There are moments in life when we feel lost or uncertain, especially during seasons of change. On Aaron Frazer’s second solo album, Into the Blue, the singer and musician explores this theme across 11 tracks.
Frazer, also a member of the retro band Durand Jones & The Indications, found himself ‘in the blue’ after a relationship ended.
On Into The Blue, Aaron Frazer grapples with heartbreak and gives himself permission to heal. “Into The Blue really means heading into the unknown. That has been the last year of my life, and I’m still in the blue,” Frazer tells Rated R&B.
He continues, “But there are also songs here that celebrate love and the giddiness of a new relationship and all that. That’s part of a breakup to me, processing the whole thing, remembering the things that were right as much as the things that were wrong.”
From a production standpoint, Into The Blue blends soul, R&B, hip-hop, disco, psychedelia, and other stylings that have influenced the Baltimore, Maryland, native. “It’s the clearest portrait of who I am as an artist,” Frazer notes.
The soul-barring opener, “Thinking of You,” stings like a fresh wound. Here, Frazer acknowledges how he still yearns for his ex, who he can’t seem to shake off from his mind.
“Lonely nights like this / Still I feel your kiss / From a time I once knew / Through the endless quiet / Still they hold me like Only memories can do,” he sings in the first verse.
Track two, which is the title track, finds Frazer sinking ‘into the blue’ as he attempts to move on from lost love.
“Here I go / To a place where the broken heart knows / Grieving thoughts of a happier time / I’m leaving behind,” Frazer sings in his signature falsetto over mellow instrumentations.
Regarding the track, Frazer explains, “I wanted to capture the feeling of loneliness and isolation on this song, and the vastness of the desert and driving west. Emotionally, this song feels like where I’ve been at this year, after my relationship came to an end.”
Frazer continues, “There is an isolation and a sadness, but also a feeling of resoluteness and bravery. I think you have to be brave to navigate those moments of brutal, chaotic transition.”
Being ‘into the blue’ doesn’t necessarily signal a dead end. Instead, it can be seen as a sea of possibilities. Navigating the unknown may be daunting, but it also offers a chance to discover more about yourself and others over time. Songs like the Hi-Five-sampled “Fly Away” and the Cancamusa-assisted “Dime” make room for new love.
Closing with “The Fool,” Frazer makes it clear that he’s a hopeless romantic. Despite the emotional toll that love can cause, he remains hopeful. “Sad boy you loved and lost / But you keep tryin’ / Sad boy it comes at cost / But you keep buyin’,” he sings.
Into The Blue was released June 28 via Dead Oceans. It’s the follow-up to Frazer’s debut album, Introducing…, released in 2021.
Introducing… was released six months ahead of Durand Jones & The Indications’ Private Space, which was ranked No. 8 on Rated R&B’s 30 Best R&B Albums of 2021 list.
“Coagulating R&B, funk, disco, and soul into a fantastic voyage impacted by retro influences, the band manages to naturally produce an album that lies in a musical realm that’s equally exploratory as it is identifiable,” wrote Danielle Brissette.
In 2023, Frazer’s bandmate Durand Jones, who is the vocalist of the group, released his debut solo album, Wait Til I Get Over.
On Aug. 31, Frazer will kick off his supporting tour for Into The Blue at the Fool in Love Festival in Los Angeles. Frazer will make stops across North America, including in San Diego, Vancouver, Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Brooklyn.
On Oct. 16, Frazer will begin the European leg of the tour at Thekla in Bristol, with stops in Manchester, London, Paris, and more. Frazer will conclude his tour Oct. 25 at Bird in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A full list of tour dates is provided below.
Stream Aaron Frazer’s album Into The Blue and check out his tour dates below.
Aaron Frazer Tour Dates
Aug 31 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fool in Love Festival
Sep 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom – SOLD OUT
Sep 3 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up – SOLD OUT
Sep 6 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
Sep 7 – San Francisco, CA @ Independent – SOLD OUT
Sep 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
Sep 10 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Sep 11 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Sep 13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
Sep 14 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Sep 16 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Sep 17 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s – SOLD OUT
Sep 18 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
Sep 20 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Sep 21 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi
Sep 22 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Oct 8 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Oct 9 – Washington, DC @ The Atlantis
Oct 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Oct 12 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom – SOLD OUT
Oct 13 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Oct 16 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
Oct 17 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Oct 18 – London, UK @ Village Underground – SOLD OUT
Oct 19 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
Oct 21 – Hamburg, DE @ Mojo
Oct 22 – Berlin, DE @Columbia Theater
Oct 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Tolhuistuin
Oct 24 – Rotterdam, NL @ Bird
Get tickets at aaronfrazermusic.com.