Browsing Tag

RnB Singer Songwriter

Audric Pinder revived RnB’s golden era with ‘The Moment I Laid Eyes on You’

Posted on 5 August 2024

Audric Pinder’s latest single, ‘The Moment I Laid Eyes on You,’ is a veritable aural rapture for RnB fans weary of the genre’s modern iterations that often assimilate and echo the vibes of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd. Pinder separates himself from the crowd with his distinct blend of honeyed harmonies and diehard romanticism. His production chops shine as he infuses salacious soul into every beat while ensuring the purity of his sound remains undiluted.

The track is a euphonic meditation on love’s ability to elevate us above the mundane material world. It offers a refreshing escape into the arms of romance, where every harmony is an avenue of affection to explore. The backing vocals perfectly complement the main lines, amplifying the arcane energy of the single, which embodies the deep reverie of falling irresistibly in love.

Instrumentally, ‘The Moment I Laid Eyes on You’ is a respectful nod to the soul-stirring rhythms of the 80s and 90s RnB, a period revered for its rich, emotive layers while Pinder’s vocal arrangements offer innovation for anyone craving originality in their RnB repertoire.

The Moment I Laid Eyes on You is now available to stream on all major platforms, including YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into an intimate RnB groove with ILL PHIL’s seminal single, Abo(U)T [Cinnamon]

Posted on 25 July 2024
THE MEMOIR by ILL PHIL PRODUCTIONS

The lead single, Abo(U)T [Cinnamon], from ILL PHIL’s EP, THE MEMOIR, which dropped on July 8th, is locked and loaded with vibe-heavy vulnerability. The track opens with an aphrodisiacal R&B intro that instantly locks you into a melodious groove that will leave you out of the proverbial palm of this illustrious artist’s hand.

The candour within the ode to a soul he doesn’t feel worthy of filling invites you to live vicariously through the passion that mused the mellow declaration of unflinching affection. The lush and laidback production that allows hints of hip-hop roots to pull through the soul-swathed melodies is a testament to the dynamic artist’s ability to use his own worldview to create vignettes which reflect wider emotional phenomena. Anyone who has ever felt the inflection of inferiority in the presence of someone who appears to be rendered in perfection will find visceral resonance in every honeyed vocal note in Abo(U)T [Cinnamon].

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, ILL PHIL is a seasoned producer and artist with over a decade of experience in the hip-hop and R&B scenes. Known for his versatility, ILL PHIL excels in producing, songwriting, beat making, mixing, and mastering, crafting high-quality tracks that resound with creative authenticity. Abo(U)T [Cinnamon] is the ultimate example of how ILL PHIL is holding dominion over the NYC RnB scene.

Abo(U)T [Cinnamon] is available to stream on Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Follow ILL PHIL on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sydney’s annelise. is poised with sensuous power in her latest RnB single, Rearrangement

Posted on 21 July 2024

Since unveiling her 2019 debut EP, NO Feelings, the Western Sydney singer-songwriter annelise. has emerged as an indomitable force in the RnB scene who is showing no signs of slowing down on her trajectory to the top of the charts. Having been lauded by Rolling Stone Magazine and several other national tastemakers, she’s one of the few artists in the modern era who lives up to her hype.

Her latest sensuous with style and soul single, Rearrangement, is the latest installation in an onslaught of euphoric earworms which exhibit her seraphic grace and elevated approach to sound design which any fans of Aaliyah will want to inject into their playlists.

The downtempo track reverberates with honed emotional intelligence as she reflects on the downfall of a relationship after holding her partner to account. Rearrangement softly speaks volumes of how easy it is to become a pacifist in a toxic dynamic while attesting to how vital it is to trust your instinct and be your own advocate in a relationship.

The poised-with-power release will undoubtedly become a source of empowerment for anyone who sinks into the slow-burning serenade of the senses.

Rearrangement was officially released on July 18; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chicago soul conduit, JOSÉ, reflected the beauty of human connection in his latest single, This Is

Posted on 18 July 2024

For his latest single, This Is, the soul conduit, JOSÉ, collaborated with guitarist Tim Wu, to deliver his most sublime slice of euphony to date.

With Tim Wu’s melodious guitar lines grooving through the smooth minimalist production, oscillating between staccato chops and intricate lead work, the instrumentals soothe the senses as JOSÉ’ dreamy diaphanous harmonies send sparks of affection through the release which tenderly meditates on a love so pure that it tears at the soul to even think about letting it go.

The Chicago-born-and-raised singer-songwriter and producer who made his debut earlier this year is clearly well on his way to carving out a legacy for himself with his uniquely mellow singles which allow affectionate introspection to evolve into universally resonant reflections of the beauty of human connection.

This Is was officially released on July 12th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shegogg & Mariah Jae blossomed in their serene odyssey of lush RnB, ‘Garden II’

Posted on 3 July 2024

Shegogg’s latest lush with serene soul single, ‘Flower II’, created in collaboration with Mariah Jae, is a revisitation of the 00s RnB era via an unchartered path paved with striking authenticity.

The track’s unique ability to rekindle the genre’s former glory is amplified through the vibrant infusion of contemporary RnB elements while Mariah Jae adds a profound dimension with her ethereal and diaphanously sweet vocals, creating hypnotic harmonies that drift above the solid, trap-infused beats.

At 33, Shegogg, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas and now based in Atlanta, Georgia, stands as a cultivated originator. His style—a skilful meld of RnB and Pop-Funk—brings to mind the smoothness of artists like Justin Timberlake and Usher, yet, rather than letting influence overshadow his sense-awakening sonic signature, he plays to his strengths by blending soulful rhythms and melodies with a warmth that resonates deeply, evoking feelings of comfort and connection.

Unlike his deadest on mimicking RnB icons contemporaries, Shegogg innovative spirit turns everything he touches to sonic gold, and Flower II was far from the exception. The release harnesses the power of metaphoric parables to encourage listeners to nurture their relationships as his and Mariah Jae’s synergy becomes undeniable. Their vocal interplay weaves through the hazy Latin guitar-flavoured backdrop and the intermittently dominant trap beats, efficaciously capturing the bliss of being locked in love.

Garden II was officially released on June 19th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

King Brian versed the gospel of manifestation in his latest alt-RnB single, Gotta Make It

Posted on 24 June 2024
Gotta Make It by King Brian

King Brian (AKA Brian Christopher Brown) is a master of all creative trades, and jack of none; the Michigan-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter, dancer, author, filmmaker and producer honed his talents at a young age, and at this stage of the game, he is nobodies’ pawn.

His latest single, Gotta Make It, is an extension of his impassioned aspiration to become a catalyst for positive transformation worldwide; also noted through his series of books which explore how to unlock enlightenment, fulfilment and self-actualisation. By fusing the soul of RnB and the conviction of rap verses within a melodically tight, and transcendentally iridescent all-consuming pop-hooked production, Gotta Make It is an unflinching statement of intent from an artist determined to bring his rapidly expanding audience to gaze through his illuminated and empowered world view.

Gotta Make It surpasses the tired hustler hip-hop tropes by delivering the gospel of manifestation to anyone ready to take control of their lives, instead of blindly wishing for kismet or karma to pay them their dues.

Gotta Make It is exclusively available on Bandcamp until the single reaches all major streaming platforms on July 7th. Find your preferred way to listen here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nicole Leaskk unveiled RnB’s most authenticated modern love story with ‘Want You’ ft Strizzy Strauss

Posted on 5 June 2024

Nicole Leaskk’s latest Afrobeat-heated single, Want You, is a subversive symbol of defiance in the face of RnB tropes. If you’re tired of the lyrical fawning and mourning old flames as their light dims, tune into the 90s RnB-inspired summer pop anthem that captures the passion of tragically relatable conflict. Tempers run as hot as the tones in RnB’s most authenticated modern love story.

The reprising lyric “I don’t even want you, I just want to prove you’re mine” testifies to the inevitability of becoming an unwilling pawn in mind games if you dare to delve into the dating pool as Latin flavours ooze through the guitars and percussion and bring the rhythmically kinetic groove in the Afrobeat-tinted production.

Strizzy Strauss’ grime-y rap bars work in dynamic contrast to Nicole Leaskk’s firebranded vocals as he delivers the other side of a cat-and-mouse vignette of tormenting prey before casting aside and moving onto the next chase.

The flawless execution of Want You will undoubtedly leave the UK singer-songwriter open to more critical acclaim. If you’re still sleeping on her, you may as well be in a coma.

Want You was officially released on May 31; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dani Enli opened the doorway to the RnB Pop pantheon with ‘till the end of time’

Posted on 19 May 2024

After the phenomenal success of her debut single, used to it, singer-songwriter & producer Dani Enli ensured the momentum amassing around her stayed high by releasing her sophomore single, till the end of time. By synthesising future-forward RnB melodies with a pensive trap beat and the sentimentality of pop balladry, Enli opened the doorway to the RnB pop pantheon with the downtempo release which gives every aching word to breathe and resonate over the synths that echo emotion as much as the lyrical poetry.

The bittersweet RnB pop symphony delivers the heart-wrenching epiphany that in the mind and reality of the one that got away, all you will ever be is a memory that fades. Inspired, written, composed and produced following a breakup, the single tenderly explores the transitions between resentment and longing, regret and mourning, proving that nothing is ever black and white; everything lies on a spectrum which Enli profoundly explores with the blissful tonal hues that drift between the progressions in this mellifluously flawless production.

till the end of time reached the airwaves on May 10th; add the single to your Spotify playlists or stream the single on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ride the waves of neo-soul transcendence in Livvy Clarke’s artfully arcane release, Love Letter

Posted on 16 May 2024
Livvy Clarke

What Radiohead is to art rock, Livvy Clarke is to neo-soul; the dreamy zeal within the artfully composed complex time signatures in her latest single, Love Letter, allows the release to defy gravity as it transcends through installations of endlessly ascending cultivation, guided by her arcane vocal range.

With this single, the singer-songwriter who has been likened to her heroines, Angie Stone, India Arie and Tracy Chapman, proved that the most powerful love letter you can ever write is a love letter to yourself after overcoming adversity with enough gratitude and tenacity that you can celebrate still being here.

Love Letter is by no means an affecting exception. Livvy Clarke’s evocative repertoire cages swathes of singles which evoke emotion and bare her soul. By always using personal events as thematic underpinnings in her releases, authenticity and sincerity are always guaranteed.

Her sophomore single, Enough, covered the tragedy of saying goodbye to her mother; watching her daughter become disabled to the point of nearly saying another heart-wrenching goodbye convinced Livvy Clarke of the necessity of writing for catharsis.

Her latest single, co-written with renowned songwriter, arranger and producer, Julian Hinton, (Stormzy, Seal, Rod Stewart) captures Clarke in her free spirit era, unshackled by the weight of monumental grief and strife; it is a testament to the fortitude of the human spirit which lies within us all.

Love Letter will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 16th.

Find your preferred way to listen on Livvy Clarke’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nikki Hayes delivered cyclical sorrow and superlative soul in ‘Same One, Different Face’

Posted on 8 May 2024

We were still under Nikki Hayes’ spell after hearing her hit 2023 single Safe, which solidified her status as one of the most promising voices in the contemporary RnB scene; with her latest single, Same One, Different Face, the Chicago-born, Arizona-based artist surpassed herself by unveiling her most evocative single to date.

Even the title of the single is bruising with its nod to how even if one door closes and another opens, cyclical patterns in relationships haunt us and paint a tormenting fate that leaves us destined towards cynicism. The refreshed 90s RnB aesthetic became an affecting playground for Hayes’ vocals which go beyond hitting the notes with poise as they strike every raw nerve in the soul through this vignette of how easy it can be to forego vulnerability to save yourself from the dejection of disappointment.

By reaching the epitome of sublime soul with Same One, Different Face while never letting the gloss of the modern production get in the way of the lyrical resonance, Nikki Hayes has to be one step closer to a Grammy of her own after working with swathes Grammy award-winning producers and artists in her expansive career.

Same One, Different Face hit streaming platforms on April 12; add the single to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast