Being that jazzy R&B newcomer Avriel Epps is also credited as a model and actress, it makes some sort of sense that when hit with a vicious attack of the nerves while courting a smooth-talker who makes her feel like “the center of his attention whether we’re in his room or up on the moon”, the only way she can calm herself down is by imagining that they’re actors playing roles on a soundstage. Then again, she might also want to spend a few sessions on a shrink’s couch to deal with these internal issues if she plans on giving this seemingly promising relationship some real length.

All that psychoanalyzing aside, “Be Cool”, the first single from the Cali singer/ songwriter/ producer’s forthcoming EP Liberation is a luscious one, wrapping Epps warm coo in a silky swirl of dreamy synths and gentle bass-line funk (shouts to producer Cook Classics) that refreshingly reminds us that not all modern-day R&B is distracted by the poppy flash of European clubs and Auto-Tune.

Liberation is due for a late July/ early August release, in the meanwhile though you might also wanna check out Avriel’s “Bouncer” from Cook Classics’ super-nice new compilation album, Recharged. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.