Songs like H.E.R.: 10 tracks for fans of guitar-led R&B

Songs like H.E.R. put a guitar, or a piano, back at the center of R&B and let a calm, close voice tell the truth without decoration. Her appeal is musicianship worn lightly: real chords, real players and a singer who sounds like she means every line. Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor," Daniel Caesar's "Get You" and Jazmine Sullivan's "Pick Up Your Feelings" share that grounded, honest feel.

H.E.R. is Gabriella Wilson, a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Vallejo, California. She arrived in 2016 with the H.E.R. Volume 1 EP and the slow single "Focus," keeping her face half hidden behind sunglasses. "Best Part," her duet with Daniel Caesar, came out in 2017, the same year as the compilation album H.E.R. I Used to Know Her followed in 2019, with "Hard Place," and her first full studio album, Back of My Mind, arrived in 2021, the year of "Fight for You" from Judas and the Black Messiah.

What does H.E.R. sound like?

Most H.E.R. songs sit at a slow or mid tempo, built on clean electric guitar, warm bass and soft, unhurried drums, with plenty of space left in the mix. She plays much of what you hear, and the guitar often carries the hook, from the gentle picking on "Focus" to the bluesy solos she takes live. Later records add gospel organ, fuller choirs and the occasional rapper, but the core stays small enough to play in a living room.

H.E.R.'s voice is smooth and steady, low in the mix on the early EPs and stronger by "Hard Place," where she lets it swell into the chorus. She rarely oversings; the runs are short and placed where they matter. Her lyrics stay with love that asks for patience, the hurt that comes after it, and, on songs like "Fight for You," a wider call for justice. The mood is late at night and honest, more confession than seduction.

Songs like H.E.R.: 10 picks

1. Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor" (1998). The template for a soul singer who writes, arranges and sings her own heartbreak. The slow build and the ache in the chorus run straight into "Hard Place."
2. India.Arie, "Video" (2001). An acoustic-guitar R&B song about self-worth over image. It's the clearest precedent for H.E.R.'s guitar-first approach and her plain-spoken lyrics.
3. Alicia Keys, "Fallin'" (2001). A singer at her own instrument, turning a gospel-tinged piano figure into a love song. Fans of H.E.R.'s musician side will hear the same self-reliance.
4. Daniel Caesar, "Get You" (2016). A slow, warm duet with Kali Uchis over soft guitar and bass. It's the nearest relative of "Best Part" outside that song itself.
5. Summer Walker, "Girls Need Love" (2018). A spare, late-night confession over a minimal beat. The frank, quiet delivery suits listeners who came in through the early EPs.
6. Ari Lennox, "Shea Butter Baby" (2019). Neo-soul with live-sounding drums and a relaxed, smoky vocal. It shares H.E.R.'s easy groove and her refusal to rush.
7. Snoh Aalegra, "I Want You Around" (2019). A soft, jazz-tinted plea for a partner to stay. The hushed tone and patient tempo match "Focus" closely.
8. Lucky Daye, "Roll Some Mo" (2019). A loose, guitar-and-bass groove with a light, slippery vocal. It's the funkier side of the same musician-led R&B.
9. Giveon, "Heartbreak Anniversary" (2020). A deep, slow ballad about the date a relationship ended. The quiet hurt and the restraint fit H.E.R.'s breakup songs.
10. Jazmine Sullivan, "Pick Up Your Feelings" (2021). A cool, steady kiss-off sung with total control. It matches the spine that runs under H.E.R.'s softest records.

Songs like H.E.R. trust the player as much as the singer: the chord under the line matters as much as the line.

Opal Sinclair songs that fit

Opal Sinclair is an Atlanta atmospheric R&B and neo-soul singer whose debut album, Velvet, shares H.E.R.'s calm delivery and slow pace, though it trades the guitar for pads, jazz piano and brushed drums.

1. Close match: Opal Sinclair, "Honey". Track eleven on Velvet, at 2:46, is a flirtatious love song where a new lover walks in like summer and the narrator memorizes their laugh like a favorite riff. The sweetness lines up with "Best Part"; the mood is more playful and the song has no guitar at its center.
2. Partial match: Opal Sinclair, "Electric". The second track turns setbacks into current and speaks to every woman who has been told she is less, with a gospel-like bridge about being free. It echoes the uplift of H.E.R.'s statement songs, but it's an anthem, not a quiet confession.

More artists like H.E.R.

Beyond the ten picks, the artists who sit closest to H.E.R. include Jhené Aiko, Kehlani, Ella Mai, Emily King, Brent Faiyaz, Victoria Monét and Cleo Sol. For the older, instrument-led side, go to Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott and Raphael Saadiq.

Pick by what you replay. If it's the guitar, start with India.Arie, Emily King and Lucky Daye. If it's the slow, close love songs, Daniel Caesar, Snoh Aalegra and Giveon. If it's the bigger, gospel-lifted H.E.R. of "Fight for You," Lauryn Hill and Jazmine Sullivan.

Where to start

Begin with "Focus" and "Best Part," then play "Get You" and "I Want You Around" for the hushed side and "Ex-Factor" and "Pick Up Your Feelings" for the stronger voice. Add "Video" for the guitar. Finish with Opal Sinclair's "Honey." Our atmospheric R&B guide maps the wider sound, and if the hushed, intimate songs are what you love, our songs like Jhené Aiko picks go further.

Key takeaways

1. Songs like H.E.R. combine slow, guitar-led R&B with a calm voice and plain, honest lyrics.
2. Lauryn Hill, India.Arie and Alicia Keys are the singer-musician precedents; Daniel Caesar and Snoh Aalegra are close peers.
3. Giveon and Jazmine Sullivan carry the same restraint into newer heartbreak songs.
4. Opal Sinclair's "Honey" matches the tender love songs, with pads and piano in place of guitar.

H.E.R. made it normal again for an R&B star to take the guitar solo, and the songs that sit beside her all sound played, not programmed. Keep the lights low and listen for the hands on the instruments.

FAQ

What genre is H.E.R.?

H.E.R. is an American R&B singer and multi-instrumentalist whose music leans on guitar, soul and gospel. Her first studio album, Back of My Mind, came out in 2021.

What artists are similar to H.E.R.?

Daniel Caesar, Snoh Aalegra, India.Arie, Lauryn Hill, Jazmine Sullivan and Giveon are among the closest, along with Jhené Aiko, Kehlani and Emily King.

What H.E.R. song should I start with?

"Best Part," her 2017 duet with Daniel Caesar, is the easiest way in. "Focus" (2016) shows the quieter, guitar-led side of her early EPs.

Who is Opal Sinclair?

Opal Sinclair is a McCandless Records act from Atlanta who makes atmospheric R&B and neo-soul. Her debut album, Velvet, came out in April 2026.