Browsing Tag

Nile Rodgers

MEVS sent a surge of funk-riding euphoria through the airwaves with his feel-good disco-pop anthem, Groovin’

Posted on 17 November 2022

Carving his own untrodden path back to the 70s, the Puerto Rican trailblazer, MEVS, unleashed the soul-stirring slice of euphoric funk-riding disco-pop, Groovin’.

While artists will tune in with envy of his capacity to release such a blazing debut, fans of funk, alt-RnB and authentic old-school soul will surrender to the danceable electricity in the progressively dynamic release, which paints across the brighter corners of the tonal spectrum.

Starting with the sultry rolling basslines in the smoky prelude before exploding into a riot of flavour with Nile Rodgers guitar chops and a strong brass section, immersing yourself in this intrinsically rhythmic earworm which uses ‘never give up, never give in’ as an enlivening reprise will always send a flood of dopamine through your synapses.

Groovin’ is the first single from MEVS’ debut album, Sentient Beings in the Streets, which is set to release in 2023. Even if you don’t stay tuned, something tells me his enlivening soul will be coming to a dance floor near you anyway.

Groovin’ is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sir Jeremy Green – on a deep, soulful Motown ‘Cruise’

Posted on 20 January 2021

If Marvin Gaye hadn’t fatally intervened in his parents’ argument in 1984 and had, instead, continued making music, it might have sounded very much like Sir Jeremy Green on new single ‘Cruise’, a deep, classy nu-soul cut that simply oozes with class.

Mixing up a little of the retro, sexual, sensual ‘70’s Motown vibe with a modern take and a little bit of 90’s Brand New Heavies, a little jazzy funk, and just enough old-skool hip hop beat to add some groove, ‘Cruise’ is an absolute dope stunner of a track, Green’s rich, smooth vocal perfect over the top of a full-on retro track, all movie-soundtrack (like the accompanying official video), Rodgers-style funk off-beat guitar and Rhodes-style electric piano stabs. And then there’s that bassline, before the track resolves to drop into grooving-yet-chilled middle eight and breakdown.

‘Cruise’ is the first single from Green’s new EP; if the rest is as good as this, 2021 is going to be a VERY good year for Sir Jeremy Green.

See the awesome video for ‘Cruise’ on YouTube. Follow Sir Jeremy Green on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

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

Posted on 24 December 2020

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

Don’t Blame It On The Boogie; Blame It On Rebelsuns. Dancefloor Anthem ‘Over Again’

Posted on 21 December 2020

Hot on the heels of their previous single ‘Hues’ comes this absolute banger of a dancefloor-ready hit from Indonesia’s Rebelsuns., all mixed-up disco-funk synth-pop in the vein of the Scissor Sisters, Jean Tonique, or Flamingo Pier.

Whereas previous single ‘Hues’ was a more solemn, ballady affair, ‘Over Again’ takes no prisoners in its aim to get booties shaking and feet moving, a total-fun, no-holds-barred party track with Nile Rodgers-Esque funk guitar riffs atop thumping bass, splashed piano chords, and a drum pattern which just invites all those late-seventies open-collar and white suit dance moves.

Taking its cues from K-Pop, J-Pop, and funk/fusion, ‘Over Again’ is all soft, playful vocals, multi-layered chorus harmonies, and inescapable dance grooves. It’s nostalgic yet contemporary, uplifting and wicked, wicked fun, as much Twice’s ‘Fancy’ as Childish Gambino as Swing Out Sister, Johnny Hates Jazz, the Bee Gees, or Chic. It’s that perfect mix of funk, dance, disco, and modern alt-synth-pop, colourful, upbeat, tongue-in-cheek, and with a completely unavoidable boogie; it’s truly impossible to listen to ‘Over Again’ and not want to get up and dance. That’s the mark of a proper future classic right there.

Listen to ‘Over Again’ on Spotify. Follow Rebelsuns on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

Augusta Sky – Dreaming: An Entrancingly Funk-Soaked Electronic Pop Debut

Posted on 4 August 2020
https://soundcloud.com/augustasky/dreaming

York, UK-based collective Augusta Sky has dropped their debut single “Dreaming”, with their influences including Nile Rodgers and Jamiroquai, you can imagine just how much Funk has been weaved into the entrancingly soulful mix.

Kymberley Kennedy’s resounding vocals were the perfect fit for the warm and rich instrumentals which carved out arrestingly danceable rhythms. It’s always refreshing to hear a full band in a feat of EDM. The beats may lead the way, but the Funk-laden guitars and brass add an absorbing dynamic to the unforgettably high-vibe mix produced by Steve Wilkinson and mastered by DJ Nick Hussey.

With their second single due to drop in October 2020, you’ll definitely want Augusta Sky on your radar.

You can check out Augusta Sky’s single Dreaming for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast