From TikTok to record labels: Why you need to pay attention to viral singer Fousheé
Fousheé is a New Jersey-born singer whose musical origins are far more interesting than most artists.
Her voice was sampled on the hook of Sleepy Hallow’s “Deep End Freestyle,” which quickly grew to internet stardom. Even though the song gained traction and was used heavily on TikTok and other social media platforms, her voice was not credited on the hook, so she released a solo version of “Deep End,” which brought the song back to popularity.
The release came with an accompanying music video and helped capitalize on the attention she was rightfully receiving. In this TikTok era of internet virality, where trends come and go faster than people can process them, it’s remarkable that her career has been able to take shape given how it began.
Even though her music career came into fruition by a mix of luck and happenstance, Fousheé is proving by her recent releases that she has both the talent and charisma necessary to sustain herself in the music industry.
Fousheé’s blend of rhythm and blues (R&B) is a mixture of post-Erykah Badu with harmonies reminiscent of Solange and The Internet. Her roots remain in neo-soul, and her ethos is centered around this genre of music.
By learning from the journeys of her contemporaries, her artistry is mostly dependent on her ambition. Within her field she is part of a talented group of individuals, but her uniqueness comes from her style and voice rather than her antics and personality.
Her latest single, “sing about love,” features an effortlessly smooth vocal performance with a slow-tempo backdrop. The message of the song is healing from a past relationship and all of the trauma associated with that. While the production is very The Internet-inspired, her vocal delivery and autotune is reminiscent of Black '90s R&B.
The vocal layering and synth pads throughout the song feel put-together and well-placed. As Fousheé sings “I, I can finally sing about love again/I, I could see in color, I’m in love again,” the song blossoms with her. Her video of the performance feels striking and intimate, and the writing feels like you are hearing from a close friend.
Another great performance is her song “gold fronts (feat. Lil Wayne).” The production feels very grand and spacious, and while it’s heavily structured like a pop song, Fousheé sings with both energy and intent: “They don’t make enough days in a month/I got plans and they’re all piled up.”
Lil Wayne’s feature feels slightly out of place with her style and brand, but it shows the power of viral association. It's an incredible career move on her part, and highlights the expectation that Fousheé has staying power in her industry.
Even though Fousheé is a relatively new artist, her recent songs have shown versatility in her skillset and musical ideas. Her features show she’s both artistically ambitious and has label support to back her ideas.
She’s an artist with intentions rooted in her passion, and she stands out in an industry that prioritizes marketability over authenticity. Her lyrics emphasize the vividness of her experiences, and as a woman of color in music, her voice and sanctity should be prioritized.
For Fousheé to receive this kind of support without an album out shows a certain level of uniqueness and understanding among her fans. Her past few songs have only shown a fraction of her potential, and her recent interviews and press show that people are paying attention.
Pigeons and Planes continue to be one of her most vocal supporters, and their support has introduced her music to new audiences. She has proven that she deserves the spot she’s in, and her musical identity will continue to grow and develop with time.
