I am a little late finding this gem, it is perfect for a late night. There is no need to mention anything about J Dilla productions, but Claire Reneé’s cover of Slum Village’s Climax adds another layer to the dope beat. Claire’s smooth vocals really makes the case that this collabo should’ve been on the album. It has been on heavy rotation, go check her soundcloud page here
The Ultra talented Szjerdene just dropped a new single Abode off her EP Paragon which should be dropping sometime in November. Abode, produced by Lapalux, starts off with Szjerdene’s vocals over this eerie minimalist production but then switches to this epic grand type beat. While I prefer the first portion because Szjerdene’s voice is showcased, the second portion is more of your typical layered sound. It is the complete with vocals and production packaged perfectly together. Check out the single and look for the EP in November!
Sipprell dropped the newest single Essence off her new EP, it is produced by the production group The Citrus Clouds. The track is dark but has this swing to it, it has the feel of two parts. The early portion has more of this uptempo beat but slow down to break down to a subtle beat where Sipprell’s eerie voice shines. I can’t wait for the EP, keep it coming Sipprell.
With each new UK soul release, it seems that it tops the previous one. This week is Tom Bailey, the smooth crooner tackles Marvin Gaye’s Ain’t No Mountain High and just kills it. Marvin Gaye would be proud of Tom Bailey’s version, just as Marvin pushed the boundaries, Tom is doing the same thing, becoming a true innovator, not sticking to the classic sound while not forgetting the roots of the genre. Mr. Bailey has released a few singles and they are all great, I highly recommend checking him out.
It doesn’t come often where an artist is the musician, the singer, the arranger, and the writer. But Kadhja Bonet is the real deal, her angelic voice paired up with her orchestral string arrangement is something special. The newly released single Honey Comb is a mix of old soul and some chamber music. It is a refreshing take on typical Rnb/Neo Soul sound. I can’t wait to hear more from her, in the meantime, check out the single!
Lately I have been focusing mostly on the neo soul female vocalists but that doesn’t mean I don’t have love for the male singers. James Chatburn, the Sydney Australia native, has been making some big waves with his recent releases which include collabos from Jorden Rakei and Frank Nitt. James Chatburn’s voice is soulful and smooth and reminds me of an early John Legend. I can’t for an album to drop, check James on out!
UK’s Neo Soul scene is bumpin, all these new artists are pushing the genre by combining different sounds over their soulful voices. Sipprell out of London is one these up and comers, her voice is unbelievable, it is just so smooth. It is so infectious, always leaving you wanting more. I think what separates Sipprell is her talent to sing over a variety of different beats and rhythms. She effortlessly transitions from an acoustic sound to a more beat heavy track. Go check her out, she is going to be big!
The Amy Winehouse documentary by Asif Kapadia dropped this summer, it gave you a glimpse into the falling of the great singer. The documentary introduced audiences into the world of Amy Winehouse, and it helped give context to her destructive habits. My favourite part of the documentary was the videos clips of Amy Winehouse performing in various places. It was evident that Amy loved to perform at intimate venues, it was like she could give her soul to the audience. While we miss her everyday, these newly discovered concert clips keeps her soul and legacy flowing. Check out the cover of Donnie Hathaway’s I love you more than you’ll ever know, it is superb!
Canadians will argue whether Toronto is or has been the center for Canadian Rnb and Hiphop, but the last few years TO is making their case. Sorry folks, I am going to skip over Drake, but the Weeknd, I think was one of the first to put Toronto on the map. The success that The Weeknd garnered really helped many artists in Toronto get their music out to a wider audience. These younger artists are starting to turn heads, one of these artists is Allie, her sultry voice is so infectious. After hearing her music, it always feels too short, leaving you wanting more. Allie released an EP titled Strange Creature in 2013 but has slowly released some singles on her Souncloud page. The newest single I Cant Wait is a collaboration the producer Birthday Boy, and it is a smooth banger. Cop Allie’s EP and check the new single out.
I know I am a little late to the party maybe a year and a bit, but when I first heard Jarrod Lawson’s rendition of Bilal’s When Will You Call, I was blown away. Jarrod’s voice is a perfect balance of soul and rawness which is a pleasure to hear. It reminds me of a young John Legend. Jarrod released his self titled album in 2014, and it is a great album garnering SoulBrother.com’s soul album of the year. Don’t sleep like i did!
ModulatorSoul 