Curated Artist Library
Forge Brief
UMI
2018-present; commercial peak 2022-present (Forest in the City, talking to the wind)
Breathy, meditative, Seattle-bedroom-R&B — alt-R&B as Seattle-via-UMI-school meditation-bedroom-R&B ritual.
Genres
alternative r&bbedroom r&blo-fi r&b
Vocal character
UMI: warm Seattle-accented soprano with breathy whispered conversational-intimate verse delivery and head-voice chorus peaks. Vibrato-restrained phrasing; multi-tracked harmonies on herself; alt-R&B + bedroom-R&B + lo-fi-R&B hybrid precision with meditation-influenced aesthetic.
Production markers
UMI self-production + Yeti Beatsalt-R&B + bedroom-R&B + lo-fi-R&B foundation (live electric-guitar with chorus-pedal + bass + drums + Rhodes piano + analog-synth pads + occasional acoustic-guitar)multi-tracked vocal harmony stacksreverb-soaked atmospheric vocal productionbedroom-R&B minimalist arrangementKeep Cool / RCA sonic
Lyrical themes
romantic devotion + spiritual-meditation perspective (Why Don't We Go, wherever u r)observation of love's small daily moments with mindfulness-meditation detailcelebration of Seattle + Japanese-Black-American identityself-aware introspection + spiritual practicetheatrical first-person bedroom-R&B storytelling
Signature moves
breathy whispered-intimate verse deliveryRhodes piano + analog-synth pad foundationmulti-tracked harmony hook with reverb-soaked vocalmeditation-mindfulness lyric narrative
Avoid — off-brand for this artist
EDM dropsrap features as dominantmetal guitartheatrical pop-vocal projectioncountry production808 sub-bass as primary
More like UMI
- Joji
2017-present (post-Pink Guy comedy persona)
lo-fi r&balternative r&bsad-pop - NIKI
2017-present
alternative r&bindie popbedroom r&b - Brent Faiyaz
2015-present
alternative r&bcontemporary r&b - Bryson Tiller
2014-present
alternative r&btrap-soulcontemporary r&b - Daniel Caesar
2014-present
alternative r&bneo-soulgospel-influenced r&b
Ranked by genre overlap + era proximity. Browse the full library →