Browsing Tag

Ambient RnB

Spotlight Feature: ELZON broadened the alt-RnB hip-hop horizon with his psychedelic trip of a hit, ‘expensive dreams’

ELZON redefined the boundaries of alt-RnB and hip-hop with his latest single, expensive dreams. The London-based artist, known for his rich cultural background and boundary-pushing music, delivered a scintillatingly serene installation of hypnotic innovation which begins with a visionary overture that lures listeners into transcendence, where dreamy 8-bit tones meld seamlessly with cloud rap influences.

The track is a kaleidoscope of cultivation, opening a portal to unrestrained artistic expression. As the song progresses, it builds towards a mesmerising mid-section, characterised by ethereal falsettos reminiscent of The Weeknd’s early work. This shift in tone, akin to a record player hitting play on a fresh LP, elevates the track into a crescendo that injects subtle intensity and speaks of ELZON’s status as a revered pioneer who is well on his way to becoming a viral sensation.

Produced between London and Manchester, with the signature touches of Elliot Taylor and Blamebrazy, expensive dreams is a testament to ELZON’s relentless pursuit of pushing leftfield sounds into the mainstream.

ELZON describes the track as a “psychedelically experimental rap/RnB track inspired by Frank Ocean and Lucki, featuring cloud rap-influenced instrumentals and Blond-esque pitched vocals”. This fusion creates a lush soundscape of surreal serenity that speaks to the senses louder with every listen.

ELZON’s journey from his early days making music in his bedroom to collaborating with Grammy-nominated producers attests to his talent and dedication, which the airwaves will see more of later this year when he unleashes his art PUNK mixtape.

Stream expensive dreams on Spotify, and follow ELZON on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BEX made a divine debut with her soulfully meditative single, COME THRU

https://youtu.be/r-kgMelRc7U https://linktr.ee/bexfye

BEX (AKA Rebecca Lynn Giralde) started a new meditative revolution in soul with her debut single, COME THRU. Beyond the soulfully honeyed and beckoning vocal lines that tempt an amorous spark to ignite lingers her spiritual sense of self, which also manifests in her work as a yoga and reiki practitioner.

There’s a seductive sense of ease that drifts through every facet of the ambiently electrifying soundscape that reaches the pinnacle of sensuous for its warm tones and supple textures. If it has been a while since you had your soul melodically stirred, don’t hesitate to hit play on the cathartically strong debut.

When the Coral Springs-born, Brooklyn-raised American Afro-Latina singer isn’t in the studio, she’s radiating the same beauty that brings her music to visceral life as a professional model. She’s featured in worldwide beauty campaigns for major brands, including Clinique, and has been the face of a multitude of ad campaigns. Whatever she decides to turn her talents to next, it’s going to be literally or figuratively picture-perfect.

The official music video for BEX’s single, COME THRU, premiered on August 18th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hipe the Nomad is Fighting for Love in his Clannad-Esque feat of Alt-RnB

With Clannad-Esque non-lexical vocal lines that are smooth and haunting enough to give you chills, Hipe the Nomad’s latest alternative single, Fighting for Love, does exactly what it says on the tin.

If the Cocteau Twins ventured into RnB, the end result wouldn’t be all too dissimilar from the ethereal soul in Fighting for Love, which was inspired in part by the Weeknd’s Trilogy and Sampha’s Sbtrkt era. Reminiscences aside, it is evident that the British / Saint Lucian artist is a pioneer of his own making. He’s as much of a nomad in the aural world as he is in the physical world; both lend themselves to his smooth, ambient RnB edge.

The official music video for Fighting for Love is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lank G brought in a new era of pure soul with his contemporary RnB single, I’LL SEE YOU SOON

Lank G

In his fervid music career, the dynamic up-and-coming artist and producer Lank G has eclectically experimented with RnB, hip hop, and gospel. In his latest single, I’LL SEE YOU SOON, he euphonically converged them all to bring in a new era of pure soul.

At just 20 years old, Lank G is bringing an air of ethereal maturity to his soundscapes, especially on the basis of I’LL SEE YOU SOON, which goes all in on the sincerity to the tune of the ambient lush reverb that cushions his soft percussion and velvety vocal timbre that reaches the pinnacle of smooth. Within the lyrics, Lank G finds the perfect balance between cheeky grit and ride-or-die devotion. It’s a potent mix, one that is sure to leave RnB fans hooked.

I’ll SEE YOU SOON will be available to stream from October 15th. Check it out via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The RnB soulstress, Tarnisha Bruce, has reinforced the message that all we need is love in her latest single, Love Therapy

With her latest single, Love Therapy, the up-and-coming artist, Tanisha Bruce, brought a touch of jazzy Avant-Garde finesse to the RnB genre.

The ambient production puts Bruce’s ethereally soft vocals atop of jazzy piano keys, woody organic percussion, and waves of reverb that you can’t help getting swept up in. It may be worlds away from the jazzy RnB that you’d expect to hear in a smoky speakeasy, but Love Therapy carries all the same demure class of the pioneers. If she teamed up with a talented producer that invested in her vision, she’d be unstoppable.

Love Therapy is now available to stream on YouTube and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Annie Christina broke the RnB mould with her trippy dream hop exploration of soul in ‘Take Me Far Away’.

Beautiful Words Came To Form Havoc by Annie Christina

On November 8th, Montreal’s most luminary RnB soulstress, Annie Christina, launched her debut album, Beautiful Words Came to Form Havoc, on Bandcamp ahead of the official December 2021 release.

The lead track, Take Me Far Away, is a quiescently meditative soundscape that resonates like the calm after a storm. The Canadian singer-songwriter, producer and DJ has taken a structurally experimental approach to her music since her debut but it truly shines through in the ambience of Take Me Away, which falls away from the ABABCB structure and grooves through dreamy experimental progressions which tie in nuances of dream pop, trip-hop.

Take Me Far Away is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Elysia has breezed in with her love proclaiming, jazz-infused alt RnB single, Cherry Moon.

https://soundcloud.com/elysia-gomez/elysia-gomez-cherry-moon-master-3-mix-bus1-st/s-XSFOSdyu6xQ?si=7e234edc86d64db2b6cd318326faca03

Melbourne’s most mellifluous singer-songwriter and artist, Elysia, has released her soulful alt-RnB serenade, Cherry Moon, which melodically translates the conversation between two infatuated souls exploring the blossoming stages of a relationship.

Despite the intensity of the emotion, the jazzy minimalist soundscape leaves you the opposite of over faced; the breezy quiescence of the single compels you to lean into it deeply to absorb every ounce of the elysian soul that is served with almost matchless finesse.

Elysia’s zen vibes and commitment to raw, honest expression is a breath of fresh air in our dystopic times – and we certainly aren’t the only ones to think so. The up and coming artist’s debut single amassed over 2k streams overnight, and Cherry Moon, featuring the smooth rap bars from South Side Denny discernibly has what it takes to go viral. Producer and pianist, Pastels ensured that the opulent hit was never in danger of falling flat.

Cherry Moon is due for official release on November 11th. You can check it out for yourselves on SoundCloud.

Connect with the artist on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Transcend with the jazzy grooves in Mid Ground’s latest single, Peace in the Sky

Mid Ground

‘Peace in the Sky’, featuring vocalist, Ellen Mara, is easily the most hypnotic RnB trip pop single so far from the jazzy instrumental duo Mid Ground. The easy movements of the notes remind you of how sweet freedom can feel as the lyrics do the same.

The single switches the RnB narratives that consistently chase and mourn lust; it delivers a reminder that the only person worth finding is yourself. By playing with rich, ethereal and electrifying textures, the lush reverb-swathed grooves in Peace in the Sky leave you absorbed from start to finish. My soul feels infinitely lighter for hearing this tranquil yet fierce affirmation that independence is infinitely more rewarding than co-dependence.

Peace in the Sky was officially released on September 17th; you can check it out for yourselves via Bandcamp & SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Figgy Fargo takes us on a dreamy futuristic trip with their RnB EP, ‘A Fall from Space’.

If it has been a while since you encountered a truly pioneering RnB artist, strap yourselves in for Figgy Fargo’s EP, ‘A Fall from Space’; it’s a dreamy trip through the Pennsylvania-born artist’s psyche. With the melodically futuristic ambience, it practically demands to be on your vibe-out playlists.

The standout single ‘Out of Me’ is an evocatively jagged masterpiece through which Figgy Fargo wears his influences on his sleeves while ensuring that not one moment of A Fall from Space feels assimilative. It is safe to say that any fans of Drake, Lil Wayne and Juice Wrld will want to delve into the rhythmically mellifluous, emotionally torrid track.

A Fall from Space is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast