Browsing Tag

Indie RnB

J. Jeaux exhibits blissful command over rhythm in his RnB debut, More Than Enough

Posted on 23 July 2022

Taking a brief reprieve from composing for video games and media, the singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist J. Jeaux released his debut single, More Than Enough, in June 2022.

Exhibiting his world-building melodies, sweetened R&B vocal lines and songwriting tenacity, More Than Enough rewrites the R&B rules through the warm analogue atmosphere & cuttingly contemporary resonance.

Few breaking artists excel in bringing RnB into this era without assimilation, but the Mexico City-based artist is so much more than your average Frank Ocean carbon copy with his blissful command over rhythm. Even with the tinges of sorrowful sentimentality, More Than Enough is a touch of serenity in our chaos-encompassing times.

More Than Enough is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Beth Macari bites Ouroboros’ tail in her Indie RnB single, Circles

Posted on 1 July 2022

To say that Beth Macari’s latest single, Circles is one of the best UK RnB singles from the past few decades doesn’t come close to hyperbole.

“I don’t think you know what it’s like to be a woman” is something that every woman will have felt in her lifetime. That makes it no less profound when Macari uses it to let solidarity spill from her soundscape, which proves that soul and emboldening energy fit hand in glove; when the grasp of the gravitas is so tight.

The jangly indie-pop elements in the emotion-driven single are nothing short of electrifying as they find their charge through creating friction between the sonic past and an empowered future. We honestly couldn’t love her more.

Circles drops on July 1st; check it out on SoundCloud or by heading to Macari’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Andrew Brown looks for the light in his debut RnB single, In the Dark

Posted on 17 June 2022

For his alt-RnB debut, the independent artist and producer, Andrew Brown, went all-in with the trippy minor-key melodies in his poised yet profoundly raw single, In the Dark, which lasciviously flirts with elements of pop and new wave hip hop after its sombre and ballad-like intro.

When in full momentum, In the Dark is a visceral triumph of experimentalism and straight from the sad boi soul expression. While there is a little room for improvement in the production with the slightly excessive use of phasing, all in all, In the Dark stands as an all too promising debut for Andrew Brown. You can hear it for yourselves by heading to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt-indie artist, André Molina became everyone’s idea of seductive with his latest single, Euphoria

Posted on 8 June 2022

Everyone’s definition of seductive is different, but few will disagree on the broodingly demure power of André Molina’s third single, Euphoria, which explores the visceral highs which follow a hopeless romantic falling deeply.

Indie, alt-rock, orchestral dream pop and extremely nuanced RnB layers all became part of the fabric of the teasingly intimate track, which sensuously blows Closer by Nine Inch Nails out of the water; or at least provides a cinematic modernist alternative.

The Philippines-born, New Jersey-residing artist has an aptitude for giving the rough (almost industrial distortion) with the knee-weakening smooth (his lushly layered vocal harmonies). We can’t wait to watch the inevitable rise of André Molina. Few deserve it more.

Euphoria is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Orlando Rocco Music & Justis Chanell delved beyond superficiality in their indie RnB single, Way You See Me

Posted on 13 May 2022
https://soundcloud.com/user-532179988/way-you-see-me-ft-justis-chanell

Orlando Rocco Music & Justis Chanell became the ultimate RnB collaborative power couple with the release of the East Coast hip hop-influenced single, Way You See Me, which captures that intoxicatingly euphoric feeling of knowing that someone sees you, with their field of vision extending far beyond surface level.

Justis Chanell’s smoothly sultry yet understatedly charismatic vocals resonate against the slick indie RnB grooves that are swathed in layers of shimmering reverb. Way You See Me stands as a contemporary testament to both of their talent. We can only hope that there’s more collab content in the pipeline. Way You See Me was nothing short of alchemically cathartic for the way the sophisticated style runs on a par with the level of soul.

Way You See Me will be officially released on May 13th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The RnB-inclined fusionist, KaEl has released his alchemically intimate single, LondonTowne

Posted on 24 April 2022

‘LondonTowne’ is the standout seminal release from the RnB-inclined genre alchemist, KaEl. At the start of his career, the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter committed to expressing his life, epiphanies, and afflictions through his music; he definitely came through in LondonTowne.

The low honeyed bass guitar and soft bluesy electric guitars create a stunning dynamic to the instrumentals that mellifluously flow under KaEl’s passionately demure classic-style RnB vocals. Any fans of Prince, Frank Ocean, Ye and Tyler, The Creator won’t want to miss out on this euphonically unforgettable release.

The official music video for LondonTowne is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jspino has released the ultimate you-will-see-me single with his latest RnB-Latin-Pop earworm, Noticing

Posted on 22 April 2022

Indie RnB artist, Jspino, laid it out all on the line in his latest Latin pop-spliced hit, Noticing. The track sinks its teeth into the frustration that manifests when there is that soul-obliterating feeling of knowing that the person you want to see you the most have their blinkers on to your autonomy.

As the perfect contrast to the fiery RnB pop vocals, there’s a deep sense of melodicism that cushions the blow of the hard-hitting beats which match the progressively intense vocal momentum. It is hardly a stretch to say that Noticing is easily one of the rawest RnB tracks we’ve heard this year. We hope Jspino follows his own trend.

Noticing officially dropped on April 15th; you can check it out via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DJBrandice is more than ‘Good Enough’ in her latest gospel-inspired RnB single.

Posted on 20 April 2022

Houston TX RnB artist and producer, DJBrandice has released her gospel & hip-hop-infused latest single, Good Enough. Over a simple yet striking melody, the deeply compassionate lyrics smoothly move through notions of self-worth in the context of relationships that plant seeds of doubt.

Even with the heart-wrenching honesty in the lyrics, the nuances of Christian music brings a resolving dynamic to the release that is full of aural salvation for anyone with a confusing sense of self-worth. The instrumentals may be minimal, but with DJBrandice’s unique sonic signature written in the mix and her resoundingly evocative vocals, Good Enough is more than that; it’s exceptional.

Good Enough is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LJ Gomez proves that patience is a romantic virtue in his latest alt-indie single, Soon

Posted on 9 April 2022
LJ Gomez

Austin, TX alternative artist, LJ Gomez, let the soul pour in his hazily sweet latest lo-fi single, Soon. Fans of Radiohead, Bon Iver, Ye, and James Blake will want to bathe in the trippy tape-effect saturated guitar tones that complement the glitchy trip-hop beats.

By opening with the lyric, “is it possible to miss somebody that you never knew”, you’re instantly disarmed by LG Gomez’s candour and artful vulnerability. Even if the question was hypothetical, the answer is a resounding yes. There’s nothing quite as melancholy stirring as needing someone that doesn’t yet exist in your peripheral vision. And on the other hand, there’s nothing quite as sweet as the grasp of the belief that the right one is right around the corner.

Check out LJ Gomez on SoundCloud. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: FEAT delivered all of the curatively cathartic soul in his indie RnB single, This Time

Posted on 6 April 2022

‘This Time’ is the latest single released from the Philadelphian alt-RnB artist, FEAT, who has been on a home run with his soul-baring hits since making his debut in 2020.

Some of the tracks that featured on his debut album, For the Lovers Mixtape, have made it onto the OST for the indie film, The Unhinged, and his smooth sonic signature works just as well on the airwaves. Lyrically, this Time explores the very human tendency to stay in toxic dynamics for longer than is healthier while channelling compassion for others in the same situation. Aurally, This Time is a rock and indie guitar-licked distinctive triumph that stands as the ultimate testament to FEAT’s originality. It was a bold move to be so artfully authentic, but it more than paid off in This Time.

Here’s what FEAT had to say on his latest release

“This Time was a song written during a breakup. After numerous attempts to make the relationship work, I was left with disappointment and dissatisfaction and hurt. This song became a way to relieve the undesirable emotions; it was time for me to realize my potential, what I am capable of, and to disconnect from a love that was so very tragic.”

This Time is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast