Browsing Tag

Retro RnB

Honey Made stirred the spirit of soul with ‘Pass Me By’

Honey Made

Honey Made, hailing from Austin, has yet again lived up to their moniker with their latest single, ‘Pass Me By’. The track, which taps into the aura of retro soul with a fusion of silky smooth RnB, jazz and blues, is an aphrodisiac for the rhythmic pulses.

Drawing inspiration from legendary figures such as James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Honey Made may revisit the past, but based on the creative synergy within Pass Me By, the only place this ensemble is going is forward.

The band’s connection to their RnB roots is evident in every note, offering an easy listening session that is both tantalisingly paced and deliciously seductive. With mellifluous melodies that the oceans could envy, slipping into the groove of this track is as effortless as it is inevitable. Honey Made distinguishes themselves as one of the few remaining RnB powerhouses capable of serenading the heart, mind, and soul with just their instrumental arrangements.

With the crescendo of the track which escalates with an intensity poised to leave a lasting impact paired with the graceful vocals, Pass Me By is nothing short of cinematic.

As an official 2022 SXSW showcasing artist and acclaimed as one of the best live bands in Austin, Honey Made has a reputation that precedes them. Their performances not only capture the raw energy of their music but also amplify their commitment to reviving and expanding the audience for classic soul sounds. Join their revolution of retro soul today.

Pass Me By was officially released on November 8th; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Specyal T pioneered nostalgia for her boundary-breaking boom-bap RnB pop track, Double Take

Canada’s hottest RnB artist, Specyal T, brought enough heat in her LP, Foresight, to start an inferno. The standout single, Double Take, runs through with funk-laced retro synths to carve the grooves and boom-bap beats to deliver rhythms that will intoxicate your rhythmic pulses.

With the fiery old school rap bars in the verses and lashings of luxe soul in the harmonised vocal lines, Specyal T ensured their seminal hit was dripping in dynamism to accentuate the pioneered and manicured nostalgia.

The Caribbean-Canadian artist splits her talents between her vocations as a pro musician, actor and executive; her multi-award-winning tracks have featured on several popular TV channels, and her hits have been heard on commercial radio stations across Europe and North America. After working its way into her boundary-pushing LP, Double Take will also feature in the soundtrack to the 2023 film Alarmed. 

Stream the Album Version of Double Take for yourselves by heading over to Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast