Make way for Emotional Oranges.
Hailing from the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, the brains behind Emotional Oranges–Azad Naficy and Vali Porter–emerge as a breath of fresh air in the music industry. Their smooth yet soulful sound, a unique blend of R&B, pop, and electronic elements, has not only captivated listeners to dive into their music more, but it’s their intoxicating cocktail of velvety vocals, punchy beats and magnetic harmonies that reels you in, making it hard to resist. With the worldwide success behind their songs like “West Coast Love” and “Motion, there’s no stopping Azad and Vali from what comes next.
As we count down to the release of their album titled ‘Orenjii,’ which translates to “orange” in both Korean and Japanese, it’s these two countries that have played a role in their recording process and provided inspiration.
Apart from that, their newly-released track “Call it Off” featuring NCT’s Jaehyun sparked conversations among fans–catchy yet equally addictive. And this magical collaboration came together after Azad co-wrote and produced the track “Flamin Hot Lemon” off Jaehyun’s debut solo album ‘J’ in 2024. Adding on to the anticipation, their track with Becky G and Jessie Reyez titled “Candy Gum” is another sweet hit, fresh off their new album.
Since their debut in 2018, these two have created magic through every album release and single. Their journey is still at an all-time high.
With their new album, Orenjii, set to release on 16 May 2025, we spoke to the talented duo about their latest album, collaboration with Jaehyun, their evolution as artists, and more.
Keep your eyes and ears peeled; Emotional Oranges is a duo you’ll want to keep on your radar. Take a peek at what we talked about with Azad and Vali ahead of their ‘Orenjii’ album release.
A quick chat with Azad and Vali of Emotional Oranges:
What themes inspired the songwriting process for the new album?
Azad: Lost love through an optimistic lens. It doesn’t always have to be all bad, and sometimes we forget to look back with gratitude. This album marks the first time I’m not being petty (laughs)
How did the dynamic between you two evolve while working on this new album?
Vali: Working on “Orenjii” really deepened our connection, not just as collaborators, but as friends and people. We’ve always had a strong creative trust, but this time around, there was a new level of honesty. We weren’t afraid to challenge each other or get uncomfortable if it meant pushing the music to a more vulnerable place. This album is bolder, more open, and definitely more personal.
Can you share a story behind one of the tracks that feels significant to you?
Vali: One that stands out is “Talk About Us”. It came together in this really raw moment. We were working with Isaiah Falls and his band of producers/creatives, ‘Luxury Lane.’ We weren’t overthinking melodies or lyrics; we were just describing a scene. The bass felt like a signature “EO” but different this time. I remember leaving the studio that night feeling lighter, like we had bottled up a feeling you usually can’t explain in words. It’s those moments that remind me why we do this.
What was it like collaborating with Jaehyun on the song “Call It Off”?
Azad: J is a good man with a good plan. We love a lot of the same things, from Flamin’ Hot Cheetos (with fresh lime) to Timbaland and Pharrell’s contributions to 90’s R&B. He was also the first person to put me on Isaiah Falls, whom I ended up reaching out to to be on our album!
How do you feel this album compares to your previous work in terms of growth and evolution as artists?
Azad: I‘m not going to sit here and tell you that it dumps on our other bodies of work. But it definitely does.
No, seriously, we just had more time to experiment and explore and found a way to uncover new areas that we just didn’t before. When you’re on the hamster wheel of touring and releasing, you don’t have a chance to digest and process those experiences. Usually, we’re picking eight songs out of 15 or 20 songs. In this case, we chose 11 out of 40-50 ideas. That extra time also allows you to really see if you have an attachment to a song, and there’s nothing on here that I would cut or not play again.
What role did experimentation play in the creation of this album? Have you tried any new techniques that we haven’t heard from you about before?
Azad: Not really a new technique, but working with more collaborators than ever before definitely opened up a few doors that I’ve been quite closed to. Once again, the gift of allowing yourself the time to fail. While the album is quite warm and organic, you’re going to hear a lot more electronic sounds than ever before. I’m a big fan of designing great loops, but there’s also candy in the tracks, which will only pop up once or twice. That’s not something we’ve done before, more so because I’m selfish, and if we come up with a great melody or sound, I want to hear it as much as possible.
What’s the one thing you want listeners to experience when they listen to ‘Orenjii’?
Vali: I want them to feel understood. “Orenjii” is a snapshot of real emotions—the highs, the heartbreaks, and the growing pains—all wrapped in something that feels warm and familiar. Whether it’s comfort, nostalgia, or just a feeling of “I’m not alone in this,” I hope everyone finds a little piece of themselves in our music.
