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New RnB Music Blog

Honey Made stirred the spirit of soul with ‘Pass Me By’

Posted on 26 November 2024
Honey Made

Honey Made, hailing from Austin, has yet again lived up to their moniker with their latest single, ‘Pass Me By’. The track, which taps into the aura of retro soul with a fusion of silky smooth RnB, jazz and blues, is an aphrodisiac for the rhythmic pulses.

Drawing inspiration from legendary figures such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Honey Made may revisit the past, but based on the creative synergy within Pass Me By, the only place this ensemble is going is forward.

The band’s connection to their RnB roots is evident in every note, offering an easy listening session that is both tantalisingly paced and deliciously seductive. With mellifluous melodies that the oceans could envy, slipping into the groove of this track is as effortless as it is inevitable. Honey Made distinguishes themselves as one of the few remaining RnB powerhouses capable of serenading the heart, mind, and soul with just their instrumental arrangements.

With the crescendo of the track which escalates with an intensity poised to leave a lasting impact paired with the graceful vocals, Pass Me By is nothing short of cinematic.

As an official 2022 SXSW showcasing artist and acclaimed as one of the best live bands in Austin, Honey Made has a reputation that precedes them. Their performances not only capture the raw energy of their music but also amplify their commitment to reviving and expanding the audience for classic soul sounds. Join their revolution of retro soul today.

Pass Me By was officially released on November 8th; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 26 November 2024

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

Music Video Review: Alana Monteiro’s RnB pop aesthetic in ‘High’ is a lesson in Voguish seduction

Posted on 23 November 2024

Three weeks after releasing the official music video for her first hit single, High, the NYC singer-songwriter, world-renowned supermodel, writer and actress Alana Monteiro. shot past the 1 million stream mark, creating a new addiction to her sound that harnesses more style than a copy of Harper’s Bazaar.

The cinematically shot 4k official music video is an extension of the sleek sophistication which envelops the track, establishing Alana Monteiro as so much more than just a serious contender in the RnB pop scene, but an icon in the making of her own Vogueish image. Blazing in no one but her own trail, Alana Monteiro’s scintillatingly seraphic sonic signature knows nothing of assimilation, it scribes nothing but the Alana Monteiro aura which is taking the industry by storm.

With the outtakes following the final note of the track, the growing army of Alana Monteiro fans get a glimpse of the girl next door behind the glamorous façade, giving the seductively aphrodisiacal sonics even more relatable weight.

High was officially released on November 1st; stream the official music video on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FRNZY reverberates apathy through his wavy alt RnB release, you don’t excite me

Posted on 21 November 2024

FRNZY’s seminal alt-RnB single, you don’t excite me, marks a stratospheric stride forward for the genre, deftly weaving soulfully tender melodies with the stark contrast of its titular message. Instead of aiming to run in parallel with contemporary icons in the vein of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd, the independent artist overtakes predecessors, driven by daring his daring sense of authentic modernity.

The subtle autotune doesn’t mask the raw sentiment at the heart of the track as they bleed into the wavy atmosphere of you don’t excite me. Instead, the vocal treatment breeds a succinct synergy, amplifying the seamlessness of the progressions that will linger with you long after the outro.

The production layers lush textures that invite listeners into the catharsis of the release, showcasing FRNZY’s knack for balancing emotional depth with cutting-edge soundscapes. The track is the perfect introduction to the artist, who is clearly destined to shape the future contours of RnB.

FRNZY released you don’t excite me on November 15; stream the single on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Unveiled Desires: Kaye Fox and the Candid Rhythms of ‘WWYD’

Posted on 20 November 2024

Kaye Fox, long recognised as the clandestine force behind chart-topping hits for icons like J. Cole and Kanye West, finally commands the spotlight with her single, ‘WWYD’

Fox transformed the R&B scene by turning personal revelation into an art form. By questioning, “What would you do if you knew I was wide open?”, she stripped the facades commonly held in the theatres of affection, where desire can distort through candour when you refuse to keep your cards close to your chest.

The soul-stirring anxious rumination unfurls against a backdrop of 90s R&B nostalgia and contemporary soul as Fox’s vocals allow her lyrics to flourish with vulnerability and strength, merging the haunting magnetism of Lauryn Hill and the emotional gravity of Mary J. Blige. The smooth, underlying beat complements her intricate vocal phrasing, drawing listeners deeper into the narrative.

This single holds a mirror to the disarray of today’s dating culture while acting as a kaleidoscope of her own talent in connecting with listeners with intimate universal truth.

After WWYD, it’s clear that no RnB radar will be complete without Fox’s name. Stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sasha Sky found her place in a niche of style and grace with her indie RnB single, Outside of Us

Posted on 20 November 2024

Sasha Sky, a seraphically sublime soulstress emerging from County Durham, reached the epitome of sophistication with her indie RnB release, ‘Outside of Us’. As her lines weave through organically magnetic harmonies that embed the emotions of the lyrics into the listener’s psyche, the melodies carry just as much ease with their mellifluous loungey gentility.

With warm, distinctively embellished textures and intricately stacked layers that don’t merely sum to a whole but open a panorama of soulful experience, the track invites you to immerse in the colour and sincerity of its composition, grooving against your emotional impulses and leaving a lasting mark.

This single stands in stark contrast to the modern charts’ disregard for genuine grace as it vindicates the romantically scorned, showcasing Sasha as the embodiment of the refinement she portrays in her music.

Since beginning her music career during the 2021 lockdown, Sasha has drawn upon her lifelong love for music, songwriting, and poetry, a venture emboldened by her studies in Performing Arts and Music at New College Durham. This background honed her ability to weave sonic narratives that speak directly to the soul. As the crowning point of her career so far, Outside of Us is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to a superlative voice in contemporary indie RnB.

Outside of Us was officially released on November 7th and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JC Call lit up the airwaves with the neon RnB synthpop grooves in his single, confident

Posted on 19 November 2024

San Diego’s own JC Call is defining his space in the pop landscape with his fusions of synth-pop and RnB. At 19, the self-taught artist is already a force in music production, having immersed himself in EQs since he was just 12, making his latest track, all the more of an impressive feat.

‘confident’ is as much a manifesto of personal resilience as it is a musical innovation. With strobing neon synths and kinetic grooves, the track demands physical and emotional movement, tapping directly into the listener’s rhythmic pulses. His vivid blend of modernised synth-pop and soul-stirring R&B is both canvas and narrative, painting a vivid tableau of introspective vulnerability.

His voice, an instrument wielded with the precision of a seasoned storyteller, navigates through the emotional core of the track which reflects the desire for emotional safety, resonating with universal truth and echoing the sentiments of anyone who has faced turmoil in this tumultuous world while seeking sanctuary within an external soul.

As JC Call prepares to unveil his debut album by the year’s end, ‘confident’ stands as a bold prelude to his journey.

confident was officially released on November 13; check out the single on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Daniel Aether tore through the EDM scene like a ‘Tsunami’ in his latest track, featuring Princess Lourdess

Posted on 15 November 2024

If your playlist is missing a track that can thrash through the mundane with visceral intensity, ‘Tsunami’ by Daniel Aether featuring vocal lines from the salacious siren, Princess Lourdess, will fill that void.

So much more than an anthem; it’s an unapologetically soulful storm that melds afrobeat grooves, textured RnB vocals, boom-bap beats and a relentless EDM drive, allowing it to tear apart genre boundaries with hedonistic heat. Once you’re caught in the rhythmic momentum of ‘Tsunami,’ you’ll have no option but to surrender to its evocative pull.

Raised in Italy, based in Scotland, and rooted in Nigerian sounds, Aether’s cultural melting pot of influences pours seamlessly into this track. His appreciation for RnB, Afrobeats, and K-pop harmonies shines through, as does his affinity for MNEK, Little Mix, and Mariah Carey, but it’s the ad-libs and harmonies—think Destiny’s Child with a twist—that distinguishes this single. His seamless integration of influences makes the single as versatile as it is slick, complete with polished production that belies his underground indie status.

‘Tsunami’ may be a love song for volatile hearts, but it’s the refined production and sublime vocal layering that should have this track shimmering at the top of the EDM charts.

Tsunami will hit all major streaming platforms on November 15; stream the single on SoundCloud first.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shawn Tuck’s ‘Bigger’ is a hip-hop trifecta of soul, style and substance

Posted on 14 November 2024

Shawn Tuck made one of the hottest hip-hop drops of the summer with his hit, Bigger. The high-octane track is a contemporary anthem that pushes style and substance through speakers with unapologetic energy. Tuck’s larger-than-life vocal delivery dominates the polished-to-cinematic-perfection mix, which leaves each beat dripping with gravitas.

A hip-hop heavyweight in the making, Tuck proves how powerful rap can be when you pour soul into every syllable, building a relentless rhythm that grips like a vice and doesn’t let go. Channelling the gritty heart of hustler hip hop with a soulful edge, ‘Bigger’ is a track destined to leave you hyped. Every line and beat shows he’s playing for keeps, seamlessly weaving emotional intensity with infectious energy.

His deft vocal switches from razor-sharp rap bars to smooth, honeyed harmonies bring a duality that evocatively hones the release to prove that there are few artists who can flex chameleonic skill with as much finesse as the US luminary, who prises influence from the likes of Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, and Craig David.

Stream Shawn Tuck’s seminal single, Bigger, on all major platforms, including Apple Music, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris J Hudson – What Do You Wanna Do ft MoskoStar1: A Game of Hearts and RnB Harmony

Posted on 13 November 2024

In What Do You Wanna Do, the two legends in their own right Chris J Hudson and MoskoStar1 create a velvet-touched sonic seduction that resonates with lyrical vulnerability and soulful bravado.

Born from Chris J Hudson’s creative evolution—from Phoenix indie band frontman in Thunderbird to an LA-based solo visionary—the track is a testament to his commitment to making music that embodies heart and soul. His influences, spanning from Prince’s experimental genius to the groove of Timbaland and the emotive depth of Joni Mitchell, are distilled into this bilingual RnB gem that bridges borders and musical backgrounds.

The single pulses with smoky Latin guitar tones and jazzy sax lines, underscored by melodious keys, that bring a nostalgic warmth straight from the 80s and 90s RnB playbook. It’s a quintessentially smooth yet fiery RnB-Soul fusion, reflecting Hudson’s belief that music should mirror what’s in the soul, not just provide easy pleasure. The track’s groove feels like a game of chess in the arena of love, where the object of desire holds all the proverbial cards, leaving the protagonist grappling with the pain of ambiguous longing.

Hudson’s artistry, defined by a mission to spread love and mindfulness, is undeniably at the heart of this sultry release. It’s an aural aphrodisiac designed to sweep listeners off their feet—while slyly reminding us that love often leaves us at its mercy.

What Do You Wanna Do is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast