Browsing Tag

neo-soul

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: You’ve gotta ‘Feel It’ for yourselves in MDMelo & Francis’ standout electronic soul single.

Posted on 7 June 2022

With its kicking beat, shimmering sonics and the effortless resonance of Francis’ vocals, MDMelo’s title single from his collaborative album, Feel It, rhythmically commands you into an evocative appreciation for the aural delivery of oxytocin.

It has been a while since we have heard funk-riding electronic beats with such deep seductive grooves; the euphoric aesthetic of the collaboration is nothing short of electrifying. The zealously infectious track marries old school soul with new-age electronica to achieve an uplifting effect that can scarcely be put into words; you just have to feel the disco synthetics up against the funk, soul and RnB textures for yourselves.

Here is what MDMelo had to say on his latest collaboration with vocalist, Francis

“Feel It, featuring Francis, is a breakthrough for me; it was a long-term project which focuses on production, composition, harmony, groove and sonics. My main objective is to make sure that Francis gets the notoriety he deserves; he transformed my music world.”

Watch the official music video for Feel It, which dropped on the 20th of May 2022, via YouTube.

Before the release of the 11-track soul album, Feel It, in May 2022, MDMelo & Francis caught up with A&R Factory. Check out the A&R Video Interview with MDMelo and Francis here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Basia Bartz has released her feverishly pure piano-pop score, All Your Pages (Read Like Mine)

Posted on 6 June 2022
Basia Bartz

After an outtake-y intro which strips any air of pretension from the soundscape from the outset, the Poland-born and raised, London-residing singer-songwriter Basia Bartz careers into a smooth experimental jazz-pop ensemble with her latest single, All Your Pages (Read Like Mine).

Even though it’s scarcely imaginable that a contemporary artist can conjure as much soulfully demure alchemy as Peggy Lee did with Fever, that is exactly what Basia Bartz beguiles with.

Her name as a solo artist may be relatively unheard. As a violinist, she’s worked alongside Boxer Rebellion, Maisha, Ben Walker and Josienne Clarke, Dan Raza, The Penny Black Remedy, Cherise Adams-Burnett, Tankus The Henge, Trent Miller, Ian Prowse, Tom McRae, Jamie Lenman, Ferries & Sylvester, Catherine Rudie and the Kisses, Jason McNiff, The Clientele, ESE & The Vooduu People, Gabriel Moreno, Adam Beattie and many more.

Inspired by those very same artists, she started training as a vocalist and composer before releasing her debut single, A Girl at Dusk, in 2022. Her third single, All Your Pages, is her soulful take on a groove-led feat of piano pop which unravels as an honest expression of female sensuality. God knows we needed someone to put the innocence back into affection after Nikki Minaj defiled all that was sacred about those moments that are just as tenderly captivating as the swinging piano riffs in All Your Pages.

All Your Pages will launch on Bandcamp on June 3rd before releasing across all other platforms on June 21st.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DRCY preserved the timelessness of old school soul in ‘Small Talk’

Posted on 6 June 2022

Pairing old school Olivia Dean soul vocals with contemporary and conversational lyrics, the Liverpool/London-residing singer-songwriter DRCY brought a resonant air of modernity to the timeless style in her latest RnB pop single, Small Talk.

The sophomore single is a natural continuation of the artist’s debut single, Butterflies, which also mused on the honeymoon phase of new relationships. This time, there is a particular focus on the addictiveness of small talk during the early stages of a relationship, where every trivial fact feels like a new beguiling piece of the puzzle.

Her radiant vocals paired with the bass-carved grooves and jazzy instrumentals don’t make for the average 2022 love song; DRCY could never be that unauthentically pedestrian.

In her own words

“For so long I have cared about what other people think of me. Insecurities held me back for so long, I just need to own it now. I want my music to inspire people to feel good in their own skin, to feel sexy in their own skin. And I hope that everyone who listens to my music knows that life is not as serious as you’ve been told.”

Small Talk is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Archpalatine delivered riotously seductive soul in their latest single, Hypnotized

Posted on 26 April 2022

Riotous and seductive aren’t usually adjectives that you would see side by side, but the histrionic cosmic soul outfit Archpalatine defies convention in a myriad of ways. Especially through their latest single, Hypnotized, taken from their upcoming third album.

The after-effects of Hypnotized are just as sweet as the timeless sonic experience itself. You’d need a considerable concussion to forget the sweetness in the strident vocal hooks and the cinematic old school soul that lingers in the alchemically arranged funk-blistered instrumentals.

Few artists have what it takes to capture visceral emotion so concisely and euphorically, but notably, that wasn’t a concern for the Philadelphia-based soul-pop powerhouse which has been steadily gaining traction since forming in 2018. There’s nothing like the real thing, and they’re soulfully just that.

Here is what Archpalatine had to say about their latest release.

“Written in a dream on Valentine’s Day, Hypnotized represents the wonderfully woozy feeling you get when you are on the dancefloor and someone you’ve been eyeing all night gives you a taste of their amazing energy and chemistry.

We’ve all been there. And once you enter that zone, they are the only person to exist in the building. The message is one of fun, joy, and letting everyone know that some styles of music are timeless. All art forms, songs are up for interpretation, but the feeling of timeless music is transcendent.”

Hypnotized is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Follow Archpalatine on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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

Elocin Cole brought contemporary style to classic soul with her artfully aware single, There You Are

Posted on 24 April 2022
https://soundcloud.com/locinole/there-you-are/s-FiOeguaCz2P?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Elocin Cole brought swathes of contemporary style to her classic soul meets RnB single, There You Are, which explores the adage “wherever you go, there you are”. Elocin Cole artfully intellectualised the idiom by running it through a prism of self-awareness and translating it as a signifier that the past will always catch up to you unless you turn and face it.

The single has the capacity to move you emotionally through the honeyed vocals and make you want to move through the drum beats colliding with the sticky-sweet synth lines. We can’t wait to hear what the eloquent soulstress has in the pipeline.

There You Are dropped on April 21st. You can check it out for yourselves via 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

Balaciaga spliced demure conviction with emboldening soul in her third single, Like It

Posted on 6 April 2022

After winning over swathes of RnB fans with her versatile style in her sophomore single, Nothing to Me, the Floridian RnB singer-songwriter, Balaciaga, has released her soulfully convictive single, Like It. The demure single takes a different tone from the preceding releases, proving that Balaciaga’s talent in matching tone, temperament and key leaves little room for improvement.

Like It combines scathing tendencies and emboldening vibes with an old-school sense of romanticism, proving that affection and empowerment can fit hand in glove. The up and coming artist takes influence from a vast array of artists for her well-rounded and instantly distinctive style, including but not limited to Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Beyonce.

Like It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

MIXED COMPANY have released their bite-worthy RnB debut, SOUL FOOD

Posted on 28 March 2022

The freshly formed duo, MIXED COMPANY, put their own distinctively introspective spin on RnB with their debut single SOUL FOOD.

While the jazzy, hazy, and tonally bright instrumentals bring the soul you’re accustomed to, MIXED COMPANY took a mindful hip hop-ESQUE approach to their lyrics. As the lyrics breeze through their easy and mellow canter in the two-minute earworm, you’ll pick up on the pioneer’s ability to perfectly balance high vibes with wisdom bombs that were constructed to help the listener navigate their way through our torrid times that deprive the soul of its essence. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

SOUL FOOD is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chuck Starr shows us the beauty in unconditional love with ‘Come Back’, taken from his debut LP.

Posted on 26 March 2022
Chuck Starr

Taken from his debut record, Love Math, Chuck Starr’s sweeter than a sugar rush old-school RnB hit, Come Back, definitively hits the spot.

Come Back stridently yet elegantly runs through all of those jarring and disjointing feelings that can be paralysing at the end of a relationship you never wanted to lose. Yet, its nuance lies within its recognition of self-sabotaging behaviour and proving the beauty in unconditional love. Even in the ears of a romantic cynic, Come Back succeeds in stirring the listener’s soul to match the euphoric soulful swells in the high energy performance.

The Columbus, OH born and raised artist cut his vocal teeth in a church choir before moving to New York to peruse his music career. After the release of his debut record, it is easy to see Starr’s career being a luminous one.

Check out Chuck Starr via his official website, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast