In an age dominated by auto-tune, there’s something to be said for a good old-fashioned unprocessed singing voice. In Aly Absalam, Cairo has recently been introduced to a unique singing voice who has won fans through a string of performances across Cairo as well as a strong run to the finals of what is an apparently very keenly-contested annual talent show at the American University in Cairo.His debut single, January, 2020’s ‘Lonely’, was a soft, pattering indie pop number that offered the right dose of melancholia a track called ‘Lonely’ demands. His second single, however, takes on a decidedly more upbeat tone that dances in the world of soul and funk. Featuring production from Joe Tariq, backing vocals by Tala Radwan and Mohanad Arrabb on guitar, ‘Blue’, far warmer than its name suggests, its old-school R&B vibes painting an interesting new face for an interesting new singer.