Rob de Boer celebrates tenderness in his soulful blues-fusion track “Man to You”

Slow-burning and sultry, his soulful side shines through in his poetic lyricism, the ethereal backing vocals, and moving guitar lines. The organic sound is filled out by saxophone and stripped-back drums, bridging together modern influences with old school sounds and making for an addictively tender song drenched in nostalgia.

“Man to You” is a song about self-acceptance, exploring de Boer’s queerness against the backdrop of conservative religious traditions and the social definitions of manhood. It’s the final single coming ahead of his debut album, and it leaves a lasting impression.

“I named the album after ‘Man to You’ as I feel it best captures the narrative on the record,” de Boer says. “The song came during a time of exploring my identity and sexuality. I felt a growing sense of uncertainty around who I was and how I should present myself to others. As an album title, it goes beyond masculinity or sexuality and addresses broader questions of what it means to be a man or an adult. The record reflects on formative years of learning, growth, and change.”

Inspired by pioneers like Bill Withers, and modern virtuosos like Puma Blue and Oscar Jerome, de Boer is multi-disciplinary at heart and appreciates the crossing of the audio and visual. The release of “Man to You” is accompanied by a music video with messages of its own. Directed by Émilie Richard Froozan, it’s set in an underground cabaret where Rob sings to a cast of lonely older men, all with varying reactions to his serenade. Check out the single and music video below, and stay tuned for the release of the full album on May 16th.