Nicole Laurenne, better known as Black Viiolet, is a Seattle-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with a strong performance background, including years of touring with her garage punk band The Darts and wide coverage from music outlets. With her latest album Dark Blue, she steps into a different creative space, exploring a sound shaped by jazz, trip-hop, and neo-soul. While this genre combination is not unfamiliar, it remains engaging because it allows space for improvisation and highlights the musicianship behind every performance.
The title track, Dark Blue, sets the mood with a sultry tone and rich atmosphere, where every instrument stands out, from the subtle piano and bold brass section to Nicole’s smooth, expressive vocals. The song sits at the heart of the album, capturing the highs of constant touring alongside the emotional strain of a long-distance relationship, caught between hope and heaviness.
Not Too Bad highlights the record’s trip-hop side, carried by addictive beats and flowing rhythms that balance introspection with flashes of optimism. Just Met continues that momentum, powered by a tight drum pattern, an irresistible groove, and warm, approachable lyrics.
Halfway through the album, we find a very special gem in Why Don’t You Do Right, a rarity even within a project as eclectic as this one. Those with a good memory will recognise this emblematic tune from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, famously sung by the iconic 2D sex symbol Jessica Rabbit, a performance Nicole credits as the reason Black Viiolet exists. Additionally, she is deeply familiar with this melody, having sung it throughout her career but never recorded it until now, and her rendition of this jazz classic is just as sensual and heated as the original, infused with her distinctive flair and delivery.
True to the spirit of the album, unexpected shifts appear throughout, and Bye captures that approach. In contrast to the more complex tracks, it reveals her range with a softer, smoother sound driven by nostalgia and finely crafted instrumentation.
One of the standout moments arrives near the end of the record with Whiskey Eyes, a track that feels distinct when compared to everything that comes before it. Here, the jazzy textures give way to a more ballad-driven sound, highlighted by a beautiful string section and a solemn, moving piano.
The record also offers a bonus track: a reworked version of One by Black Viiolet, now in collaboration with Blag Dahlia, whose vocal contribution brings a fresh perspective to the song.
* 6 – Sacramento, CA – Torch Club
* 7 – Los Altos Hills, CA – KFJC (In-Studio)
* 7 – San Francisco, CA – Make-Out Room
* 8 – Davis, CA – KDRT (In-Studio)
* 8 – Chico, CA – Duffy’s
* 10 – Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing
* 11 – Yucca Valley, CA – Mojave Gold
* 12 – El Centro, CA – Mexca
* 13 – San Pedro, CA – The Sardine
* 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Redwood Bar
* 15 – San Diego, CA – Whistle Stop
* 18 – Dunkerque, FR – DND
* 19 – Amiens, FR – La Péniche Célestine
* 20 – Rennes, FR – Le Bistrot de la Cité
* 21 – St Gilles Croix de Vie, FR – RockSea
* 22 – Toulouse, FR – Le Labo des Arts
* 23 – Perpignan, FR – El Pati de Rabiosa
* 24 – Cunlhat, FR – Octopus
* 25 – Paris, FR – Le 34
* 15 – Boston, MA – Deep Cuts
* 16 – Rochester, NY – Skylark Lounge
* 17 – Columbus, OH – TBA
* 18 – Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
* 19 – Louisville, KY – Portal
* 21 – Chattanooga, TN – The Woodshop
* 22 – Asheville, NC – Fleetwoods
* 23 – Richmond, VA – Gallery 5
* 24 – Baltimore, MD – TBA
* 25 – Brooklyn, NY – Main Drag
* 3–19 – Europe – TBA
Words Javier Rodriguez
The post Black Viiolet Explores Love And Distance On ‘Dark Blue’ appeared first on Right Chord Music Blog.