sharon’s The Only Love We Know EP below.
