ALTERNATIVE R&B ROYALTY LYVES REDISCOVERS HERSELF ON TRANSFORMATIVE NEW EP ‘OUT OF THE BLUE’
London-based alternative R&B wonder LYVES returns with OUT OF THE BLUE, a breathtaking and soul-baring new EP that captures the profound power of personal and creative transformation. Written during a deeply transitional chapter in her life, including the arrival of her son, the project marks a departure from the longing and emotional ache that defined her earlier work. Instead, Out of the Blue radiates stillness, tenderness, hard-won clarity, and healing. These songs document the process of coming home to oneself, shedding old patterns, finding strength in softness, and rediscovering purpose through new life and deep love – as Lyves puts it, “these songs were born out of stillness. A love letter to healing, to finding light in unexpected places”. Sonically expansive yet emotionally intimate, the EP spans alternative R&B, cinematic soul, and indie pop, with flourishes of ethereal folk and ambient electronica.
Written and produced by Lyves, with additional production from SamTRax (SiR, Brent Faiyaz), Sam Crowe (Little Simz, Cleo Sol), Harvey Whyte (Greentea Peng), Nathaneal Williams (Yussef Dayes, Yazmin Lacey), and Drew Wynen, and engineered by Adam Jaffrey (Loyle Carner, Obongjayar), and Zino Mikorey (Fred again.., Metronomy), Out of the Blue is a tender unguarded offering from Lyves. Across its delicate arrangements and soul-stirring vocals, she explores themes of mental health and advocacy, self-reclamation, motherhood, emotional clarity, and the quiet strength found in healing and love. From the lullaby-like ‘Kaleidoscope’, written while pregnant, to the healing meditation on ‘For Eden’, each track is steeped in feeling but grounded in calm. The soundscapes are deliberately gentle – soft in sound but fierce in spirit – illuminating life’s most vulnerable moments with grace, depth, empathy, and conviction.
Each track on Out of the Blue reveals a distinct emotional chapter in Lyves’ most intimate reflections, and her journey toward healing and wholeness. ‘For Eden’ opens as a powerful meditation on mental health, written in honour of a family member and shaped by Lyves’ years of advocacy work. ‘In the Morning’ is a quiet release of old entanglements, a reclaiming of self-worth that ends with the recorded voice of her newborn son, grounding the track in legacy and love. Written while pregnant, ‘Kaleidoscope’ captures the anticipation of motherhood in its purest form – a lullaby of unconditional love. ‘Polaris’ navigates emotional uncertainty, using the symbolism of the north star to explore trust, disillusionment, and the search for clarity. Finally, ‘Powder Blue’ floats like a dream – an ethereal love song that channels the beauty of encountering someone who feels divinely placed. Together, the songs form a deeply personal tapestry of love, healing, and self-reclamation, and a soul-baring suite that is as healing as it is honest.
Speaking about the inspiration behind Out of the Blue, and how the EP came about, Lyves says, “This project is a collection of songs that captures a deeply transitional moment in my life – moving away from a ‘blue’ era, where yearning and melancholy shaped much of my writing, toward a space filled with more lightness, purpose, and grace. Though the messages throughout are profound, many of the songs feel like gentle whispers or lullabies. They speak to self-worth, the magic of emotional awakening, and the journey back to oneself. At its heart, Out of the Blue is about rediscovering who you are and coming home to that truth. Though delicate in production, the songs carry a quiet fierceness—soft in sound but bold in spirit”.
Shedding more light into her creative mindset and motivations coming into this EP, Lyves adds that “I wanted to illuminate life’s most intimate corners in a way that feels enveloping – like a hand on your back, gently reminding you of your strength. What has been most profound in creating this body of work is witnessing how it connects with others. I’ve noticed an echo – how listeners receive and absorb the music in ways that reflect where it came from. I’m often sent messages from people sharing how the songs speak to their soul, stir old memories, or help them reconnect with themselves. That kind of response is the greatest gift, because that’s exactly where the music comes from in me. It feels like I’m on the right path”.
