Just Soothin' and Cruisin'

just soothin' & cruisin'
Debut EP | 2021

My debut EP exploring self-discovery, freedom, and everyday moments through alternative R&B, soul, and jazz-influenced production.

Outcomes

- 6 track EP (supported by Help Musicians)
- Lead Single - I'll Stay
- Social Media and Visual Assets
- LIVESTREAM EP LAUNCH via bandcamp
- Played on BBC radio 6 , NTS radio and more
- Shortlisted by Bandcamp as a project for Summer 2021

just soothin' & cruisin' was inspired by the idea of "flicking through the channels of a broken television or radio". I was drawn to the randomness of the experience—the unexpected shifts between images, sounds, and frequencies—and how this mirrored the process of self-discovery. Rather than presenting a single narrative, I wanted the project to feel like a collection of moments, emotions, and perspectives encountered while searching for meaning.
This idea informed both the sound and structure of the EP. Different musical influences, textures, and moods are brought together as if they exist on separate channels, moving between soulful electronics, alternative R&B, jazz-influenced instrumentation, and experimental production. I was interested in a mixed-media approach to music-making, treating sound as a space where different frequencies, ideas, and experiences could coexist.

-Hard vs Soft
-Contrast
-Unexpected combinations
-Mixed media
-Non-linear structure
-Collage-like composition

The sonic identity of just soothin’ & cruisin’ is rooted in contrast. Drawing from my background in fashion styling, I was interested in how opposing elements—hard and soft textures—can coexist within a single work. I wanted to translate that tension into sound.

Across the EP, soft melodies and soulful vocals sit alongside gritty drums, electronic synthesis, and textured production. Rather than smoothing these contrasts, I allowed them to remain present, shaping the emotional and sonic identity of the project.

The EP is built on the foundation of my demos but was developed through co-production with other musicians, opening up a more collaborative process. During Lockdown, ideas were exchanged and layered, bringing unexpected elements into the work and reinforcing an interest in hybridity.

I was also inspired by non-linear structure, approaching tracks like "Break it Up" as fragments of sounds, moods, and textures assembled into a wider experience. The EP embraces a mixed-media approach to sound. Electronic production sits alongside soulful instrumentation, field recordings, found sounds, and experimental textures. I also recorded vocals through loop pedals to add unique approaches to the music. I was interested in bringing together sounds that might not traditionally occupy the same space, allowing different frequencies, influences, and experiences to coexist within a shared sonic environment.

Plantain all day embodies what I was going for with the mixed media element. I wove together field recordings and audio from videos with my friends to create a feeling of being out with your friends, just exploring South London. Singing how you want, whether in key or not, but still having that reverence for imperfection.
This track was an anchor for the project to illustrate my concept of flicking through channels/ frequencies on a broken TV / radio.

Break It Up is a sonic journey with unexpected twists and turns. Built collaboratively, it moves between gritty and hypnotic textures, unfolding in an unconventional structure that resists predictability. As it develops, the track shifts into sections that feel far removed from where it begins, expanding into new sonic spaces rather than repeating familiar ones.

I was the lead producer on the project, working alongside co-producer Relf Kent and a group of musicians who contributed live instrumentation. Through this process, I learned how valuable collaboration is in shaping and refining tracks, bringing in outside perspectives to strengthen the work.
As we were creating during lockdown, we held multiple Zoom sessions to tighten arrangements and develop the material remotely, which pushed us to be more intentional and communicative in how we built each track.

- CRTV Aesthetic
- Collage/ Photomontage
- Alien
- Bright colours

My visual identity is rooted in a CRT TV aesthetic, built around the idea of flicking through distorted channels on a broken television. I use collage and photomontage techniques, VHS textures, frequency interference, and grainy, wavering imagery to create the foundation of the project’s visual world.

Bright, saturated colours sit alongside lo-fi textures and analogue distortion, reflecting the contrast, unpredictability, and sonic experimentation at the core of my sound. The overall aesthetic is intentionally psychedelic and fragmented, mirroring the shifting, non-linear structure of the tracks.

I’m also inspired by Afrofuturism, particularly in how it opens up space for reimagining identity, technology, and alternative futures. This influenced my use of alien motifs, leading me to create an altered character that appears throughout the project and feeds into both the sonic and visual language.

The promo imagery was kept intentionally DIY, shot collaboratively with just me and the photographer to maintain an intimate, hands-on approach that reflects the raw and experimental ethos of the work.

Queen Soothes Alter-ego graphic

Design Assets and motifs

'JSNC' EP Launch Trailer video Story board

Project album cover initial design sketches.

Colour swatch ideas- experimenting on coloured tissue paper.

"I'll Stay" lead single promo photo selection

Workshopping ideas with Kiara

Untitled by Nam June Paik - one of my visual references

Promotion / Merchandise

just soothin' & cruisin' was released during the COVID-19 lockdown, when live performances were no longer possible. This encouraged me to think creatively about how audiences could experience the project beyond traditional shows.

I used social media to share behind-the-scenes content, demos, and snippets in the lead-up to the release, building anticipation and inviting listeners into the creative process. I also hosted an EP launch on Bandcamp Live, creating an online listening experience during lockdown.

Radio played an important role in growing the project. Artist residencies at Soho Radio and Foundation FM, alongside my monthly RTM show, allowed me to introduce my musical influences, preview unreleased tracks, and build an audience before the EP's release.

The merchandise extended the project's visual identity. Instead of producing standard T-shirts, I designed and hand-made spiral earrings, as well as limited-edition Christmas cards and wrapping paper, creating physical objects that reflected the creative world of the EP.

Promo asset for appearance on Foundation FM

Promo asset for JSNC EP livestream on Bandcamp

JSNC EP livestream on Bandcamp

Scan from unknown magazine / Artist : Kazim Rashid

JSNC EP livestream stills

Promo image for hand made spiral earrings merch- Photographed by Tracy Sada

Queen soothes handmade Christmas card and wrapping paper

The Tracy Soothes Show - Ep Release episode - 2021

just soothin' & cruisin' received early support from a number of respected music platforms and broadcasters. The EP was selected by Bandcamp as one of its Essential Releases of 2021, describing it as a project that "edges into psychedelic territory on her prismatic debut EP." Tracks from the release were also played on BBC Radio 6 Music, NTS Radio, Worldwide FM, and other independent radio stations.

For me, this recognition was significant because much of the EP was written and recorded from my bedroom using limited resources. Seeing the project reach audiences beyond my immediate community reinforced the idea that independently made work could resonate on a much wider scale.

As an emerging artist, this support also helped establish credibility within the independent music scene. It gave me confidence in my creative direction and encouraged me to continue developing an interdisciplinary practice where music, visuals, and storytelling could exist as part of a wider artistic world.

Hello World played on BBC 6 Music

Looking back, just soothin' & cruisin' marked the beginning of my multidisciplinary approach as an independent artist. Beyond writing and producing music, I developed visual concepts, created storyboards, designed sets for promotional shoots, and even handcrafted earrings that became part of the project's visual identity. It demonstrated that my practice extends beyond music alone, with every element contributing to a cohesive creative world.

The project also reinforced the importance of collaboration. Working with other creatives expanded my ideas, challenged my perspective, and showed me how shared expertise can strengthen a project while still maintaining a clear artistic vision. These experiences continue to shape the way I approach my work today, informing both my creative practice and my growing interest in world-building as a framework for independent artists.