Growing up, Cherrie B would turn her living room coffee table into a stage, recreating Britney Spears performances she watched on MTV. That early fascination with pop stars and their larger-than-life personalities has stayed with her, and it's easy to see why. Today, she releases Follow My Lead, a seven-track EP via b4, produced by fUnlistenable and umru. The project follows last month's Reciprocity / Respect and arrives just hours after the premiere of the music video for Poise.
Mixing bubblegum pop, electroclash and club influences, Cherrie approaches subjects like desire, reputation and modern romance without taking herself too seriously. But behind the flirtatious lyrics and playful attitude lies a more personal message. “It's about becoming the person you needed when you were younger and sharing those lessons through music,” she explains.
And the tracklist certainly has its moments. Not So Innocent, which Cherrie jokingly describes as her evil sugar baby song, opens the EP with an unconventional take on relationships. Digital Affair explores the anticipation of online romance, while Loverboy, produced by umru, reveals a softer side and references Charles Jeffrey's fashion label. Then comes Little Miss Karma, partly inspired by The Devil Wears Prada, transforming the idea of karma into a character of its own. Meanwhile, Poise takes inspiration from beauty pageants, exploring how to maintain composure when everyone seems to have an opinion about you.
There's also an interesting story behind the making of the record. After feeling disconnected from the music she wanted to create, Cherrie decided to take greater control of her sound, producing more herself and collaborating with fUnlistenable across London, New York and Los Angeles. The two initially connected through Instagram, which feels fitting for an artist so closely connected to internet culture.
No guest vocalists, no need to share the spotlight. Follow My Lead is Cherrie B on her own terms, embracing the exaggerated personalities that fascinated her growing up while figuring out exactly what kind of artist she wants to be. And if someone decides to copy her along the way? Well, there's already a song about that.
