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Best Neo Soul Music Blog

SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: Aisyah – The Way You Make Me Feel

Brunei-based alt-RnB artist, Aisyah, has been on our radar since the release of her seminal 2021 single, Slow Down. With her latest release, The Way You Make Me Feel, her sound resounds with even more cinematic emotion and brevity.

The Way You Make Me Feel was released on September 3rd; it was written to celebrate the desire and intimacy that transpires when we find someone on our wavelength and create deep and meaningful connections. The single itself is just as touching as the sentiment; with the smooth pace, ambient textures and hypnotic vocals, you’re almost lulled into a dreamlike state as the single unravels.

Her sound may carry an old school sense of soul, but Aisyah’s sound is distinctively leagues apart from other artists experimenting in the realms of alternative RnB. In addition to creating her own music, Aisyah came away from Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions studio with a discernible talent in creating an absorbing aural Mise-en-scène. She also became the first Bruneian artist to work in the American film music industry.

After working on Walt Disney’s Christopher Robin, Netflix’s Daybreak, and Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, Aisyah turned to her solo career. She wrote her debut single for James Abrams’ short film, ‘Walls’. In 2021 she moved back to her hometown to expand her reach in the Southeast Asian music industry and beyond. Judging by the success of her 2021 releases, it is safe to say that she is succeeding.

The Way You Make Me Feel is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Abeni delivered a reminiscing RnB hit with ‘High School Crush’.

Indie RnB singer-songwriter, Abeni, has been honing in on her musical talent since high school, the place that sets the scene of romantic affection in her standout soul-steeped single, High School Crush.

The sunny grooves laid down by the guitars and basslines create a sun-kissed, organically rich platform for Abeni’s velvety smooth lyrics to harmonise above; sinking into this soundscape is pretty much non-optional. High School Crush exhibits the artist’s passion for classical and jazz while keeping the sonic palette very much in the realms of old school accordant soul.

High School Crush is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strong Connection: North Carolina RnB/neo-soul artist Dana opens the mental blocks on ‘Cut Through Me’

Bringing us a soul-healing track off his third independent studio album called ‘Uncovered, Vol. 1‘, Dana feels that intense love which feels like shivering perfection on ‘Cut Through Me‘.

Dana E White aka Dana, is a indie neo-soul/RnB singer-songwriter, design artist, keen fisherman, gamer, and music producer who is based in North Carolina.

This is the beautifully atmospheric story about being so low before and wondering if you could get over this saddening slumber – as you then meet an almost angelic soul –  who with a click of their loving fingers, seems to changed everything in an instant. The storms seem to pass by like they were nothing and you feel like a newly healed radiant soul.

With smoothly tipped vocals that wash away all the pain from the past, you feel a redemption-like feeling all over this new track with so much meaning. The breathtaking soundscape seems to lather a new road onto your mind map, as you grab that compass and vow to never return to the heart-breaking moments of the past.

Cut Through Me‘ from the North Carolina-based indie neo-soul/RnB artist and music producer Dana, is the track to overcome all the doubts from before. After much reflective wonder and over-thinking, he has found someone special who has brought him such peace. Made with a real care to help others, this is a lovely track which has been made with a tender touch.

Sometimes you just to meet someone special who shows you the way in life, as all previous issues seem to float away in an instant when you are with them.

Hear this new song on Spotify and see more news on the IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Body Talk: Atlanta RnB Luminary Chris Harry has released his salaciously seminal single, Body Language

Earlier this year, Atlanta’s RnB luminary, Chris Harry, released his salaciously smooth seminal single, Body Language, and left us hooked on his provocative style.

Over the modern trappy beats, Harry asserts his convictive and dominating presence through his soulful vocals over the grooving sun-bleached melodies that should be considered a staple for your summer RnB hip hop playlists.

With his serenading wit and the unique atmosphere created by the smooth yet fiery production in Body Language, Chriss Harry is undoubtedly one to watch.

The official video for Body Language is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mya Luv addresses existential exhaustion in her indie RnB single, Tired of it All.

Mya Luv

Even as life starts resembling something closer to normal, we continue face the endemic of existential exhaustion that falls into the compassionate focus of Mya Luv’s latest single, Tired of it All.

Over gentle guitar melodies, Mya Luv confessionally lists the reasons for our ennui by exploring a myriad of factors that make our society feel like a trap once you can see the expectations you’re under and the constraints you’re held down by.

From fear-evoking fake media to our rejection of authenticity and normalcy through naïve desire to be something bigger than ourselves, Luv creates a gritty vignette of our modern times. The sonic experience ends on a visceral note as a reminder that passively subscribing to mainstream consensus isn’t your only option.

Tired of it All officially released on August 27th; you can check it out for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Gave You My Time: Northamptonshire RnB singer Megzz feels like they gave up so easily on ‘Checkmate’

After singing so beautifully and from the heart with ‘Tell Me Why‘ from November 2020, Megzz moves on swiftly after being let down by someone she cared deeply for who clearly didn’t care enough on ‘Checkmate‘.

Megzz is a Northamptonshire, England-based indie RnB, pop and neo-soul artist. She sings with such a stunning grace and true elegance on each one of her carefully thought out creations.

Believing that music is a powerful therapy, Megzz uses her talents to empower others, promote self-love and speak out about issues such as mental health.” ~ Megzz

This is the much-needed message of knowing your true value – as you when you give your heart to someone and they don’t reciprocate back –  it can have you thinking that you did something wrong, when actually you were just with a selfish time-waster.

You feel like this is a honey-tip wrapped singer who exudes such sensational vocals. Her reflective lyrics are honest and made with that honest journey, that has you feeling like you find it hard to trust these days.

Checkmate‘ from the Northamptonshire, England-based indie RnB, pop and neo-soul singer-songwriter Megzz, is the true story of moving away from the childish games that got you down in the dumps, as you now laugh it off and close the door on the former pieces.

With a funky bounce and crystal clear vocals which is a real pleasure to lather appealingly into, this is a wonderful track to play when you know its time to dust off the past and move into the future. Your all-knowing soul demands realness.

Stream this new single on Spotify and see more news on her IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Brooklyn’s brightest lyrical hip hop luminary Sydmac has released his latest single, Hums

Sydmac

‘Hums’ is the latest hypnotically smooth soul-laden jazzy hip hop track from the Haiti-born, Brooklyn-raised up and coming artist Sydmac. His lyrical and narrative rap style perfectly complements his blissfully serenading reverb-laden beats.

Through each of his tracks, Sydmac aims to provoke his listeners into living in the present and living to the fullest; discernibly, he succeeds in his latest release. Hums is cathartic enough to take the mental weight from you and fill you with positivity while you’re open to shifts of perception. The airwaves are infinitely more soulful for this new addition. We can’t wait to hear what comes next from one of the smoothest new names in New York hip hop.

Check out Sydmac on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

15DL tries ‘Something Different’ in his latest single

Get your soul-fix with 15DL’s smoother than smooth bluesy funk-pop track, Something Different, which affectionately explores the mission to break the cycle of romantic monotony. It is singles such as Something Different that remind you the opposite to love isn’t hate; it is indifference, the thing that we greet most people with through their lack of ability to set our souls on fire.

With the cleverly provoking lyrical concept, vocals that your soul will want to surrender to and the rich organic tones that will take you to an aural plateau, it is easy to see why so much hype has amassed around 15DL who made his debut earlier this year with the single DAWN.

Something Different is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ism has dropped his iconic cross over single, Grey Matter.

Any fans of John Grant’s deadpan witty drawl, Daft Punk’s danceable grooves and Nile Rodger’s guitars will soon get suckered into the latest electrifying indie synthpop track, Grey Matter, by up and coming artist Ism, featuring the soulful vocals from Roo.

Grey Matter is just one of the infectiously experimental singles found on Ism’s latest album, Blue Artist, that seamlessly entwines disco, funk, hip hop, synthpop and indie – to energizing effect. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Grey Matter is one of the best crossover tracks since RZA and Paul Banks formed Banks & Steelz.

Grey Matter is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JIJI brings the cinematic passion of old school soul in her debut indie-pop hit, My Place

RnB pop artist JIJI has released her debut single, My Place, which brings the intimacy of contemporary indie and all of the cinematic passion of old school soul. My Place starts as a minimalist acoustic track, led by the warm, lush tones of the guitar; as JIJI raises the energy with her vocals and girl-next-door-style-lyrics, the full-bodied production starts to resound with accordance that almost feels celestial.

After such a promising debut, naturally, we can’t wait to hear more from the up and coming luminary.

Check out JIJI’s debut for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast