Naomi Sharon originally planned to have her second album and follow up to her acclaimed debut Obsidian out to the world at this point in time. However, things did not go according to plan, but that’s just how life goes sometimes. Instead, Sharon returns with a new EP The Only Love We Know, a six-track transitional piece that readies listeners for the full TK of what lies ahead in her newest era.

The Only Love We Know isn’t just a bridge between Obsidian and her second album, but also a mirror of her growth and healing progress. “This EP is more about finding happiness within yourself and embracing the positive things in life,” she noted in a press release announcing the EP. “Love still plays a role, but now there is a deeper understanding that true love comes from within. If something does not work out, that is okay too. It is about self-love and independence.” Where Obsidian struggled to see the light at the end of the tunnel, The Only Love We Know masterfully captures Sharon’s newfound hope and optimism toward the brightest days life has to offer.

With The Only Love We Know out now, we caught up with Naomi Sharon to talk about the project, how she perceives love nowadays, both internally and externally, and what lies ahead in her current era.

There’s a saying that artists spend their whole life making their debut album, but not so much time is allocated for the next projects. So, how has the experience been for you in working on this second chapter of your career?

Even with Obsidian, we were pretty quick with it. An album always takes time with the after-effects of editing and mastering – sometimes you miss a piece. This time with the EP, it’s six songs, it’s different. I’ve been making so much music in the meantime that I’m not releasing, so it actually feels like a relief to finally put it out in the world. There’s a different energy between Obsidian, and The Only Love We Know.

You previously planned to release your second album sometime last year. How do we end up with a new EP that, I assume, serves as a bridge between your debut and your upcoming second album?

That’s how we felt as well. I could have been pushing for a second album, but I think it needed a little break before that. I believe that it’s good for people to digest your music, and yeah, an EP felt like a good piece of work for now until the next one. Also, I think it’s important to have a piece that is that feels transitional to people as well.

When did you realize that Obsidian – a record that you vent and pour out your feelings about heartbreak – had helped you arrive at a new understanding of love, one that shows that true love comes within as well as the acceptance that each attempt at external love will not always last forever?

I think I had it while making it, but also it manifested itself afterward. I always say that making music is like doing shadow work. In this painful era in my life, I tried to stay hopeful and that was also something that I was putting into the music. I think that came true because right now I’m in a very different stage where I feel hopeful. Back then, it was more something that I wanted to be and that I might have maybe projected upon myself because I was like, “I need that right now. I need to be hopeful,” and now I am.

What song on this project was the guiding light that helped to make the others come alive and be compatible with the rest to create this cohesive EP?

To be honest, there is a gap between some songs. I made “Calm Waters,” “Bittersweet,” and “Soft Like Dawn” before everything else, but funny enough, it always becomes cohesive. That’s because I’m part of the production where I need it to be and feel cohesive. I chose these three songs to combine with the other songs because if I look back at the things that I’ve made, I’ve always played them because it gave me a wonderful feeling listening to them. If I have that with my own music, not to be arrogant, but just to be happy with what I make, it’s hopefully gonna transcend in the ears of my listeners into something that they’re feeling. I just picked those three songs with the other ones and it became cohesive.

I really enjoyed how you depicted that moment of being in limbo in love on “Can We Do This Over.” What’s the story, or the frustrating thoughts, that led you to write this song?

I think “Can We Do This Over” resembles a moment in a relationship where you tell yourself if we could do this over, I know with the knowledge that we have right now that it will be better. It’s almost a fantasy and romanticizing a better end maybe, but at the same time, it could be happening as well. Sometimes in life, you stumble upon a situation where you thought it was over, then certain things happen, and you stay with that person or a situation and you grow from that with each other or within the situation, but that’s not always the case. But for me, it felt like that.

With you being an admitted perfectionist, I thought “Feels Like Home” was an interesting record as you acknowledge the flaws but note it’s not enough to make you uncomfortable. You sing, “A little dirty, but it feels like home / A little unsteady, but it feels like home.” When talking about love, I think there’s a level of accepting and maybe even appreciating flaws in both yourself and a partner in love. What does that balance look like to you? Especially in an era where you promote true love from within.

I think that’s the journey. Being a perfectionist doesn’t really mean that you’re a perfectionist in every aspect in your life — with love, I’m definitely not. I’m definitely more flexible, but I’m learning now that that’s also because — making a bridge to now — that’s the only love we know. That’s exactly what the song [and] the EP is about. You start to realize that this is a pattern, and you only go for the things that you know, right? It’s something you attract. [In] most toxic relationships, I know it sounds f*cked up to say this, [but] you attract that. You make the decision every time to be with a person who treats you like that because that’s your history. That’s the software you’re running. I think it’s a realization more than something that I’m preaching. It’s something that I’m trying to understand more — that’s why I’m saying — it’s a journey. Hopefully, I can be that person more where I can be flexible [but] to a certain degree.

What areas did you heavily focus on to show your elevation as an artist with The Only Love We Know?

I think that I’m showing more of my voice. I think that I’m definitely channeling something else than [on] Obsidian, which was more based on vibes and, of course, good songs, and the way I sang them was also part of it. After my tour, I started to realize that, “Oh, I want to sing this,” and I want to be able to pour my heart out in the songs in a way that I can walk off the stage and be like, “Yeah…” and I started to do it with the tour.

What about The Only Love We Know do you feel is still connected to Obsidian and about this EP do you feel is completely detached and the start of a new chapter?

Let’s start with the sonics: I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s leaning towards other genres. Pop is one of them. I’m experimenting with that [and] I’m really having fun with that. It’s really nice to go there and step out of that comfort zone that I was in. I’m starting to realize that it’s maybe my thing as well, who knows? Then, like I said, it’s a transitional piece of work, so songwriting: I think that people see that there’s something happening. There’s something moving forward. As far as songwriting, as in the song structures, I think it’s way more focused on songwriting right now. You had “Definition Of Love” on the other album that didn’t really have a chorus, it was just like a vibe from the beginning till the end. I feel like the songs right now have structure and that might be a reflection of my own life as well.

Speaking of the next chapter, what do you think we should expect as we dive deeper into this new Naomi Sharon era?

To be honest, I don’t know because it’s ongoing and I am trying to embrace the uncertain. So who knows, but I hope it’s positive.

The Only Love We Know is out now via OVO Sound/Santa Anna Label Group. Find out more information here.

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