TheArti$t Is Introducing Herself with Her New EP, “Who I Am” and We All Need to Know

When I think about the role of an artist, my mind always teleports back to a keepsake written by the late James Baldwin: “All art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced to tell the whole story, to vomit the anguish up.” Art is vulnerability. It’s healing. At its core, it’s freedom. And truth is, we’re so often drawn to it because it has the power to tell stories that others won’t, even when it gets messy– whether it be through words, movement, symbols, or sound.

In the spirit that art is confession and emotional release — the frequency feels familiar in how up-and-coming R&B musician, TheArti$t, shows up in her work as a multi-hyphenated creative. 

There’s this sort of layered depth TheArti$t’s sound has and it’s got R&B lovers in a chokehold right now. Her viral hit Sober, for instance, prompts reflection– with harmonizing strings that soothe the soul and lyrics so euphoric, it’ll make even the pettiest person reconsider how they approach a breakup with less toxicity. But as TheArti$t simply puts it, “I hope that my audience perceives (my art) in a good way — whether it’s a safe space, pushes them to talk about their problems, or just uplifts their mood.” 

For anyone tapped into soul-baring R&B, TheArti$t should be on your lineup. With her latest project Who I Am out now, videos to match, celebrity cosigns, and getting shine at events likeB Code Media’sFuture of Black Music concert series, she’s proof that no matter where you are on your journey as an emerging artist or in this confusing world, keep going

Behind The Music

Before even thinking about stepping into a booth, Erica McCauley (TheArti$t) was rooted in movement. The Jersey native’s first love was Hip-Hop and Contemporary dance. “Going from a dancer to a singer was actually quite shocking,” she shared in an earlier interview. “As a kid, I didn’t have it in my head to become an artist, I just knew I loved music and I loved dancing and I was enjoying every bit of that.”  

The transition felt natural to her though.  “I realize there’s a lot of similarities from dancing versus now being a singer…I make sure I push myself and my story enough to move the people.” 

TheArti$t’s recording journey kicked off in 2018 when friends encouraged her to get in the booth after hearing how surprisingly well she sings, leading to the debut of her first EP, Arti$t: Take One in 2020. And while she’s always used visuals to reel in people through her moves, painting, or fashion, or style (seriously, what can’t she do!?), TheArti$t creates her music with full-body honesty. “I feel like art manifests in my work just with everything. Art is just who I am on the inside and outside; in front of the camera or off the camera.”

Growing momentum eventually led to the release of her viral hit, Sober, which did numbers on TikTok in 2023,  even landing on Spotify’s “Fresh Finds R&B Best of 2023” list. The movement kept in flow, and the following year she was chosen as one of South by Southwest Music Festival’s official artists, performing live twice during their 2024 showcase.

“The Journal I Didn’t Know I Needed”

As someone who often turns to music for grounding, coming across TheArti$t’s discography feels like the journal I didn’t know I needed. It’s something so profound and reassuring hearing someone name feelings you’re still learning how to express. In that same regard, watching someone bold enough to push against societal pressures to choose one identity when you’re actually okay with embracing all your talents, it’s refreshing. Her sensibility and revolt in the name of art reminds me of present day artists like Teyana Taylor or SZA, women who really stretch what it means to be vulnerable and versatile, showing us that you can take up space in all the ways that matter to you and the right people will follow. 

Who I Am and Where She’s Headed 

TheArti$t comes in hot on her latest project Who I Am with “Better as Friends,” a track that, despite its soothing sound, doesn’t sugarcoat a thing. It’s raw. She straight-up tells her love interest: “I know you wrapped up in us, but baby don’t be. If I say I’m looking for love, it’s a beautiful lie.” It’s the kind of line that gets the lovers riled up because it’s a warning so calm in tone, with an impact that cuts deep.

But what makes the genre-blending project compelling is how her tough exterior on the first song slowly softens as the tracks play on. On songs like Ghost and Gravity, you hear her start to wrestle with the pain of distance. In Ghost, she questions why her lover walks away, fantasizing about being close again. While Gravity feels like she’s completely surrendering to love, unintentionally being pulled toward something deeper, as she admits, “I’m out my element.” 

It’s beautifully contradictory and just deeply human. Because if you think about real love, especially in its early or uncertain moments, the experience isn’t monolithic. Sometimes we push people away in the name of self-preservation. Sometimes we say we’re not ready, even when everything in us wants to be seen. TheArti$t thoughtfully encapsulates that push and pull with a level of honesty that feels authentic and reminiscent to all the lovergirls and loverboys. 

Who I Am proves TheArti$t isn’t afraid to show the messy middle. That recipe of honesty feels nostalgic of old school and 90s R&B. Love odes like Anita Baker. Vulnerability of Brandy. TheArti$t’s modernized take is what I think makes her rise worth watching and combats the never-ending stereotype that R&B is dying. 

The Stage is Hers

These days, TheArti$t is having a few full-circle moments and is starting to receive her flowers. She’s been selected as a regional headliner for Newark Pride, a big win as a Jersey native whose work speaks so directly and pays homage to her upbringing and hometown. For Black Music Month, she was also recently spotlighted in B Code Media’s Future of Black Music showcase happening across four cities–a vibrant event showcasing emerging Black talent while celebrating culture, creativity, and community.

As we patiently wait for TheArti$t to continue hitting the big stages, stream her latest project Who I Am  or check out the official visual for her single, Gravity.