Blue Sinclair is a singular talent who writes and produces his own emotional work.

The New York City, USA-based singer, songwriter, and producer has just come to my attention through his debut album, When The Disco Ball Crashed Down, a record bursting with tales of chance encounters all told through immersive, relatable storytelling and understated, sultry vocals.

Midnight, Briefly sets the scene, welcoming us in through a fumbled New Year’s encounter. It’s a strong start, and the following lo-fi hip hop and RnB of Glitter Isn’t Gold shows us how eclectic the album will prove to be.

The production always keeps you guessing, meandering between the dark and moody to the bright and dance-inducing (title track When The Disco Ball Crashed Down, a highlight), yet always stays coherent in terms of tone and perspective.

L.E.S. is bluesy and brassy, Blue Moon has a melancholic groove. The album is rounded off by the David Lynch-esque The Fig Tree which adds a final post-rock twist.

Sinclair is a poet with his lyrics, creating standout phrases like “American Express and American excess.” There are literary references abound, such as the Sanity vs Vanity line “picture in my attic with an old cloth draped over it,” a reference to Oscar Wilde’s A Picture of Dorian Grey.

Themes of nightlife and reinvention, as well as missed connections, capitalism, desire, vanity, nostalgia, flirtations, reflections, and indecisions, are evident throughout the album as Sinclair explores the feeling of being young in a new city, trying to build a new life and identity.

It all adds up to an album that is as chill as it is emotionally stirring, creating a mix that feels relaxing and provocative in equal measure. As I listened, I found myself lost in it, and reluctantly nostalgic for my younger days.

Produced and written by Sinclair, the album was mixed and mastered by Furkan Gülüs. The album cover, a nod to Marianne Faithful’s Broken English, was created by Michael Benabib.

Sinclair’s unique point of view and voice, and his DIY approach marks him out as a one to watch and I’ll certainly be looking forward to hearing what he does next as he continues to push his style and gives us more immersive storytelling.