On her first EP in four years, the South London artist comes back with a lush, honeyed vocal collection that blends sapphic longing, Motown vibes, and the edge of modern UK R&B.

Sasha Keable has long been seen as one of R&B’s brightest prospects. Early on, she made a splash as a dance-floor powerhouse. Her breakout moment with Disclosure on ‘Voices’ instantly marked her as a voice that could own a club with just a single note. Her first two EPs, 2013’s ‘Black Book’ and 2014’s ‘Lemongrass and Limeleaves’, were met with enthusiasm and strong support.

After stepping back for three years, she returned in 2024 with more confidence and fire on ‘Hold Up’, an emotionally raw and unfiltered take on life and love that solidified her unique voice. With comparisons to Adele and a nod from Beyoncé earlier this year, the British-Colombian singer-songwriter could have easily felt the weight of expectation heading into her fifth EP, ‘Act Right’. Instead, Keable embraces it, delivering seven tracks that set a new bar for contemporary R&B.

We’ve already had a taste of this collection through singles like ‘Why’ and the title track, which feel intimate and heart-wrenching. ‘Why’ is grounded in the purest, happiest kind of love, yet carries a note of vulnerability in the poignant question, “Why is it me… You give all this love to?” It’s the kind of lyric that could have come from legends like Aretha Franklin or Lauryn Hill, who transformed pain into empowerment. ‘Act Right’ channels the raw frustration and emotional complexity of Donny Hathaway, wrapped in the warm, confessional soul reminiscent of Amy Winehouse. It’s this emotional depth that makes the EP such a powerful reintroduction.

Every track is catchy, especially the deeper cuts. The Leon Thomas collaboration, ‘Move It Along’, envelops you in a cozy soundscape with beautifully layered ad-libs and a soulful, church-inspired guitar line. When Keable opens with a guttural “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeaaaah,” you quickly realize you’ve found your new favorite vocal hook.

The track ‘Move’, featuring Jamaican rapper BEAM, is a slow, smoldering burner. The contrast between Sasha’s smooth, silky vocals and BEAM’s laid-back style might feel surprising at first but listen closely. Beneath her velvety delivery, she’s a temptress, commanding her lover with lines like “lift my skirt, grab my neck and say you care for nothing,” her sapphic passion matching the rapper’s rawness.

New songs like ‘Can’t Stop’ are just as compelling. Here, Keable slips into a cool, almost playful vibe, half-bragging about her dangerous allure before belting out a chorus about her addiction to chaos. Her effortless vocal runs invite listeners to try and mimic them, while the post-chorus swirls with echoed, muffled layers that pull you deeper into the song.

That same laid-back approach returns on ‘Heartbeat’, an infectious track that balances anger and affection. Keable chops her vocals into staccato bursts, turning her voice into both rhythm and melody, a clear sign of her mastery and understanding of soul music’s nuances.

With ‘Act Right’, Sasha Keable isn’t just making a comeback; she’s reshaping R&B on her terms, exploring intimacy through a lens of bruised pride, seductive chaos, and unapologetic self-expression. Each track feels lived-in, like stepping into someone else’s memories. She stands tall among a fresh wave of UK R&B artists while carving out a distinct identity as a woman-loving woman who dives deep into love and loss with honesty and heart.

Caught between lingering pain and blossoming self-awareness, Keable paints with both shadows and light, showcasing a maturity well beyond her years. She doesn’t just ‘act right’, she claims that title boldly, poetically, and unmistakably. If this EP doesn’t prove she’s the next queen of UK R&B, then what will?