Kiyan Foroughi has today premiered his new single collab with Rachelle Ruby and rapper Jude titled ‘Seas of Space’ from his upcoming album ‘inner light. OUTER SPACE’, dropping n February.
In my opinion, collaborations need to focus on the connectivity of the artists involved, and , ‘Seas of Space’ sound like a singular cohesive unit. A band, if you will. Jude’s gritty rap caresses and collides with Rachelle’s pristine and angelic vocals.
With soul as the goal, ‘Seas of Space’ is a hat trick for the masses with subtle hooks and a massive sound set to a slow grind. Beautifully crafted and mastered with the song in mind, ‘Seas of Space’ is that gateway drug for what is to come with ‘inner light. OUTER SPACE’.
About ‘Seas of Space’
Born in France to Iranian parents and raised across Paris, Dubai, Boston, New York, London, and now Singapore, Foroughi channels a lifetime of cultural translation into cosmic R&B that bridges East and West. Inspired by the soulful production legacy of J Dilla, Kaytranada, Nujabes, and Questlove, alongside contemporary voices like Anderson .Paak and Jorja Smith, his sound weaves neo-soul, trip-hop, jazz, and boom-bap into cinematic storytelling.
“Seas of Space” is the protagonist’s first step into the unknown – a moment of hope, optimism, and discovery before the trials ahead. Built on vibrant, danceable production inspired by Kaytranada’s bounce and Nujabes’ soulful textures, the track plants philosophical seeds beneath its catchy exterior.
The title draws from Rumi’s prayer: “Fling me across the fabric of time and the seas of space. Make me nothing and from nothing, everything.” “It’s a plea for ego-death, for the shedding of illusions so the self can be reborn,” Foroughi explains. Jude’s gritty, Kendrick Lamar-influenced flow delivers a warning: don’t fall for the illusion of the new.
Set in a dreamlike future, ‘inner light. OUTER SPACE.’ follows a female protagonist (voiced by Rachelle Ruby) navigating alien worlds and mythic trials. Inspired by Rumi’s philosophy and Carl Jung’s shadow work, the album is a non-linear journey inward – play it forward for ascension, in reverse for descent. Either way, the destination is the same: remembering who you are.
“I realized the album wasn’t just a story I was telling,” says Foroughi. “It was the story I was living.” A serial tech founder whose startup was named after the legendary Soulquarians collective, Foroughi didn’t begin producing until COVID lockdowns in 2020, working with UK hip-hop legend Funky DL. What followed was a creative flood that became this deeply personal debut.
Collaborators on the album include actor Darius Homayoun (Succession, Tehran), veteran rapper Substantial (Nujabes’ most frequent collaborator), Singaporean female hip-hop icon Masia One, Japanese-American lofi artist Taiyo Ky, and singer George Azzi.
Rachelle Ruby, who anchors the album’s emotional core, grew up performing in Singapore before life made her stop. Years later, a casual mention to her boss (Foroughi) that she used to sing led to her becoming the voice of this cosmic mythology. Her floaty, ethereal vocals blend neo-soul with lo-fi hip-hop – “Like Erykah Badu meeting Nujabes in space,” Foroughi describes.
About Kiyan Foroughi
Kiyan Foroughi builds worlds in two registers: tech CEO by day, music producer by night. Based in Singapore and fluent in four languages, he’s spent his life bridging cultures, philosophies, and creative worlds across Paris, Dubai, Boston, New York, and London. His music translates between East and West, weaving R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop into cinematic storytelling.
About Rachelle Ruby
Rachelle Ruby is a Singapore-based singer and entrepreneur whose ethereal, soulful voice anchors inner light. OUTER SPACE. By day, she co-founded tech startup Needle alongside Kiyan. By night, she’s the protagonist of a cosmic mythology exploring self-recognition through soul, R&B, and hip-hop.
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