Browsing Tag

RnB Pop

Alisa Velasquez has made a radio-ready debut with ‘Hold Me Close’ featuring Hana Sushi Music.

Posted on 16 April 2021

Alisa Velasquez’s RnB pop vocals are well-known in her Connecticut hometown. After releasing her debut single, ‘Hold Me Close’, with her partner Hana Sushi Music, her ardent vocal pop timbre will be appreciated by international fans with a penchant for pretence-less pop.

Under the influence of icons such as Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, Alisa Velasquez started professionally recording as a session singer-songwriter in 2015. After the passing of her mother and the meeting of her collaborator, Alisa Velasquez made her debut with her upbeat track inspired by the blossoming love. The clean, contemporary pop beats are the perfect platform for her vocals that effortlessly share the sticky-sweet haze that comes with being in love.

You can check out Hold Me Close for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bluebass brings the feel-good factor with their funk-riddled track, ‘Never Give Up on Your Dreams’

Posted on 13 April 2021

Blackpool-based singer-songwriter and producer Bluebass fed the influence of his hometown into his latest feel-good track, ‘Never Give Up on Your Dreams’. Blackpool isn’t all illuminations and rabid hen parties; it also has an ever-lasting tie to the Northern Soul and Jazz Funk scene which rose from the town’s working-class roots.

With their latest release, Bluebass embraced the old school before contorting familiar grooves into catchy contemporary rhythms that would go down a storm on a dancefloor. Their upraising mix of RnB, pop, funk and soul pulls together to offer all of the aural euphoria that you could ask for.

Never Give Up on Your Dreams is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The LOOP – See Me Beyond My Skin featuring MZ Starr & Marcia

Posted on 12 April 2021

Boston-based RnB pop duo the LOOP made their debut in February 2021 with their soulfully interrogative single, ‘See Me Beyond My Skin’, featuring collaborative artists MZ Starr and Marcia.

It’s the pinnacle of elegance as it confronts subconscious and conscious prejudice and invites the listener to look deeper when attempting to understand women of colour. The single possess plenty of sonic power, but the real weight in this single is how it allows you to find compassion for people who are in view but never truly seen.

Hopefully, one day, tracks such as See Me Beyond My Skin won’t need to exist; for now, we’ll have to heed the words of artists such as the Loop who are bringing that day closer with their melodic grooves, unfiltered lyrics and harmonically sweet vocals.

See Me Beyond My Skin is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MDMelo keeps us euphoric with their latest single ‘DON’T STOP DANCING’ featuring Francis

Posted on 11 April 2021

MDMelo served up a solid slice of funk and disco with ‘DON’T STOP DANCING’, just one of the tracks to feature in their ‘In the Moment’ EP.

By bringing in the smooth vocal timbre of Francis, the single unfolded as a convincingly heartfelt mash of RnB, Soul and Funk. Grooves don’t come much more danceable than the ones that you’ll find in this glossy euphoria dripping sanity-saver.

MDMelo’s lyrical advice is worth heeding. Imagine how much dancefloor awkwardness it will save when clubs finally open. Until then, keep the artist and producer on your radar – you owe it to your serotonin levels.

You can check out the official video which premiered on March 6th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mike Cortes – the New York-based musician/writer drops first solo single with ‘Unstable’

Posted on 10 April 2021
Mike Cortes

‘Unstable’ is the first single from newcomer Mike Cortes, but he’s far from new to ‘the scene’; with a publishing deal and writing credits for numerous other artists over the last six years, this is Cortes putting everything he’s learned in the last six years into practice for himself, with a gentle little dance-pop track. Part Hispanic-beat, part soft, catchy pop chorus, held together by Cortes’ high, sing-song vocal. It’s a great little opener, a perfect radio-friendly pop track, dance beats mixing with a bouncy skank groove bassline and choppy guitar-and-keys chords – there’s a touch of Deanz, Tommy Ljungberg, Aiyo, or Blaeker. It’s a track that promises much, much more from Mike Cortes.

Check out Mike Cortes on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Charles Pam – dancey jazzy dance groove with ‘Give ‘Em Back’

Posted on 10 April 2021

Charles Pam is a multi-instrumentalist composer, performer, and producer, with a background in classical composition and jazz. Working with lyricist Matthew England, ‘Give ‘Em Back’ is a soulful, jazzy dance groove with an upbeat R&B feel, bouncy, fun, and uplifting. It’s a cute little electro-pop tune, a touch urban at times but with a definite ‘club’ feel that should see it – and the forthcoming EP (due June 2021) – pushing club and radio playlists this summer.

Pam’s vocal carries the track, but there’s a great backing in the piano, bass, and electro-drum beat; it’s a proper little toe-tapper, lyrically catchy with an ear-wormy hook-line that will have you singing along well after the track finishes.

‘Give ‘Em Back’ is Charles Pam’s first – self-produced – single; we look forward to hearing more when the EP is released later this year.

Check out ‘Give ‘Em Back’ on Charles Pam’s website; follow Charles on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes.

Paper Eros gives us a perfect latin-pop take on ‘Hate Love Me’

Posted on 9 April 2021

With what may be our favourite track title and cover art so far this week, Paper Eros is a Toronto-based alt-pop artist focusing on the relationship between domination and submission and pain and comfort, with the motto ‘Love, Art, and Rebellion’; ‘Hate Love Me’ starts with a vaguely latin-style guitar line before Eros’ smokey vocal kicks in, sultry and low, enticing and seductive all at once.

There’s a latin-pop feel to the track, that ‘Despacito’/’Bailando’/’Danza Kuduro’ vibe that’s evocative of sunny days and sweaty, sexy nights. With its lyrics of a passion-filled night, the samba rhythms, and the Latin-style instrumentation and arrangement, ‘Hate Love Me’ is a killer dance-pop song that – if there’s any justice in the world – ought to be all over the radio this summer-time.

Check out Paper Eros on Spotify, or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Ceylon Rose has made their debut with the psych-laced RnB pop-rock track, ‘Bubbles and Reflections’

Posted on 9 April 2021

Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ceylon Rose released their debut single ‘Bubbles and Reflections’ on March 12th and shared some of the epiphanous thoughts that led to his transition from their anxiety-riddled state into someone with confidence in their ability.

One of the many stunning aspects of this track is how it reminds the listener that darkness can be overcome. Then there is the soundscape itself which unravels as a melodically soulful mix of RnB, pop, psych-rock and hip hop. The Hendrix-style solo gives you plenty of time to let the preceding introspection sink in and appreciate the multi-faceted nature of Ceylon Rose’s talent.

Bubbles and Reflections is now available to stream via Spotify.

To keep up to date with news on the artist’s following releases, connect via Facebook.

Faith Louise has released her empowering EDM pop anthem, ‘Boss’

Posted on 8 April 2021
Faith Louise

While finding fragments of inner strength is harder than usual, Essex-based singer-songwriter Faith Louise is making up for the shortfall with her upbeat KPop-inspired tracks that pay ode to 90s pop and bring the blazing beats of club anthems.

‘Boss’ is the latest single to be released by the 15-year old performer who could easily teach women twice her age a thing or two about empowerment. The high-vibe track provides hard-hitting bass-riding beats, as the vocals bring a touch of RnB hip hop into the verses, easily paralleling the instrumental energy.

You can check out Faith Louise’s music here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aricka J addresses toxic immaturity in her latest pop track, ‘Man Up’

Posted on 6 April 2021

Boston-born pop singer-songwriter Aricka J pushed the feminist movement forward with her latest release, ‘Man Up’, which addresses the toxic immaturity that every woman, at some point, has probably endured in their lives.

Whether you want to vent about a man reaching out with entitlement and expecting you to save them or a partner dragging you down with them in a relationship, Man Up is an empowering track that reminds the listener that there is no virtue in tolerance, and you have full permission to walk away from what no longer serves you. The upbeat pop track, which is accented by afrobeat elements, is powerful enough to put toxic relationships to bed; for good.

You can check out Man Up for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast