Like it or not, this has been the year of the country aesthetic’s revival in pop culture. From Beyoncé to Post Malone and Lana Del Rey, voices across music are stepping into boots and rejoicing in the trend. Seeing country as a spectrum, kindred R&B spirits Tempest and Amindi take their irresistible melodies to the wild wild west for their collaboration “The Ranch.” Sonically uncompromised from the two’s shared versatile take on R&B, the song’s video finds the pair on horseback, surrounded by stables and hay barrels as they enjoy the escape offered by the ranch lifestyle. “That’s not my baby and I’m not his either,” Tempest saunters and taunts on the track, going on to admit “it’s just a pain reliever.” Amindi quickly follows suit, echoing Tempest’s cadence and swagger in her guest verse. Unbothered and undeniable, the duo sound at home on “The Ranch.”

As the follow up to Tempest’s recent “Cha Cha Freestyle,” “The Ranch” will serve as the title track for the Long Beach artist’s upcoming debut EP. The project comes at an appropriate time, as Tempest has enjoyed a steady ascent: from playlist placements to finding herself as part of SXSW’s RNB FOREVER artist showcase and accompanying Jordan Ward on his FOREWARD tour, each step Tempest has taken has been in the right direction. With her infectious writing and boisterous delivery, Tempest’s title as one of R&B’s brightest stars has been earned, only growing brighter with as time goes by.

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