Browsing Tag

Jazz Soul

Ellen Mara Band sparked jazz-fusion liberation with ‘Burnout’

Posted on 29 November 2024
Ellen Mara Band

‘Burnout’ by the Ellen Mara Band transcends unravelling as a sign of the times; it liberates the listener from the exhausted frustration of feeling as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to tend to the excessive demands of modernity.

While there was once a time when burnout was considered an individual problem, consciousness of the systemic social issue is starting to become a major part of the discourse. Exemplified by this all-serotonin, no-brakes jazz fusion tour de force. The track wraps you up within the technically proficient sonic emancipation as the band’s ability to balance consolation with euphoria and affirming lyricism is proven to be superlatively second to none—if their sound is this sweet recorded, you better prepare for the sugar rush if you see them live.

Recently rebranding from a solo project to a full band in preparation for their 2025 album release, Ellen Mara still takes her place as the frontwoman, sharing heartfelt life learnings through carefully crafted melodies, intricate arrangements, and playful grooves. In collaboration with her partner and co-writer Will Sutcliffe and their talented band members, the Ellen Mara Band offers an authentic fusion of Soul, R&B, Rock, and Jazz. They’ve earned a reputation in the Sydney live music scene and have recently captured the attention of renowned U.S. soul singer Allen Stone, making their international debut at Stone’s annual festival ‘Stone Family Field Trip’ in Washington in October 2024.

If you do one thing today, tune into the soul-provoking expression of resilience and join the groove-driven Ellen Mara Band revolution.

Burnout will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from November 29th;

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Murphy put her jazz and soul into existential philosophy with her latest single, Glitch

Posted on 9 October 2023

The NYC-hailing soulstress Murphy brought in a new era of indie soul pop and added a new trajectory to the evolution of existential philosophy with her latest slicked with jazz and hooked with funk single, Glitch.

Traversing everything from the meaning of life to its origin, Glitch is a deeply introspective hit which infectiously explores the potential of a society-shaking glitch to set us free. If the soberingly sublime single doesn’t leave you deep in thought, that may just be a sign you need to stop swimming in the shallows of perception and start swimming in infinitely more profound pools; diving in with Murphy is the perfect vantage point to take the plunge.

She’s got the voice, a mind that would make Sartre quiver, and a golden ear for a melody; it is safe to say that she’s the epitome of a triple threat; we can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Glitch was officially released on September 29; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Groove back to the 90s with Mike Di Lorenzo’s RnB hit, Holding All My Love, ft. Anna Moore

Posted on 24 March 2023

By fusing 90s RnB with his signature jazz soul textures, producer Mike Di Lorenzo and vocalist, Anna Moore created a sonic nostalgia atom bomb which ignited through the contemporary bold stylings with their latest single, Holding All My Love.

With the hooks sharpened by the pop elements and the grooves riding through the dance licks, few tracks are as efficacious in their ability to make you move and feel in the same funk-dripping breath. The instrumentals are just as passion-slicked as the vocal lines that wrap around the lyrics, which prove that instant gratification can never match the real thing.

After the success of his charting 2022 album, What We Need, which also featured the resolvingly impassioned vocal lines from Anna Moore, Mike Di Lorenzo is right back in the Grammy-worthy groove with Holding All My love.

Holding All My Love will officially release on March 24th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Raelle transformed grief into grace in her orchestral RnB Jazz Fusion, Cruel Nostalgia

Posted on 2 December 2022

Following her phenomenally successful single Grace, the London-based breakthrough artist and producer Raelle is here with a gleaming fusion of jazz and orchestral RnB, Cruel Nostalgia.

After losing a close friend to suicide at the start of the year, Raelle was locked in a spiral of grief, where nostalgia was the only comfort and reprieve. Anyone who has ever suffered loss will know how impossible it is to envision anything but the wrenching depression that alienates you from everyone else that carries on in their on-kilter world.

Without the context, Cruel Nostalgia is a stunning score of soul, complete with cinematic flourishes which embrace the fleeting beauty of the bitter world through the live orchestral arrangements and acid-style percussion. In context, it radiates even more beguile by resonating as a sonic redemption story and definitive proof that even if you have to look to the innocence of youth to feel joy, it is still there for the taking.

Cruel Nostalgia will be available to stream from December 2nd. Check out the sensuous single via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 11 November 2021
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

Sultry inspiration to enjoy nature with ‘Water’ from Charlotte Lansman

Posted on 5 September 2020

Singer-songwriter Charlotte Lansman is back with her fab debut single called ‘Water‘.

The debut single from jazzy-soul singer Charlotte Lansman. This song is about someone finding themselves in a position where they feel destitute, abandoned, alone and trapped in the emotional roller coaster of a relationship going south. Then able to find strength and peace by escaping within.

Out of the room, the building, the city, and into the quiet solitude of water. Inspired in part by a past relationship and in part by quarantine which is totally understandable. Initially feeling completely trapped, then the freedom of taking the daily hour for exercise in nature. Space to breathe and reboot the brain from this crazy world. It’s time start again and learn from before.

‘Water‘ from Charlotte Lansman who tingles the air with this song that is so beautiful. I love her voice and this is a song that was made with so much care and heart. This is the type of music that I wish got more love. For us to be fully happy inside, we need to experience being in water for healing. Water heals all wounds. Dust off those goggles.

Click here for the Soundcloud link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Acoustic Jazz duo Muca & La Marquise eloquently show their love for ”London” with debut single

Posted on 31 July 2020

Muca & La Marquise is a new project from London-based songwriter and producer Muca that uses sound and vision to bring to life a twenty-two-year-old girl who possesses a hauntingly unique voice that will inspire the hearts and minds of all who come across her. The debut song is called ”London” and this is precisely the laid-back song we need in 2020.

”London” from new duo Muca & La Marquise is a track about falling in love with the stunning city and the heartbreak of having to leave it behind. The song all reflects the emotions of a Londoner, contemplating their future. This is a beautiful song and I love their knowledge of the legendary city. Flower Market, Cat & Mutton, Regent’s Canal and Hackney Central are all mentioned and this is so well done by illustrator and animator Clara Santos.

This is a stunning soul-pop/jazz song with a peaceful yet educational vibe here. Muca & La Marquise are a new duo with a full album slated for later on in the year. If this is a sign of things to come then ”London” is a terrific start.

Stream this fantastic song here on YouTube.

Find out more on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

San Diego act Soul Flow reach the right notes with ”Survive”

Posted on 11 June 2020

Hip Hop soul is such a genuine type of music as it has all the right ingredients. Smooth bass lines, followed by soothing vocals that are of such a high standard. San Diego’s Soul Flow warm our hearts and for almost 3 minutes, helping us forget about all the hate and divide that we see on TV currently.

Just staying alive and going through stormy climates in order to get the promised land is the message here. ”Survive” is the new single for this upcoming band and it’s orchestrated to such effect to heal us all.

”Soul Flow’‘ take us on a flight of survival and show you their pain while jazzing it up with a world class sound from the whole band. Trying to find that peace of mind is such a tough journey but we can do it, if we all work together. This is a fairly new band but they clearly enjoy playing together and they must be a pleasure to see live in he face. The song is simple, yet comes off genuine and effective. This is the start of an exciting chapter and we are along for the soul ride.

Stream this new Hip Hop band’s music right here on their Spotify page to get that good soul music.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Thanae & Pulse and Soul – Fast Forward: Revel in the Resonance of Soul-Soaked Contemporary Jazz

Posted on 11 July 2018

Jazz Soul vocalist Thanae made a frankly genius move to team up with the band Pulse and Soul to record her latest album Between 2 Doors. One standout track from the album has to be Fast Forward, Thanae’s soulfully rich style gels perfectly with the synergy on offer from the four-piece band. Fast Forward is a track rich in melody, hype and Funk simultaneously. There aren’t too many bands around today with the ability to create such an overwhelmingly powerful sound.

You can check out Thanae and Pulse and Soul’s live recording of Fast Forward via YouTube now, I’m sure you’ll join me in the agreement that Thanae is the artist with the ability to pour soul back into the soundwaves. Her ethereally sensual style sits perfectly against the gentle drum rolls, soars of the sax, polyphonic wonder of the keys and of course the ever grounding bassline. Together the band and Thanae create intricate arrangements as the vocals take care of the candid expression of pure passion for the soul.

Review by Amelia Vandergast