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Best Neo Soul Music Blog

Californian singer-songwriter Sunny shines in her latest jazz-infused acoustic single, Bones.

Posted on 12 November 2021

Adult contemporary singer-songwriter and musician Sunny has released her soul-laden acoustic jazz infusion single, Bones, which would fall into the easy listening category if it wasn’t for the breezy melodic alchemy that flows through the affectionately provoking release.

The Californian artist was born into a musical family; she picked up an acoustic guitar at age 15 and devoted her life to music and songwriting from there on out. Based on Bones, every second of dedication paid off in this tranquilly mellifluous soundscape that exhibits the ethereal nature of her innocently expressive vocal timbre.

Bones is available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Walker Deuce takes ambient trap to the realms of old school hip hop with ‘Chill’

Posted on 11 November 2021

From freestyle prodigy to vibe master, Walker Deuce’s sound may have evolved, but his bold, raw energy remains as visceral as ever. His standout release, Chill, has all the makings of your next vibe out playlist staple.

The short and sweet track may only run through for 1:34-minutes, but that is all the time it took for the Portland-based artist to lull you into a state of reflective catharsis through the wavy trippy tones and nostalgic old school sensibilities.

Chill carries all the grit of 80s hustler hip hop, but its colourful cadence and indie guitars stay on the more soulful and affable side of expression. Any fans of Snoop Dogg, Mac Miller, Dre won’t want to hang around in introducing Walker Deuce to their playlists.

Along with releasing eight albums, plus plenty more EPs and singles, the rapper and songwriter gives back to the hip hop scene as an indie label owner.

Chill officially released on September 29th; you can check it out for yourselves on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Art-soul goes pop in James Asare’s latest single, Star-Crossed

Posted on 7 November 2021

If all artists were as ambitious with their storytelling narratives as James Asare, the airwaves would be a utopia of expression that brings the world closer through shared experience and emotion. The singer-songwriter’s latest art-folk single, Star-Crossed, goes back to the roots of storytelling while planting modernist marks in the soundscape.

With Pavement-style guitars sporadically ringing in the quiescently folkish single that ambiently twists and turns through the azure melodies, Asare perceptibly made the single his own while making it as heart-wrenchingly soulful as Dusty Springfield’s You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.

Star-Crossed is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The dynamic collective of emcees, High Frequency, have released their seminally sweet RnB pop track, Part Ways.

Posted on 6 November 2021

High Frequency’s latest single, ‘Part Ways’, is potentially the sweetest RnB pop breakup track to have ever hit the airwaves. Between the melodic sticky sweet indie instrumentals, the sentimental lyrics which run through the inner turmoil that transpired in spite of the affection and the velvety smooth vocals, you’d need to be dead from the soul down not to feel the weight in this frankly genius hit.

High Frequency is a music collective featuring five true-to-their-own-style emcees who respectively bring their hometown influence to the table, resulting in a mash of Memphis rap, NYC grooves, 90s hip hop flows, modern trap styles and modern gospel roots. We can’t wait to hear more infatuation-worthy tracks from this powerhouse of a collective.

Part Ways is due for official release on November 6th. You can check it out for yourselves on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Madeline Jaina – Counting Sheep: an indie noir pop track that goes out to the insomniacs

Posted on 5 November 2021

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer, Madeline Jaina carries the sandman’s essence in her latest single, Counting Sheep, which goes out to her fellow insomniacs.

The dark flamenco vibes from the guitars feed into dreamy, reverby, echo delay creating a wavy ambient platform for the Ohio-born, New York-based artist’s soulfully old school vocals to harmonise with. Even the non-lexical-vocals between the poetically composed lyricism draw you deeper into the soul of the indie noir pop track that delivers mesmerising escapism. For the entire duration of the transfixing single you are granted a rumination reprieve.

Counting Sheep will be available to stream from November 5th. You can check it out via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lije. looks under the hood of capitalism in his RnB trap pop track, FNTY.

Posted on 5 November 2021
Lije.

Up and coming alt-pop artist, Lije. is set to release his high-vibe sophomore single, FNTY, which pulls from a myriad of genres to groove with a brand-new, trappy soul-pop sound.

Right from the outset of his career, the Southwest Sydneysider is proving that he’s got a matchless sonic style that draws from Fijian culture, gospel and artists, including Khalid, Lucky Daye and Arin Ray.

With his lyrics that inspire introspection as deep as you will find on offer in the single, it’s impossible not to be caught up in the soul of the release with lines such as “Why does winning feel like a new low?”

Check out Lije. on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zeke Smyth – Secrets, featuring Lando Strand; tropic urban pop perfection.

Posted on 29 October 2021

Cleveland, Ohio aural experimentalist, Zeke Smyth, pulls his inspiration from a diverse pool of pop, rock, hip hop and soul; he doesn’t break boundaries; he refuses to acknowledge their existence when orchestrating his pop-rap hits.

His latest single, Secrets, featuring Lando Strand, is tropic pop perfection. The catchy vocal melodies never allow your attention to falter while the sticky with soul track unfolds. Vibes don’t get much higher than Secrets which explores verbal intimacy through sentimental lyrics and up-vibe tranquil 808s that will leave you hooked on Zeke’s sound.

Secrets is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Discover your new metaphysical playlist staple with Basil Babychan’s ambient composition. Phantasm

Posted on 29 October 2021

Hans Zimmer fans will want to delve into the latest composition by Indo-Dutch artist Basil Babychan which extends his mission to create music from the soul for the soul; the concept behind the neo-classic ambient composition, Phantasm, is a lesson in philosophy. In his own words;

“Coping mechanisms are often subject to debate and scrutiny. They improve mental and emotional well-being by addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, derived from painful real-life events. In many cases, one makes conscious or unconscious choices that enhances control over behaviour or gives psychological comfort by creating an alternate reality. Fantasy and Reality often overlap. We need Fantasy to survive our Reality.”

Phantasm unravels as the perfect soundscape to embrace our true reality, in all of its infinite metaphysical possibility and beauty. In the prelude, the intricate keys start tentatively ascending, as more layers amass in the meditatively textured single; Phantasm becomes a transcendental experience that reminds you, we’re all just energy constrained by our vision of a 4D reality.

Phantasm is due for official release on October 29th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LOGUIDICE embraces her bold autonomy in her debut RnB pop EP, ONE.

Posted on 29 October 2021
LOGUIDICE

While most pop artists perform behind façade and ego, the up and coming RnB pop artist LOGUIDICE gives you a multifaceted view of her soulful, spiritual and fierce persona in her debut EP, ONE.

Tracks 1, Mood, is a vibe-heavy sultry RnB hit that shows the Bethlehem, PA-residing artist’s salacious side; nestled beside her demure attitude is her mindful, self-aware lyricism and a gorgeous ‘don’t fuck with me’ sense of soul.

Elevator brings the funk to the EP before track three allows you to respect LOGUIDICE as a pop vocalist as well as a rap artist. The delicious cadence mixed with the hypnotic 90s RnB beats provides alchemic catharsis. To truly demonstrate her versatility, track 4, Overthinkin’ is a sombre downtempo ballad, and the concluding single, Magnetic exhibits the best of the songwriter’s skill when it comes to creating a mood with her atmospherically layered tracks.

No amount of hype put behind LOGUIDICE will ever be hyperbole. We can’t wait to hear how she will follow on from her phenomenally promising debut.

LOGUIDICE’s debut EP, ONE, will be available to stream from October 29th; it is available to stream and download via this link.

Connect with LOGUIDICE on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sham Parker has made his bruisingly confessional debut with his alt-trap track, XIX.

Posted on 28 October 2021

“Someone told me I wouldn’t reach 19, I’m trying to guess who it was, I guess it was probably me” is potentially the hardest hitting opening lyric in hip hop history. Even more impressively, it features in the debut single, XIX, by London-based alternative artist Sham Parker.

Despite the confessional candour that runs through thoughts that most would be too afraid to proclaim, there’s a sense of warmth and nihilist playfulness that instantly leaves you endeared. Sham Parker deserves to blow up for the same reason Lil Peep did; XIX exposes you to the artist’s demons as much as his sweet, creative sound that we hope to hear plenty more of.

You can stream the alt trap track for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast