Samona Bleu ‘talks about it.’
Samona Bleu is a rising R&B singer based right here in Denver, Colorado. The 21-year-old is making waves in the Colorado music community, fresh from her debut EP, “i don't want to talk about it.” Bleu has been honing her craft since her teenage years and credits her fascination with boy bands and choir performances as the catalyst for her music career.
“I've been singing since forever, but in middle school, I was really into boy bands, and I wanted to be in a girl group, so I started making music. Then, when I was fifteen, I was in three different choirs, and I finally released my first EP,” says Bleu.
Her unique sound is heavily inspired by R&B luminaries like Solange and genre-bending performers like Doja Cat, whom Bleu credits as a major influence. “I think Doja Cat, in terms of performance, [is] a crazy performer, and I think her lyrics are very witty, which I like.”
This blend of thoughtful lyricism and engaging stage presence is central to Bleu’s artistry. You can see this showcased in her 2023 album “B RATED,” which features lots of piano keys while leaving intact the same gushy lyricism and R&B vocals that make her stand out.
Bleu started releasing music on Soundcloud around 2023, then progressed to releasing on Spotify just a year later, with some help from her producer and boyfriend, Kai. Their collaboration has helped refine Bleu’s signature style, which blends hazy, melancholic melodies with warm R&B waves. Her songs often feature beautiful guitar strokes and layered instrumentation, creating a soundscape that's as introspective as it is immersive.
“i don't want to talk about it” showcases her ability to explore universal themes with emotional depth. The tracks delve into real-life experiences tackling relationships, self-acceptance, love and addiction. In “smoker's cough,” Bleu explains a time when she was fourteen and started to smoke a cigarette she found on the side of the road. The song later links this experience to her mother’s experience with smoking, weaving a narrative that's both deeply personal and relatable.
For Bleu, making music is more than just a career or hobby, but a way to digest her emotions, almost labeling it as a form of therapy. “I go for a very mellow and I [guess] ethereal way of expressing it, like transmuting my energy,” she explains. Her creative process is as much about self-soothing as it is about crafting songs that resonate with others. As she says in her Spotify bio, “I make that shit you gotta feel.” This approach is evident in the EP’s lush and reflective sound, which lulls listeners while still making them think about topics that are hard to swallow.
Bleu is still hard at work, making more music and even playing concerts for the masses to enjoy. She plans to continue music for the rest of her life and even labeled it as a “prevalent theme in her life.”
“I hope it works out the way I'm envisioning, and if it doesn't, then I'm just going to have to keep trying. I'm just going to have to die trying,” says Bleu.
Make sure to catch one of Bleu’s upcoming concerts and listen to her new EP, “i don't want to talk about it,” on all streaming services. Catch her song “believe it” on our RAPTURE playlist.
Photography by Tyler Anderson