A week before releasing his sophomore project, Soul Searching, Bazzi summarised its essence to fans on Twitter: “a journey of love, pain, and growth.” Billed as a full-length mixtape, the release is an emotional reflection on the Up Next alum’s rapid rise, which began with his blockbuster single “Mine” in 2017 and was quickly followed by his soulful debut album, Cosmic. Here, the Michigan native again teams up with Rice N’ Peas—the songwriting/production duo known for synth-washed, blissed-out R&B-pop—and serves up romantic lullabies (“I.F.L.Y.”, “Paradise"), gospel-inflected ruminations (“Conversations With Myself”, “Who Am I?”) and confident, wide-eyed anthems that have become his sweet spot (“No Way”, “Live Forever”).