With raw, arresting vocals that reveal a wisdom beyond his years, Brooklyn-based artist rum.gold has developed a brand of ethereal soul that navigates the highs and lows of love. Initially sharing his music under the name Anon, he connected with his primary producer, Berlin-based James Chatburn, online. Though the two never met in person, they made a perfect pair, with rum.gold’s lilting falsetto soaring over Chatburn’s textured production. Pairing powerfully personal lyrics with an aesthetic inspired by artists like Moses Sumney and Lianne La Havas, rum.gold blurs the lines between contemporary R&B, pop and gospel while arriving at a sound distinctly his own. Songs like “Waiting For”—his 2020 duet with Jamila Woods—serve as the perfect introduction, incorporating guitars, organ, jazzy textures and neo-soul beats to buoy his airy vocals.