Henri B. Styles Wakes It Up With ‘PHASES’
Two years after her debut EP alter-EGO, R&B/soul artist Henri B. Styles speaks her truth with the release of her second EP, PHASES. Photographed by Eugene Maddy, creative directed by Designs by Vido.
With so many Black women creating their own space at the table, Henri B. Styles made sure we had something to listen to while sitting there. DMV artist Henri B. Styles just released her EP PHASES at the beginning of April and the gurls and guys are loving it. The EP features 11 songs, and while there are no musician features, there are cameos from some powerful sisters. Not only will you hear an interlude from women like Nikki G and Jae Nichelle, but you’ll get a sermon from our favorite, Pastor Sarah Jakes.
Cover art for PHASES, released on April 8th. Art by Designs by Vido.
For Henri, this project represented all the trials and tribulations that she has gone through from 2019 through the pandemic into 2021. “I wanted to create something that told my truth that resonated with who I was and who I am as a person and what I’ve gone through. But also, I wanted this project to be the voice for Black women. That was the main goal.”
The album welcomes you with the raw voice of poet Porsha Olayiwola as she speaks on the stereotypes of the Black woman and offers an invitation into the Black woman's mind from the beginning. Henri’s voice transitions into what will be a summer bop, “What you want,” which she mentions was the least challenging when writing because it automatically came to her.
As for the creative process for inspiration for PHASES, Henri just looked around her. “I draw inspiration from things that I went through that shaped me to become who I am. I try to be as transparent as possible with my music.”
NUNAR asked Henri what would be her “go-to” song from PHASES to show someone a snippet of her sound, she excitedly answers “Release. Hands down! That base was crazy. I love the beat and listening to Release puts me in my bag.” Henri just released a short film to this song that features her and some of her besties being “hot girls.” The idea came from videographer John Boss when he wanted to create a movie trailer for the song, Henri loved the idea.
As for what the future holds, Henri’s answer is quite simple: “[M]ore collaborating opportunities, whether that’s music, photographers, and brands! Just creators overall!”
Article thumbnail and #3 image on photo carousel by Josef Tyler Hicks.