Will Saneit Be The Next Great R&B Artist From Chicago?

Saneit effortlessly captures the ambiance of the classic R&B we know and love.

Chicago has been a breeding ground in the music scene for well over 50 years now. Artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Minnie Riperton, Jennifer Hudson, Donell Jones, Sam Cooke, Kanye West, and so many more all have ties to the Windy City. First known for ‘Chicago Blues’ as early as the 1920s, more recent Chicago artists like Mick Jenkins, Saba, Chance The Rapper, and Noname, blend all the beautiful genres of blues, jazz, and hip-hop with the best of them. Emerging R&B artist Saneit is well aware of the company that she is in. Saneit is ready to put her name in the ring as one of the next great acts out of the cultural haven that is Chicago.

Hailing from the west side, Saneit has already come in to her own. She has clearly been a student of the R&B genre for quite a while, citing influences like Whitney Houston, Monica, and Brandy. It sounds like she has been training her voice for some time now, probably starting with covers of hits by some of the women I just mentioned. Her smooth, rich, and soulful voice is far from novice. She gravitates towards the mid to lower tones with progressions that trigger many emotions in the listener. Not quite a contralto, Saneit’s mezzo-soprano voice captures the essence of R&B very naturally.

Her latest single ‘Prove Me Wrong’ gives off an overall feeling of distaste, a “sick and tired of being sick and tired” type of vibe. Has someone ever said to you “I’m not upset, I’m disappointed”? That is definitely Saneit’s aura on this track. Judging by the lyrics, that is what the Chicago-based songstress wanted to convey and she delivered. Her voice is pleasant, possessing a nice mix of texture and airiness; heavy when conveying feeling or emotion, and light for those traditional R&B melodies that require high notes. She does a great job of showing range without strain.

Saneit’s pen is definitely there. Telling her own story is what will set her apart from the household names that she is inspired by. Speaking of the story, Saneit says that the lyrics were inspired by real events. “As women our intuition doesn’t lie. We may not always know exactly what it is, but something is up” she goes on to say. Saneit also explained that her somber and calm delivery was intentional. “The song has attitude, but it’s also, sung in a sweet soft tone because I’m being very calm about the situation”. If you are looking for Saneit to showcase more vocal power with a stronger delivery, go check out songs like You Don’t Have To Worry and Takes 2.

Furthermore, by the time you get to the end of ‘Prove Me Wrong’, it does feel like a bit of a cliff hanger. Adding another verse could have been useful to round out the story. Hopefully, we will get a part two some day or a track that picks up where this one left off. Nonetheless, Saneit left me wanting to come back for more.

Because this song does capture 2000s era R&B so well, you have to ask yourself how much nostalgia plays a part in its replay value? ‘Prove Me Wrong’ sounds like something Monica could have made in the late 90s/early 2000s. Time will tell if this track has the luster to stand alone. Saneit’s 2021 album CRUSH II was much more progressive and upbeat, probably fitting in more with today’s R&B. This proves that her overall knowledge of music and song structure gives Saneit the ability to  explore the R&B genre in totality. Maybe one day fans will get a full album of B side’s with a cohesive theme, where ‘Prove Me Wrong’ is only a piece of the puzzle.

Check out the interview below to get to know the emerging Chicago artist a little better. Be sure to follow Saneit on Instagram to keep up with her journey!

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