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Soul

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

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

Il Nemico Dentro by Francesca Pichierri – A Cinematic Soul Serenade That Burns Through Avant-Garde Flame

Posted on 25 October 2024

In her standout single, Il Nemico Dentro, the alchemist of soulfully avant-garde alt-pop Francesca Pichierri fused Mediterranean warmth with avant-garde pop inclinations, creating a tonally spiritual multi-sensory experience that is as cinematic as it is visceral.

Born under the sun of Apulia, the singer-songwriter has unflinchingly dedicated herself to honing her talents as a sonic vignette painter, culminating in the masterful strokes in Il Nemico Dentro. The quiescent reverberance emanating from the first notes is enough to serenade your senses to stand to attention; the hairs on the back of your neck will prick up in synergy with your ears as Francesca Pichierri seraphically commands complete emotional immersion, and the filmic undertones tug at your emotions in waves.

As the score unravels, you’re seduced by the provocative originality, derived from the fusion of indie, blues, and jazz. Just when you think you’ve found your rhythm with the release, avant-garde samples cut through, pulling you deeper into the evocative chaos.

The catharsis hits hard, only to give way to an electrifying crescendo that pulses with the raw emotionality Francesca is known for. The song blazes its own trail, driven by the weight of Francesca’s lived experiences and her poetic knack for transforming personal grief into universal art.

Francesca is so much more than alt-pop royalty – in her niche, she stands as a goddess, creating borderlands between celestiality and material reality.

Stream Il Nemico Dentro on all major platforms, including SoundCloud from October 25.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 10 October 2024

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

Teck-Zilla, JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada and Reespect ignited a sonic revolution of empowerment in their collaborative hit, Naija Women

Posted on 2 October 2024
Naija Women by JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada, Reespect

Teck-Zilla’s latest hit, Naija Women, is an explosive celebration of culture and empowerment that carves out space for female strength in a rap landscape often skewed against it.

Produced by Nigerian-born, UK-based Teck-Zilla, the track brings together five Nigerian rappers—JXXIII, Quinja, Sentence, Yada, and Reespect—each brings their own mesmeric energy to the mic as the beat cuts like a razor through the lush, atmospheric production, making way for the quintet’s undeniable talent to shine through.

The dynamic interplay between the artists results in a juxtaposition of soul and fiery passion, making it impossible to settle on a single emotion; instead, you’re left in awe of how these women hold their own, spitting bars with confidence and unapologetic resilience.

For every woman who has ever fought hard just to be heard, Naija Women is a powerful reminder to never stop trying to reshape oppressive narratives.

Naija Women was officially released on September 9th and is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Henry Bitzer’s ‘25th Hour’ Radiates Rapturous Soul and Swagger

Posted on 30 September 2024

Henry Bitzer’s standout single, 25th Hour, from his debut LP Skydive, delivers some of the swankiest sounds of 2024. The track is a testament to the solo artist’s knack for nostalgically leaning songwriting chops, which remain sharp even when held up against his musical heroes.

Any attempt to resist the euphoric energy of 25th Hour is futile; the rapturous euphony he coaxes from the keys showcases his comfort and charisma in crafting soulful soundscapes that simultaneously nod to the past and stride confidently into the future.

Blending blues, 70s pop rock, and a smattering of jazz, Bitzer conjures a unique sonic synthesis that defies easy categorisation. The seamless fusion of styles creates a distinctive sound that harks back to the golden era of rock without feeling stuck in the past. His ability to weave eclectic influences into a seamless tour de rapturous force ensures that his legacy is already carving itself a place in the annals of contemporary alternative music. It’s only a matter of time before major labels are vying for his signature.

At just 19, the Minnesota native has been compared to the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel for his magnetic stage presence and infectious melodies. Now a second-year student at Belmont University in Nashville, Bitzer has spent the last four years performing live across the U.S., honing his craft and building a loyal following.

Stream Henry Bitzer’s debut LP, Skydive, on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PASHA is en-route to RnB royalty with her latest single, Paper Route

Posted on 29 September 2024

‘Paper Route’ by PASHA reaches the epitome of RnB sublimity, marking her as a distinct force in the genre. Far from being a mere fusionist, PASHA is an alchemist of sensual soul, using hypnotic house beats as the conduit for her seraphic sonic sensuality.

The smooth production of the track is as timeless as it is tantalising, with its syncopated trip-hop-esque beats blending seamlessly with evocative piano keys, creating one of the most comforting and mesmerising dynamics in contemporary RnB.

As her vocals transcend traditional harmonics, they venture into a plateau of soulfully arcane reverie, showcasing an ethereal and evocatively resonant vocal range. It’s this rare combination of elements that positions PASHA as a potential new icon in the music industry. If there’s any artist powerful enough to rival the originality of The Weeknd, it’s her.

PASHA’s journey began in Queens, though her sound is a testament to her upbringing between East Atlanta and Haiti. Her musical roots were nurtured by the diverse artistic influences around her, leading her to pick up the classical guitar at just ten years old. Since her debut in January 2024, she has ensnared audiences with a string of bittersweet singles that explore the nuances of young womanhood, love, and self-reflection.

Paper Route was officially released on September 27; stream the single on YouTube and Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Karyn Ann became a conduit of justice in her soul-swathed, vintage-hued hit, Big Money, Deep Pockets

Posted on 28 September 2024

Karyn Ann’s latest single, Big Money, Deep Pockets, charts a new path in protest music, one that is paved with honeyed harmonic soul. In an era screaming for transformation, the Portland-based singer-songwriter found herself at the frontline of the resistance against exploitation.

Known for her distinctive cocktail of soulful Americana and perception-shifting lyricism, Karyn Ann set the bar high with her former releases but by channelling the spirit of vintage grooves into Big Money, Deep Pockets, she delivered the revolution we never knew we needed. Ann’s voice, rich with Patty Griffin’s earthiness and the haunting elegance reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, cut through the noise of today’s tumultuous climate.

Since her debut, she has become a notable figure in the Pacific Northwest, gracing stages at prominent venues like McMenamins Crystal Ballroom and festivals from the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival to Portland’s own annual Folk Festival.

In her own words, Ann describes that Big Money, Deep Pockets is as much a modern-day anthem as it is a scathing critique of our times, addressing the pressing issues of climate change, social inequality, and a cry for justice. Transcending the echoes of the frustrations of a polarised society; it seeks to be a catalyst for change.

In a world of fleeting trends and ephemeral interests, Karyn Ann is a timeless icon in the rough.

Big Money, Deep Pockets was officially released on September 9th and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast