Soulful songstress Ria Barkr collaborates with R&B artist Langston Bleu, bringing a fresh and enticing take to her track ‘Tennis’
Opening with an ethereal mid-tempo R&B/Pop soundscape, "Tennis" finds Ria and Langston navigating the hard-to-break cycles of a toxic relationship. Hook pulling lyrics, "Going back and forth like tennis swinging words that hurt/I got a fetish to stay playing with you on this court." Ria Barkr and Langston Bleu each possess soulful and distinctive vocals which guide the listener through an introspective journey, culminating in the realization, “Don’t you know a great climax comes with a little bit of crazy?”
“'Tennis' is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written,” shares Ria, who co-produced the track with her longtime collaborator Jared Harding of Electric Bear Studios in the U.K. “When you’re looking in on a relationship from the outside, it can be easy to judge what a couple is going through, but love is never black and white; no one except those two people know what they have, and only you can decide if the love you’re being given is enough. If it isn’t, then you owe it to yourself to walk away. I hope that resonates with people.”
Following her hit single, "work for it” was celebrated by Wonderland as an empowering anthem challenging societal norms and has also found placements and on the cover of editorial playlists such as TIDAL's Rising: R&B, Amazon Music's Breakthrough R&B and Pandora R&B. Anticipation is running high for what the rising artist has in store next, which is why her first collaboration had to be nothing short of perfection.
Teaming up with Atlanta's R&B sensation, Langston Bleu, marked the beginning of an exciting new musical partnership. These two old-time friends are now uniting as fresh and talented artists. Langston Bleu reflects, “I saw Ria perform the song “Tennis” live and I was so in love with the record that I asked her if she would have me on the remix. The song is really special to me. I grew up playing tennis so it was so apropos and this being my first collaboration it was a pleasure to do it with one of my friends. For my verse, I wanted to give a complementing perspective while delivering something different melodically. Ria is such a clever songwriter so I know I had to bring my A-Game when it came to the pen.”
Langston Bleu's debut EP, 'Bleu,' made a significant impact, reaching an impressive #3 on iTunes' R&B chart, while his latest single, "Luxury," continues to gain traction on influential editorial playlists. Notably, he recently earned recognition on "Discovered on Apple" by esteemed global head of hip hop and R&B, Ebro.
As a dynamic force in the R&B scene, Langston Bleu's journey is one that demands attention, especially alongside his talented partner, Ria Barkr. With an array of early-career highlights already defining their path, this powerful collaboration is sure to mesmerize audiences and leave a lasting impression.
MORE ON RIA:
Ria Barkr started releasing music in April 2022. Since, she has been on a national tour with festival stops at SXSW, Outloud Pride and noteworthy performances with MajorStage, Sofar Sounds and iHeartRadio in NYC. Ria's warm and tantalizing vocals have garnered over 450,000+ streams on DSP's with only 14% coming from playlists. She's had editoral cover placements and support from Pandora: AMP Fresh Cuts, Amazon Music's: Breakthrough R&B and Tidal Rising: R&B.
Not only have DSP's been loving her fresh R&B/Pop blend but media outlets like Wonderland, Mundane Magazine, NME, and Rated R&B have praised her new releases. Ria recently promoted her debut EP, "Alpha She" with a 2 week UK Radio Tour where she gained 5k more month listeners on Spotify along with love from BBC Radio Stations across the country. In February of 2020, Ria went to the UK for a production camp and since has been a part of multiple writing camps worldwide including ones with top publishers like Prescription Songs (RX songs) all as an independent artist.
In 2020, during the global shutdown, Ria tapped into her inner creativity, resulting in a bold collection of songs challenging societal norms regarding women. From her early days, Ria demonstrated her stage prowess, even earning callbacks for America's Got Talent at just 14. However, it was in 2017, after a transformative studio session with jazz pianist Jeff Franzel, whose credits include legends like Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, and The Temptations, that ignited her artistic journey. In 2018, Ria's online presence caught the attention of two producers from across the pond, resulting in a musical partnership that was nothing short of serendipitous. Her gift for songwriting effortlessly blended with a palette of smoky, gritty tunes, setting the stage for a whirlwind of performances, from local venues to national stages and even prestigious music festivals. Fast forward, and Ria Barkr has already established herself as a promising R&B trailblazer.
MORE ON LANGSTON:
Hailing from Washington DC and now making musical magic in Atlanta, GA, Langston Bleu is a true R&B sensation. With a background steeped in classical music and a touch of musical theater from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Langston quickly pivoted to embrace the world of heartfelt lyricism.
His passion for crafting songs led him to Nashville, where he polished his skills, drawing inspiration from luminaries like Neyo, The Dream, and Victoria Monet. With legendary mentor Andrea Martin by his side, Langston's talents caught the eye of GQ Magazine.
But it's on stage where Langston truly shines, headlining ASCAP's Virtual On The Come Up Showcase, and even getting a nod from SoundCloud as one of its "2020 Artists To Watch." His debut EP, 'Bleu,' soared to #3 on iTunes' R&B chart, and his latest single, "Luxury," is already finding a place on some of the hottest editorial playlists.
Ebro, the global head of hip hop and R&B, recently featured Langston on "Discovered on Apple," a testament to his rising star power. Langston Bleu is a vibrant force in the R&B scene, and his journey is one to follow closely.