Browsing Tag

UK RnB

Saasil on earth – 5:30: A Cosmic Neo-Soul Embodiment of Empowerment

Posted on 13 December 2024

Saasil on earth, the North West London neo-soul artist renowned for their otherworldly introspection-infused grooves, delivered a sonic salve for fractured hearts with her latest single, 5:30.

From the opening slick-with-remorse apologetic voicemail, she draws listeners into a narrative charged with unresolved tension. The track’s dual perspective, intimately painted by Saasil’s silky vocals and the tempting honeyed tones of a lothario, takes you straight into the discordance of a relationship that’s well past its breaking point. The seductive contemporary grooves, laced with organic textures and an empowering arcane quality, build a backdrop that is as evocative as it is rhythmically refined.

As the narrative unfolds, you’re caught in a vice-like grip of curiosity, aching for some sense of resolution. All too often, artists fail to paint in strokes as messy as reality, yet Saasil on earth captured the often chaotic nature of love in one of the most original RnB tracks of 2024.

With a flair for weaving cerebral emotional depth into ethereally luxe neo-soul aesthetics, the conduit of soul orchestrated a track that’s equal parts relatable and transcendent with her sensuously silky harmonies which resound as though they belong outside of our material world.

Stream 5:30 on Spotify now, and connect with Saasil on earth via Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sharpen your sense of self-worth in the groove pockets of TAZ’s latest RnB Funk release, tunnel vision

Posted on 10 December 2024

With her latest single, Tunnel Vision, TAZ claims her place as the goddess of groove, delivering a funk-wrapped celebration of self-love and empowerment. Hailing from Surrey, the rising star built on the acclaim of her debut, Summertime x, with an up-tempo Neo-Soul release that bursts with vibrant energy and candid lyrical storytelling.

The lush harmonies in Tunnel Vision pop with radiant colour, intertwining seamlessly with staccato guitar chops that electrify the track’s rhythmic pulse. As the song unfolds, the emotive intensity crescendos, with TAZ’s soulful vocals becoming a clarion call for romantic empowerment.

For anyone who suffered fools in the name of love, Tunnel Vision has what it takes to convince the new generation of RnB fans to take every fragment of their self-worth into the battleground, otherwise known as the modern dating scene. The live feel of the production amplifies the authenticity of her message, with each lyric cutting straight to the listener.

Inspired by legends such as Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Alicia Keys, TAZ fuses Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Pop influences to scribe an arrestingly unique sonic signature into her critically acclaimed hits.

Stream tunnel vision on major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sasha Sky found her place in a niche of style and grace with her indie RnB single, Outside of Us

Posted on 20 November 2024

Sasha Sky, a seraphically sublime soulstress emerging from County Durham, reached the epitome of sophistication with her indie RnB release, ‘Outside of Us’. As her lines weave through organically magnetic harmonies that embed the emotions of the lyrics into the listener’s psyche, the melodies carry just as much ease with their mellifluous loungey gentility.

With warm, distinctively embellished textures and intricately stacked layers that don’t merely sum to a whole but open a panorama of soulful experience, the track invites you to immerse in the colour and sincerity of its composition, grooving against your emotional impulses and leaving a lasting mark.

This single stands in stark contrast to the modern charts’ disregard for genuine grace as it vindicates the romantically scorned, showcasing Sasha as the embodiment of the refinement she portrays in her music.

Since beginning her music career during the 2021 lockdown, Sasha has drawn upon her lifelong love for music, songwriting, and poetry, a venture emboldened by her studies in Performing Arts and Music at New College Durham. This background honed her ability to weave sonic narratives that speak directly to the soul. As the crowning point of her career so far, Outside of Us is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to a superlative voice in contemporary indie RnB.

Outside of Us was officially released on November 7th and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud.

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

The UK’s hottest RnB trio, Y.Q.S, Harmonised Through An Interplay of Light and Dark Duality in Their Latest Single, No Angel

Posted on 24 May 2024

Y.Q.S’s latest harmonised-to-the-nines contemporary RnB single, No Angel, is a sublime equilibrium that delicately balances shadow and light, embodying the complexity of feminine energy and autonomy. This track emerges from the depths of personal scars and speaks volumes of universal archetypes, presenting itself as a bold declaration of independence against the backdrop of love’s darker, often unexplored side.

Y.Q.S, a supergroup hailing from the urban melting pots of London and Manchester, channels their rich RnB heritage into a modern narrative that will ensnare fans of iconic ensembles like 3LW and Destiny’s Child. No Angel is steeped in the trio’s signature style of lush, interwoven harmonies, elegantly layered over a trappy, contemporary beat that amplifies the track’s luxe feel.

The production, handled by Klaudia Keziah and Jojo Farinella at Southampton’s Red Room Studios, further refines the single’s polished fiery signature that carries the potent with empowerment lyrics, which create a resonant anthem for those who navigate the tightrope walk of self-sacrifice in relationships.

As Y.Q.S stands poised on the brink of further acclaim, having already graced platforms at London Fashion Week and received nods from BBC Introducing, No Angel promises to elevate their artistic trajectory even higher.

The release, scheduled for streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, from May 24th, will coincide with the release of the official music video for No Angel.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Manchester soul sensation, Tsana lit the ignition of self-liberation with her single, All of Me

Posted on 16 April 2024

With her standout single, All of Me, Manchester’s Tsana, rewrote the time-old tale of giving your all in a relationship and receiving only regret in return and reached the epitome of class in the process. Even though emotions run red-hot in the deep groove pockets of the authentic RnB installation, there’s no room for self-pity in the ignition of self-liberation, which feeds into her signature ‘street-soul’ style.

Knowing it is all too easy to slip into a cascade of self-doubt when someone refuses to affirm your worth, Tsana became the ultimate role model for anyone who knows how bittersweet to come away from a relationship scathed by unappreciation.

The Manchester-based soulstress, riding high in her ‘grown woman era’ following a hiatus which saw her bring new life into the world, was a firebrand before her break from the studio and stages, with her latest EP, Lovehood, she’s not just in her element, she’s setting the UK soul scene alight with her cognizant cultivated aura. By finding the ultimate equilibrium between confident sophistication and hell-hath-no-fury unreckonable energy, she’s the best Manchester has to offer in 2024.

All of Me is available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

GeeMarr ignited a carnal flame with his exotically expansive RnB hit, Fire & Desire

Posted on 8 April 2024

GeeMarr, the UK’s RnB firebrand, ignited the genre with his latest single ‘Fire & Desire‘. The stylistic fusion of RnB, afrobeat, pop, and soul elements showcases GeeMarr’s versatility and creativity when blending diverse musical influences.

The intro of ‘Fire & Desire’ is a nostalgic nod to the 80s era of RnB, setting the stage for a contemporary twist that GeeMarr executes flawlessly. The track pulsates with modern cuts, seamlessly integrating autotuned reggaeton-esque vocal lines with sun-pierced melodies. The sax lines spill soul by the smorgasbord, weaving through the song and adding a rich, emotive layer to the already vibrant soundscape.

GeeMarr’s lyrics in ‘Fire & Desire’ resonate like mantras, creating a heady sonic haven that you’ll want to occupy all summer and ensuring that the midtempo vignette captures the sweetness of finding someone who evokes feelings of both love and lust. Even if you’re riding solo, you’ll get a taste of how sweet adding fuel to your carnal fire is.

Born in Jamaica and raised in South London, GeeMarr’s global influences are evident in his music. His repertoire spans Afrobeats, R&B, and Soul, and ‘Fire & Desire’ is a culmination of his artistic evolution. After a 5-year hiatus and a series of captivating freestyles on social media, GeeMarr is not just making a comeback; he’s redefining his sound.

GeeMarr’s involvement in every stage of his music, from writing and producing to mixing and mastering, ensures that his sonic signature blazes through ‘Fire & Desire’. This track is a must-listen for fans of RnB and anyone looking for a summer anthem that combines the best of global beats with the soulful depth of RnB.

Stream the official music video for Fire & Desire which dropped on March 28th on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DNA unveiled the UK RnB debut you don’t want to miss with the dualistically stylistic hit, Love or Let Go

Posted on 23 March 2024

Whether you keep hanging on to a relationship that is showing no lifelines or are too hesitant to let down your barriers, DNA’s alt-indie RnB hit, Love or Let Go, will give you all the permission you need to move forward with no inhibition.

Between the grooves of the Latin guitars and the jarringly immersive electronic aesthetic that rocks turbulence behind the solid backbeat, DNA constructed the perfect platform to sonically visualise the emotional themes of Love or Let Go and carry the weight of his hot and heavy vocal lines.

With his vocal dynamism that shifts effortlessly from Hozier-esque timbres to light pop harmonies to electronically distorted dominance, the UK-based up-and-coming talent ensured that he was more than a new entry in the UK RnB scene; he exhibited himself as an RnB heavyweight right out of the gate. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Love or Let Go will hit all major streaming platforms on March 22; hear it on SoundCloud first.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

East London RnB Luminary 8rii became the Queen of Headstrong Hedonism with ‘T.O.T.Y’

Posted on 27 November 2023

East London’s hottest independent RnB artist 8rii fuelled some fire into the genre with her latest single, T.O.T.Y, which fuses a gritty production with a solid backbeat to keep your rhythmic pules kicking and swathes of soul which spill from the earwormy vocal melodies.

Between encapsulating the East London attitude and searing her infectious sonic signature, 8rii ensured she established herself as one to watch with T.O.T.Y (the Time of the Year).

Since the age of 15, the songwriter has been crafting her own inexplicably fresh and fiery tunes, driven by a deep-rooted passion for music, showmanship, and the thrill of performance. So far, her discography is as versatile as they come. Whether she’s amping her audience up for a night of hedonism or setting the tone for introversion and self-care, her lyrical prowess always hits the mark while she tracks various eras of RnB.

After a whirlwind year, her latest single is set to close the year on a note as high as the track itself which captures the empowering liberation of embracing life’s journey and taking the rough with the smooth.

TOTY will be released on November 27, stream it on Spotify, and keep up to date with all new releases via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

David Mauer modernised 80s soul with his cinematically vulnerable debut, One More Day

Posted on 8 November 2023

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Mauer has commenced his solo career with the sweetly sombre debut single, One More Day; one of the most affecting attests to the intertwining proclivities of love and grief the airwaves have ever received. Written after the loss of someone close to him, One More Day captures the unrelenting bargaining and yearning that mourning leaves us at the mercy of.

The cinematically intimate track wouldn’t be out of place in a heart-breaking Blockbuster’s OST; David Mauer clearly has a talent for sonically visualising the most tender facets of the human experience. It is by no means farfetched to say One More Day is a soul-rendered ballad to end all others.

The magnetic and deeply relatable melancholy fused with a contemporary RnB edge which pushed the evolution of the genre leagues forward while affirming there’s a place for Mauer in the music industry; in the charts beside his icons of influence, John Mayer, and Dermot Kennedy.

One More Day was officially released on November 3rd. Stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast