Browsing Tag

Motown

Joesix’s ‘Beauty Queen’ – funky uplifting soulful Hip Hop at its best

At 31, UK-based artist Joesix is already a pretty established name on the North East hip hop scene; now back with his latest single ‘Beauty Queen’, Joe’s mixing up old-school soul, Motown, and funk with R&B and Hip Hop to produce a single that crosses artificial boundaries and give us something with true dance credentials.

Upbeat, funky, soulful, and exciting, ‘Beauty Queen’ blends Nile Rodgers-style funk guitar with Motown Hammond organ parts and a proper, early hip hop scene rapped vocal that’s reminiscent of Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash, and the Furious Five. That said, it’s a fiendishly modern track, all the while nodding back to its roots in 80’s breakdance and Hip Hop; handclaps, gated kick drum and snare, and genuine flow. You can easily imagine ‘Beauty Queen’ on prime time Eighties Top Of The Pops just as smoothly as you can at Jazz Café or Concrete; it’s groovy, it’s timeless, it’s got style and class, and it’s insanely danceable.

Check out ‘Beauty Queen’ on Spotify, and follow Joesix on Facebook or Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Ashley James takes us back to the 70s with their Pop ballad “Take Your Time”

Ashley James

Ashley James may not be a well-known name (yet), but any fans of 00’s Indie Rock should be familiar with their previous outfit Likely Lads who received rapturous acclaim for their brutally honest lyrical style.

Now, Ashley James has gone solo, and we’re seeing a more soulful side to the artist’s multifaceted talents. With a touch of aural nostalgia and lashings of laceratingly raw emotion, their debut single “Take Your Time” was born.

The 70s-inspired Pop ballad is sure to be a hit with any fans of Rod Stewart and Elton John or any Pop fans who are looking to lock into sincerity, pitch-perfect harmony, and melodic alchemy.

You can check out the official video to  Take Your Time via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jerry Impini – Good Time Woman: A Feel-Good Alt Country Playlist Essential

Alt-Country artist Jerry Impini released their latest single Good Time Woman on February 3rd, 2020 and placed a rhythmically accordant Jazz-infused earworm on the airwaves.

The single fuses a myriad of tonally-warm, timelessly-accessible genres together allowing Good Time Woman to resonate like nothing you’ve ever heard before. You’ll find everything from Soul, to Motown, to Folk Blues, to Jazz and Funk in Good Time Woman. Naturally, it’s an organic feel-good hit which won’t fail to leave you enamoured.

The vibrant popping melodies work in perfect synergy with Jerry Impini’s harmonically resonant vocals, making Good Time Woman the perfect aural pick me up to have on your playlists!

You can check out Jerry Impini’s latest single via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Good Dudes – Ready for It: An Alchemic Blend of Pop-Rock & Motown

US-based breaking artist The Good Dudes made their Alt-Rock debut with the groove-infused rhythmically arrestive single “Ready for It”. With choir harmonies, up-vibe Jangle Pop guitar, and the whiskey-soaked Bluesy vocals, it’s all but impossible not to get hooked into this sticky-sweet serving of stylised Pop-Rock.

There’s no denying that with their first single the Good Dudes’ unique fusion of Pop-Rock and Motown made for a radio-ready hit. Ready for It boasts plenty of contemporary appeal along with that indulgently warm vintage nostalgia that always makes you feel right at home in a track.

The ability to carve out hooks which share plenty of reminiscences with B.B. King isn’t something you expect from an emerging artist in 2019, but we’re more than here for it.

You can check out Ready for It for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast