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Best Neo Soul Music Blog

Daniel.Xavier’s seraphic soul illuminates in his seminal single, BeGood

https://open.spotify.com/wrapped/share/share-d1e08baf0c12497596745b8f74ff81d3?si=9IYQQeC5TLq9R2UJeDTaIA&track-id=57VV6lxJSoUE80dxkkwGg3

Daniel.Xavier’s dreamy soundscape, BeGood is decadent in its rich organic textures; after an intro which allows ambient dreamy melodies to blossom to the sound of birdsong, Daniel.Xavier’s ethereal harmonies intertwine with the endlessly ascending aesthetics.

As warm as a fever dream, as tender as a whispered confession, BeGood is far from your average RnB release. As a conduit of seraphic soul, Daniel.Xavier knows exactly how to set the tone and entrench his sound in resolving reverie. By bringing his listeners to a state of bliss, Daniel.Xavier became a purveyor of accessible nirvana, providing a gateway to meditative transcendence.

A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Daniel.Xavier found his sonic calling by merging influences spanning R&B, trap, indie, and neo-soul, crafting an eclectic yet soulful repertoire defined by meaningful lyrical depth. Since launching his first project in 2018, he has never lost momentum. Inspired by visionaries including Moses Sumney, Pharrell, and Andre 3000, his approach remains both daring and refined, constantly evolving with each step into the studio.

BeGood marks a watershed moment, illuminating the strides he has taken to develop his own sound and aesthetic. Fans of neo-soul hungry for a steady dose of sonic warmth and mesmerising grace would be wise to keep their gaze on Daniel.Xavier’s horizon, where his tranquillity promises to shine ever brighter.

BeGood is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Feathers and Fault Lines: Libë’s Haunts with the Neo-Soul Resonance in ‘Birds of a Feather

Libë’s third hit single, Birds of a Feather, flips the script on archetypal RnB lyricality by tenderly exploring the painful facets of attachment, reaching the epitome of emotive duality.

The lyrics are enough to meditate on, and the smooth yet intricately decorated instrumentals ease you further into a reflective ambience. As the reprise of “guess I’m stuck with you” drifts in through Libë’s aphrodisiacally affecting and organically raw vocals, each second in the cinematic scope of the release resonates with the full force of the longing that shaped this smooth contemporary ballad.

Produced by Mercury Prize-nominated Drew Horley—who has collaborated with esteemed artists such as Estelle, Burna Boy, De La Soul, and Jay Sean—Birds of a Feather is the third in a Neo-soul series depicting a toxic couple bound by hopeless circumstances. In a tragic twist on the saying “birds of a feather flock together,” each lyrical protagonist is too toxic for anyone else, leaving them tied to the same fractured union.

Born in London to Nigerian heritage and raised in Sheffield from the age of nine, Libë has used her classical piano background to craft an R&B/Neo-soul blueprint infused with gospel, soul, and Afrobeats nuances. Since choosing music over a law degree in 2019, she’s consistently garnered impressive streaming figures. Keep an eye on social media for the remaining five singles completing the tumultuous relationship arc.

Birds of a Feather was officially released on December 13 and is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Saasil on earth – 5:30: A Cosmic Neo-Soul Embodiment of Empowerment

Saasil on earth, the North West London neo-soul artist renowned for their otherworldly introspection-infused grooves, delivered a sonic salve for fractured hearts with her latest single, 5:30.

From the opening slick-with-remorse apologetic voicemail, she draws listeners into a narrative charged with unresolved tension. The track’s dual perspective, intimately painted by Saasil’s silky vocals and the tempting honeyed tones of a lothario, takes you straight into the discordance of a relationship that’s well past its breaking point. The seductive contemporary grooves, laced with organic textures and an empowering arcane quality, build a backdrop that is as evocative as it is rhythmically refined.

As the narrative unfolds, you’re caught in a vice-like grip of curiosity, aching for some sense of resolution. All too often, artists fail to paint in strokes as messy as reality, yet Saasil on earth captured the often chaotic nature of love in one of the most original RnB tracks of 2024.

With a flair for weaving cerebral emotional depth into ethereally luxe neo-soul aesthetics, the conduit of soul orchestrated a track that’s equal parts relatable and transcendent with her sensuously silky harmonies which resound as though they belong outside of our material world.

Stream 5:30 on Spotify now, and connect with Saasil on earth via Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sharpen your sense of self-worth in the groove pockets of TAZ’s latest RnB Funk release, tunnel vision

With her latest single, Tunnel Vision, TAZ claims her place as the goddess of groove, delivering a funk-wrapped celebration of self-love and empowerment. Hailing from Surrey, the rising star built on the acclaim of her debut, Summertime x, with an up-tempo Neo-Soul release that bursts with vibrant energy and candid lyrical storytelling.

The lush harmonies in Tunnel Vision pop with radiant colour, intertwining seamlessly with staccato guitar chops that electrify the track’s rhythmic pulse. As the song unfolds, the emotive intensity crescendos, with TAZ’s soulful vocals becoming a clarion call for romantic empowerment.

For anyone who suffered fools in the name of love, Tunnel Vision has what it takes to convince the new generation of RnB fans to take every fragment of their self-worth into the battleground, otherwise known as the modern dating scene. The live feel of the production amplifies the authenticity of her message, with each lyric cutting straight to the listener.

Inspired by legends such as Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Alicia Keys, TAZ fuses Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Pop influences to scribe an arrestingly unique sonic signature into her critically acclaimed hits.

Stream tunnel vision on major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Under the Ephemeral Veil: DANIELA’s Sonic Resonance in ‘Waiting’

DANIELA’s latest indie RnB single, ‘Waiting,’ is as ethereal as slipping through a semi-lucid dream. The indie-tinged journey through stripped-back soul demands that listeners surrender to the seraphic sublimity of its dreamy atmosphere, which stands as an exhibition of DANIELA’s authentic to the nth-degree talent.

With every note, she demonstrates a masterful command over texture, tone, and melody, carefully curating each sonic element to immerse her audience into a vignette of dreamy, lovesick longing. The warmth of her vocal whispers serves as the gravitational core of the track, leaving the listener tantalised long after the music fades.

Originally from Italy and now enriching London’s diverse music scene, DANIELA draws inspiration from icons such as Amy Winehouse and Lana del Ray, weaving her rich, emotive vocals with contemporary production that hints at nostalgia. Her musical narrative is steeped in neo-soul, jazz, and Italian melodic influences, culminating in a distinct sonic signature.

With a background rich in performance—from London’s speakeasies to the jazz circuits of the Emirates—DANIELA has honed her craft on illustrious stages, contributing to her seasoned artistry. Her live performances resonate with the strength of her studio work, notably during standout gigs such as the WOW Festival at Southbank Centre, backing legends like Sister Sledge, and enamouring audiences in venues as diverse as the Grand Hyatt in Doha and the spirited bars of Soho and Shoreditch.

Waiting was officially released on November 15; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Proto-Funk Pioneers, The Yowies, have officially arrived with their decadently disco debut single, Real Time

There’s no putting the mythologically monikered proto-funk renegades, The Yowies, back in their cage after they unveiled their debut single, Real Time. The decadent disco track pours an alchemic cocktail of indie-licked RnB, funk, jazz and soul, stirred by razor-sharp songwriting chops that cut straight through the static of the contemporary music scene.

The tonal sublimity of the seductively smooth single rivals the kaleidoscopic luminosity of a disco ball as The Yowies groove across their foundational influences, which pit the timeless soul of Winehouse against the guitar licks of Nile Rodgers and the spacey transcendence of Bowie in his Young Americans era.

With jazz nuances as a smoke machine, there are few sonic signatures as slick as what is exhibited in The Yowies’ debut release which makes it impossible not to get into the fiery smooth groove. Every replay reveals a new level of their creative genius, solidifying them as a band at the forefront of proto-funk revivalism

Real Time was officially released on September 29; stream the single on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sink into the solace of Nesta Stephan’s future-forward neo-soul single, (don’t) Call me

Gabon-born, London-based artist, Nesta Stephan, didn’t just reach the crowning point of her career (so far) with her latest single, (don’t) Call me; she set a new reflectively candid standard while constructing a new trajectory in the evolution of RnB.

The half-French, half-Gabonese artist’s journey from global traveller to singer-songwriter shines through her work; her latest single, which is no exception, initiates with arcane gospel choir-esque harmonies that set a reverent tone, which is quickly juxtaposed with the intimacy of a voicemail message playing in the celestial outro.

As the track progresses, minor key melodies emerge under Stephan’s meditatively ethereal vocals, which paint a vivid portrait of isolation and abandonment. Stephan’s lyrics are a raw exposition of her inner world, addressing the tough theme of finding faith after maternal abandonment. Rather than succumbing to despair, the track radiates hope and compassion through its future-forward blend of afrobeat and neo-soul RnB, signalling a journey of reaching the other side of pain.

(don’t) Call me is the ultimate attestation of how plausible it is to reinvent yourself, regardless of what you’ve been through if you look outwards with empathy and inwards with self-regard.

(don’t) Call me was officially released on July 19; stream the single on Spotify now.

Follow Nesta Stephan on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with her latest releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

New Jersey Heavyweight SirC.A.P delivered raw RnB emotion with his standout single, Toxic Love

SirC.A.P served an authentically fresh RnB flavour in his standout single, Toxic Love, from his stylistically dynamic sophomore LP, What We Became.

The New Jersey-hailing 18-year-old independent artist’s dreamy, cinematically luxe iteration of Afrobeat RnB is definitive proof of how deep trauma bonds dig into the soul. His vocal lines wrap around the wounds inflicted by a relationship which veered from adoration into masochism as the wavy instrumentals depict a mind out of sync with sensibility. Everything about the soul-piercing production signifies a flawless execution; SirC.A.P’s vision came to life and pulsates with its own heartbeat of confessional visceral pain.

The artist formerly known as C.A.P The Rapper adopted his new moniker after sensing a shift in the tides of his creativity and no longer wanting to be confined by the expectations his former creative alias imposed. Together with his producer and co-CEO of 5 Star Records, 22cali, SirC.A.P dawned a new era of expressionism with his hotly anticipated LP, What We Became, which went live on the airwaves on May 10th.

Toxic Love is now available to stream with SirC.A.P’s second album, What We Became, on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dani Enli opened the doorway to the RnB Pop pantheon with ‘till the end of time’

After the phenomenal success of her debut single, used to it, singer-songwriter & producer Dani Enli ensured the momentum amassing around her stayed high by releasing her sophomore single, till the end of time. By synthesising future-forward RnB melodies with a pensive trap beat and the sentimentality of pop balladry, Enli opened the doorway to the RnB pop pantheon with the downtempo release which gives every aching word to breathe and resonate over the synths that echo emotion as much as the lyrical poetry.

The bittersweet RnB pop symphony delivers the heart-wrenching epiphany that in the mind and reality of the one that got away, all you will ever be is a memory that fades. Inspired, written, composed and produced following a breakup, the single tenderly explores the transitions between resentment and longing, regret and mourning, proving that nothing is ever black and white; everything lies on a spectrum which Enli profoundly explores with the blissful tonal hues that drift between the progressions in this mellifluously flawless production.

till the end of time reached the airwaves on May 10th; add the single to your Spotify playlists or stream the single on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ride the waves of neo-soul transcendence in Livvy Clarke’s artfully arcane release, Love Letter

Livvy Clarke

What Radiohead is to art rock, Livvy Clarke is to neo-soul; the dreamy zeal within the artfully composed complex time signatures in her latest single, Love Letter, allows the release to defy gravity as it transcends through installations of endlessly ascending cultivation, guided by her arcane vocal range.

With this single, the singer-songwriter who has been likened to her heroines, Angie Stone, India Arie and Tracy Chapman, proved that the most powerful love letter you can ever write is a love letter to yourself after overcoming adversity with enough gratitude and tenacity that you can celebrate still being here.

Love Letter is by no means an affecting exception. Livvy Clarke’s evocative repertoire cages swathes of singles which evoke emotion and bare her soul. By always using personal events as thematic underpinnings in her releases, authenticity and sincerity are always guaranteed.

Her sophomore single, Enough, covered the tragedy of saying goodbye to her mother; watching her daughter become disabled to the point of nearly saying another heart-wrenching goodbye convinced Livvy Clarke of the necessity of writing for catharsis.

Her latest single, co-written with renowned songwriter, arranger and producer, Julian Hinton, (Stormzy, Seal, Rod Stewart) captures Clarke in her free spirit era, unshackled by the weight of monumental grief and strife; it is a testament to the fortitude of the human spirit which lies within us all.

Love Letter will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 16th.

Find your preferred way to listen on Livvy Clarke’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast