This is magic. Pure, liquid magic. Emily King’s newest single, “Distance,” is everything we want in contemporary R&B: soulful, thoughtful, and relevant. She doesn’t overuse her (killer, if I do say so myself) voice but allows it to take on folk softness that perfectly matches the sentiment of the track. All the while she maintains an almost religious respect for the genre she is a part of. Even though the song is about how distance makes the heart grow fonder, all this does is make you want to pull somebody close.
With a couple of record deals and a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album of the Year under her belt, King is no novice to what she is doing. However, “Distance” marks the songstress’ venture into an independently released album. While her older work is certainly nothing to sneeze at (she has toured with the likes of John Legend and Alicia Keys), it is clear with “Distance” that King is enjoying the liberty that can come from striking out on one’s own. I can’t wait to hear more.