IV4

IV has a name for her exquisitely soulful, artful, and free-flowing genre of one: “alternative contemporary,” and that fits. The St. Louis-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and model is undeniably of this ever-changing time, but she’s also always a couple steps to the side of the flow. Part of that is the way she flirts with pop, sidles up to Alternate rock, and links arms with hip-hop/ R&B, combining those familiar feels into a fresh take on the modern soundscape. Part of it is in the way she draws raw vulnerability and expression from the various flavors of rock she grew up on. But mostly, it’s that IV is a holistic artist whose entire presence—aural, visual, and beyond—is rich with emotional hues. Over production that both booms and soothes, she lays down a seductive serenade that homes in on love’s intricacies. Armed with hundreds of journals filled with poems and lyrics, IV has shared a string of songs that puts the elasticity of her vocals and vibe on full display, from lustful 2018 breakthrough “Because of Me” (produced by Smash David and SkipOnDaBeat), to last year’s trap&B bop ”Shameless,” to 2020’s dreamy, Trippie Redd-assisted “Swimming.” Swerves were a theme in her life since day one—she and her family were often on the move when she was a child—but so were hard work and creative expression. As a result, IV never stays in one pocket for long, and that’s exactly why we won’t look away from her for a second.