Estonian soul princess RETI releases debut album ‘Blue Hour’
Touted by some as a mix of Chaka Khan and Teena Marie for her explosive stage presence, young Estonian soul princess in the making RETI finally unveils her debut album, Blue Hour, a musical journey guiding listeners from the twilight of a party evening to the first light of morning. The record was made in collaboration with producer Martin Laksberg and trusted band members at Selektor Studios and mastered by José Diogo Neves.
Blue Hour allows us to experience RETI’s evolution as a songwriter and storyteller as it represents a defining chapter in her artistic trajectory. Following a string of singles, from uptempo booty-moving burner “Shake“ to smooth ballad “Tell Me“, and in between digital double single “My Home“, this cohesive body of work weaves together not only one night but snapshots of her whole life. Intimate reflections on love, solitude, and self-discovery are set against lush, groove-driven arrangements.
“At first, Blue Hour might seem like an album about love and heartbreak. But for me, it carries despair, satire, and self-criticism as well. You can listen to it from the beginning to the end and imagine how I spend a night out with friends, from sunset to sunrise”.
The album takes its name from that fleeting period between dusk and dawn – the ‘blue hour’ – when emotions are heightened and moments blur between dream and reality. “Desperate love and the fear of being alone can emerge between the two blue hours and linger there through the night”, RETI continues. “Each track stands on its own, yet together they form a sonic landscape where everyone can find something to resonate with”.
Take influences from Sade, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and the cast of Stax Records. Then mix them together with a bubbly young soulstress with a powerful voice and you got the formula of RETI and her first album Blue Hour.
‘Blue Hour’ out on LP / Digital on Oct. 23rd 2025 via Funk Embassy Records
