Drake’s audio engineer and Adele’s vocal coach meet at a bat mitzvah. This isn’t the beginning of a worn out joke, but in fact the unusual genesis of R&B duo Emotional Oranges. Comprised of Azad Naficy and Vali Porter, also known simply as A and V, this LA-based duo first joined forces back in 2017. Both aspiring musicians carving out a path of their own in the industry, they began working on tracks together, ultimately inspiring the creation of elusive duo Emotional Oranges.
Their experimental and genre-bending productions quickly garnered attention from music-lovers alike. From sultry hit ‘West Coast Love’ to the playful and retro-infused ‘Personal,’ the group melds alternative, R&B, soul and funk influences, creating a unique sound of their own. Their captivating live performances and stage presences only added to their growing allure once they began touring across the world.
Orenjii, aptly meaning Orange in both Japanese and Korean, is the name of their latest project. Inspired by time spent in Seoul and Tokyo over the past few years, the album blends influences from the East and West—both sonically and visually. With a wealth of tracks under their belt, it may be surprising that Orenjii is only their debut album. Six years and multiple world tours later, the duo is finally gracing the world with a project that best reflects their artistry and message.
In an exclusive conversation with Vogue Singapore, Emotional Oranges share their inspiration behind debut album Orenjii, collaborating with the likes of Becky G and NCT’s Jaehyun, and performing at the upcoming Seoul Jazz Festival. Something else to look out for in the not so distant future? A collaboration featuring Korean R&B icon Dean.
Tell us a little about what inspired your new album Orenjii.
V: Orenjii is our debut album. I would call this album a love letter to ourselves. We’ve been through a lot as a group and we’ve released a lot of amazing projects, but this one is the one we really put our whole foot in. We just wanted to put everything on the table.
The aesthetic and sound of Orenjii draw heavily from South Korean and Japanese influences. What drew you to these cultures?
A: Both Vali and I grew up on anime and a lot of Japanese design. Japanese streetwear had a big influence on us in the 2000s. Now, you can look at the infiltration of pop music coming out of South Korea. We love the nightlife there, the food culture, the coffee culture. I don’t think there have been another two cities that have had a greater influence on us and given us love back like those two cities have over the past few years. It’s just really inspiring, everything feels possible there.
V: And to add to that, I think it’s really cool that him and I both have the same love for these cities. These places are calling us and that’s why we keep going back.
You feature a wide range of artists on this album. What are some memorable behind-the-scenes moments of these collaborations?
V: ‘Candy Gum’ was probably one of my favourite collaborations on the whole project. Being paired with Becky, who has been doing this for so long and is so professional and stunning, and Jessie, who is a badass songwriter and vocalist and just knows how to move on camera, was so inspiring and so empowering. I also love that’s how we kicked off our visuals, because that’s exactly the energy of Orenjii. We’re just here to enlighten, inspire and uplift people.
A: I would say the Jaehyun collaboration was one of my favourites. I got to live out my 90’s boyband dreams and work with someone whom I really respect. We’ve made a few songs together now and I think this one felt the most authentic to Emotional Oranges. Val and I had started working on the track and it was cool to hear Jaehyun come into our world. As the fans are saying, there is a lot of synergy. His tone, cadence and flow are really complementary to ours. And his view of R&B is also very complementary to ours.
What is your current favourite song on the album?
V: It changes for me if I’m being honest. ‘Call it Off’ was not one of my early favourites just because I loved some of the other ones so much. But now that it’s come out, I’ve been listening to that song every day—it’s been hitting me differently. Whereas before I would’ve said: ‘Out the Blue,’ ‘That Girl’ and ‘Candy Gum.’ And then we have that song with Isaiah Falls that when I hear it, I melt into a bathtub in my mind. It is so fire.
A: For me, ‘Only a Friend,’ ‘That Girl’, and ‘Private Dancer Freestyle’, which I think is a very underrated track. I talk about the West Side in there and we had a really devastating fire in LA recently so that one means a lot to me.
Where do you think is the perfect environment to listen to Orenjii for the first time?
A: Ooh…sunset. I think our music really works well for driving—top down, at sunset or at night.
V: Yes, sunset for sure. Or, afterparty vibes. There’s something about listening to some of our songs when you’re on your way home to get some.
A: *laughs* A lot of people have told us that they use our music to get some.
As a duo, how has working together changed your creative process compared to when working by yourselves?
V: Azad has made me a better writer. I have so much confidence in sessions now. I’ve always wanted to work with writers that understand how to really translate the things that I’m thinking.
A: I appreciate that, and vice versa, I think I’ve become a better performer. I understand the stage much more because of Val. I’ve seen her, whether it’s 5 people or 50 in a room, she’s treating it like it’s 5000. And now when it’s 5000, we still treat it like it’s 50 people in the room.
When you first started, you were very conscious of not divulging your identities and personal lives. Was it an intentional choice in letting your work speak for itself?
V: You’re nailing it—it was about the world. Both of us being solo artists before coming together, we had to figure out what we looked like in a group together and while doing that, we allowed the music to lead the way. I think the fans really grasped onto that.
A: I think it’s also cool because people got to see and hear themselves in us. It’s so crazy to think that neither of us are East Asian, but the music really resonated there. But on the other hand, a lot of our personal lives are reflected in the music. There’s so many things that are quite personal, and I think we’ve been quite honest and vulnerable in it. If you look back, we’ve been pretty open, maybe just not in the traditional social media way.
You’re slated to perform at the upcoming Seoul Jazz Festival. What are you most excited about and what can fans look forward to at your performance?
V: We were spoiled last time we were in Korea. I’m looking forward to that moment when we step on stage, that moment when we hear it in our in-ears through the mic because it’s so loud. That first moment, that first breath, is what I’m looking forward to the most.
A: We’ve performed at Coachella and Lollapalooza but nothing really hits like Korea. We’re going to come with so much energy, and it surely won’t be the last time they see us.
Listen to Orenjii here.
