Browsing Tag

2021 RnB

Spotlight Feature: NIA paints a portrait of inner turmoil in her downtempo alt-RnB single, Distant Colors

‘Distant Colors’ is the latest compassionately composed single from the New York-born, Philadelphia-based alt-RnB artist, and producer, NIA. Her signature spiritualism weaved its way into the downtempo release that explores inner turmoil for the emotionally attuned. For anyone who has ever cursed the depth of their emotional intellect, Distant Colors will act as an olive branch of empathy. As NIA’s light vocal timbre falls into the echoey and reverb-drenched shimmering guitars, the solid, steady drumbeats give the track enough structure while letting the ambience breathe through. The single was written, recorded and produced at NIA’s home studio; before being mixed and mastered by Tito Orjih at Oscar’s Greenhouse.

Here’s what NIA had to say about the release:

“My single, Distant Colors, expresses the raw emotion of being in tune with our inner struggles. Not only does this downtempo R&B tune tackle the feeling of isolation; it also represents the realness of the relationship that we have with ourselves.”

NIA started songwriting at an early age; on her journey to adulthood, she’s continued to hone in on her inexplicable talent that will instantly pique the interest of fans of Sade. Shortly after graduating from Shippensburg University, she established her record label, Chill Room Records and formed her band, The Chill Room Band. With new material in the pipeline, she’s definitely one to watch.

Distant Colors is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Montrael became the voice of her heartbroken generation with ‘Project Twenty1’

Montrael

Rochester, New York-based singer-songwriter Montrael released her highly anticipated EP, Project Twenty1, as 2020 drew to a close; if you missed it, you missed a soulful soiree of style, sultry panache and urban poetry.

Montrael made her debut in 2018; since the debut, she has built a loyal fan following around her effortlessly resounding music where emotion always takes the reins and drives the tracks through moody trappy melodies and self-aware introspection. The young artist takes influence from Usher, Beyonce and Selena, while her inspiration lies in her commitment to being a youthful voice for this generation of RnB fans in need of soulfully empowering music.

Project Twenty1 is now available to stream and purchase in full via apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SUMMARAE proves why the ‘haters gonna hate’ rhetoric is outdated in her latest single, ‘Mind Your Business’

SUMMARAE’s latest indie RnB Pop hit, Mind Your Business, is a soulfully unfuckwithable invitation to turn your attention away from the people you tear into to tame your insecurity.

The single marks a shift in our social tide that means that the ‘haters gonna hate’ rhetoric is almost an archaic principle. It may be a high-vibe summer RnB pop track, but SUMMARAE efficaciously succeeds in imparting the contempt that people with not enough emotional intelligence for introspection impart. Consider hitting play as your first step towards mindfulness.

Given the toxicity that seems to thrive in online spaces more than ever, Mind Your Business deserves to be the summer RnB hit of 2021.

Mind Your Business is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Benny Elom lays down ethereal soul in their indie jazz fusion single ‘I Do’

Essex, UK-residing Afroitalian R&B singer-songwriter, Benny Elom, has released their ethereally soulful single ‘I Do’ which unravels as an all too indulgent blend of RnB, jazz and soul.

The mellifluous single explores romantic uncertainty without lacing any bitterness or melancholy in the soundscape, instead, through their humility, the artist reminds us how pure love can be. With his affably honeyed lyricism, his mesmerising vocal timbre and the sense of modernity which he brings through jazz fusion, Benny Elom’s sound is a recipe for success.

You can check out Benny Elom’s latest single which officially released on February 5th via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

 

Gabby Neeley offers a consoling alt-soul-pop mechanism with her latest single ‘Coping’

https://youtu.be/y9zF9B_X9XY

With her latest Alt-RnB single, ‘Coping’, Californian singer-songwriter, Gabby Neeley, smashed a plethora of soul-pop archetypes. By forgoing passivity, she justified coining the term ‘moody-soul-pop’; the unfaltering attitude which resonates in the vocals is scarcely contained; and the track is all the better for it. It’s raw, it’s organic, and it’s the perfect introduction to an admirably bold artist with the potential to flood your playlists with positive perception-shifting introspection.

Coping is far more than just another RnB-track-by-numbers kind of deal, the experimentalism in the atypical progressions and complete unpredictability of the soundscape captures Gabby Neeley’s sincere approach to song writing.

Coping is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Flow has brought RnB into a new era with ‘Where You Been’

https://soundcloud.com/flowsadventure/where-you-been

North Carolina RnB Soul pioneer, Flow, released his latest sun-soaked hit ‘Where You Been’ on December 11th, with elements of Deep House and Afrobeat weaved in, it’s impossible not to catch the infectious high vibes.

While playfully experimental progressions allow glitchy beats to add to the energy of the smooth RnB melodies, Flow gives you an idea of how he came about his moniker. By switching between soul-dripping crooning and energising Rap verses, there isn’t a moment in the track which will allow your attention to falter from the fresh ingenuity on offer.

You can check out Flow’s latest single via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast