Blu Samu

About

" Streetwise, with captivatingly emotional content "

Born Salomé Dos Santos, but originally from Antwerp and as much Belgian as Portuguese, Blu Samu surfs the Belgian hip hop scene and the European neo-soul wave with the same ease as other women creators of her time, such as Jorja Smith and Princess Nokia. Somewhere between chanteuse and beat-driven samurai, her work could be classified as hip-hop soul, with a streetwise perspective, while also being captivatingly emotional. She has a hoarse voice to match, favouring breakbeats and mellow grooves. Blu Samu’s new EP ‘7’, out in 2022 , is all about acceptance of overwhelming emotions she identifies with. The intriguing video of ‘Turquoise’ is a nod to Blu Samu’s Portuguese roots, and childhood memories.

Blu Samu’s European profile was elevated in 2018 with her EP ‘Moka’, with which she became the new sensation of the vibrant Belgian hip hop scene. In its six songs, Salomé presents all kinds of styles, showing her many musical influences. In ‘Raisonner’ she combines modern soul and Brazilian influences, whilein ‘Sade’ she unfolds her sultry, jazzy style. 

Stray singles and tracks seem to document her ongoing quest to discover how she fits into our troubled world through strong verses. Standout ‘I Run’ speaks about her relationship with her mother and the choices she made (“Can’t afford to be dumb, you know/ Used to be numb before/ I got into all this music shit”), and in ‘Goose’ she raps “Got endurance sure/ But if a little goose keeps playing with ducks she’ll get insecure”. Blu Samu’s lyrical wanderings extend far beyond the personal, and it’s this curiosity and insight that elevate her work, combined with her colorful melting pot of sounds and vibes.