Before he reached the age of 12, Chicago-bred singer/songwriter Aleem was penning songs that showed a melodic sensibility well beyond his years. By his late teens he’d refined his artistry and forged a sound all his own, building off the natural musicality he’d first displayed by arranging pots and pans in drum-kit formation and banging out songs at age 5. Now, on the heels of joining Fifth Harmony for an arena tour of Europe, Aleem is set to deliver another EP brilliantly showcasing his acoustic-guitar-driven brand of R&B-tinged pop. His 2016 EP, made with producers Ryan Stewart (Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City) and Jon Levine (Selena Gomez, Cher Lloyd), Open Letters finds Aleem taking a storytelling-like approach to his lyrics. The L.A.-based artist co-wrote all of the EP’s 4 tracks, working with such songwriters as Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes, Jessie J) and Anjulie (Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj) and instilling each song with a daring vulnerability. “For this EP I really wanted to let my guard down and let people into my life, and tell stories that everyone can relate to,” says Aleem. “That’s where the title comes from—each song is a letter intended for a specific person, but it’s up to the listeners as far as how they make the songs their own.”