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Funk

The Proto-Funk Pioneers, The Yowies, have officially arrived with their decadently disco debut single, Real Time

Posted on 10 October 2024

There’s no putting the mythologically monikered proto-funk renegades, The Yowies, back in their cage after they unveiled their debut single, Real Time. The decadent disco track pours an alchemic cocktail of indie-licked RnB, funk, jazz and soul, stirred by razor-sharp songwriting chops that cut straight through the static of the contemporary music scene.

The tonal sublimity of the seductively smooth single rivals the kaleidoscopic luminosity of a disco ball as The Yowies groove across their foundational influences, which pit the timeless soul of Winehouse against the guitar licks of Nile Rodgers and the spacey transcendence of Bowie in his Young Americans era.

With jazz nuances as a smoke machine, there are few sonic signatures as slick as what is exhibited in The Yowies’ debut release which makes it impossible not to get into the fiery smooth groove. Every replay reveals a new level of their creative genius, solidifying them as a band at the forefront of proto-funk revivalism

Real Time was officially released on September 29; stream the single on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ride the synth waves in Dry’s latest alt-electro hit, DON’T GO

Posted on 24 September 2024

Dry finessed the future of alt-electro with his latest single, DON’T GO. With the synths delivering a unique flavour of cybernetic hyper-pop-adjacent funk into the adrenalized installation of retro-futurism, it is impossible not to get caught up in the kinetic hype of the genre-bending track.

The single’s foundation is laid with a robust bassline that pulsates through the melody, offering a deep, resonant contrast to the sharp clarity of vintage analogue synths. These elements combine to craft a backdrop that is rich in texture and brimming with infectious energy. The breakbeats act as a homage to the classic eras of hip-hop and Drum and Bass, infused with a modern twist that keeps the listener locked in and moving.

Adding complexity to this already dynamic mix, Dry’s vocals, autotuned to the edge of synthetic distortion, serve as a bold statement on the artificiality of modern pop. This choice is a clever nod to the genre’s roots in electronic manipulation, pushing the boundaries of vocal treatment into the realm of the experimental.

Each beat in ‘DON’T GO’ reflects a deep appreciation of Dry’s influences—from the intricate jazz time signatures that defy conventional expectations to the funk-infused grooves reminiscent of Jamiroquai and Steely Dan.

Stream DON’T GO on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Keith Rayburn – Shine On: Guitar Strings as Gospel

Posted on 19 September 2024

For his latest eagerly anticipated release, Shine On, Keith Rayburn rendered funk-laden rock into smoky, Motown-esque soul intersected with bluesy grooves to offer conjurings of catharsis so intense the single borders on sonically sacred.

Each progression plunges the listener deeper into a hazy, irresistibly immersive soundscape that echoes the nostalgic aura of The Doors as his guitars speak gospel in chorus with the lyrics which attest to how dimming your light is never the answer when the illumination of resilience is an option.

Rayburn is well on his way to riffing his way into the rock pantheon with his peerlessly cultivated sonic signature that will scribe its way through your synapses long after the outro of the sublimity-soaked sanctuary of a single which is easily one of the most sincere feel-good releases you’ll hear all year.

With tens of thousands of monthly Spotify listeners from around the globe behind him and his versatile musicianship, Rayburn is well on his way to reaching the acclaim his superlative song crafting deserves. Make his ear for a melody your new aural remedy.

Shine On arrived on the airwaves on September 4th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Garfield Mayor shredded inhibition with soul in his nu-disco pop hit, Foolish Feet

Posted on 29 August 2024

Hot on the blazing heels of his critically acclaimed single, Been Thinking, the British singer-songwriter Garfield Mayor, grooved the bar even higher with his lush self-produced summer anthem, Foolish Feet.

Knowing exactly how to command the mic with magnetic soul, Mayor ensures that being drawn into Foolish Feet hook, line and sinker is as obligatory as giving into the compulsive beat and surrendering to the melodies which reach the epitome of infectious fluidity.

Equally as sweet as the sonics which subvert the expectations of summer pop hits are the lyrics which tenderly implore the listener to throw away inhibition and self-consciousness. The lyric, “Who cares about cliches, let’s dance like the old days, we’re all the same species” exemplifies the essence of the single which advocates for living in the moment and casting aside self-preservation to make room for rhythm-led euphoria.

“I was the designated driver at a party. Get Lucky by Daft Punk started playing. I wanted to dance but it had been a while, and I was self-conscious… I went for it anyway, and I remembered how much I’d missed it. It reminded me what a valuable part of life dancing is.”

Coincidently, Foolish Feet is the perfect hit to get footloose with. The echoes of Nile Rodgers’ funked-up guitar and Daft Punk’s kinetic rhythms filtered through a vibe-driven nu-disco lens allow the release to hammer home the razor-sharp propensities of Mayor’s songwriting chops.

Foolish Feet hit the airwaves on August 9th; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Co Co Jones brought the funk in her boom bap RnB hit, OutSide

Posted on 25 August 2024

With her latest release, OutSide, the icon in the making, Co Co Jones, cemented her position as a definitive firebrand in the contemporary RnB scene.

The track begins with a burst of funk, led by bass rolls that set the stage for what is soon to become an irresistible summer anthem. As the hit progresses, the fiery grooves pull you into a synthesis of boom-bap hip-hop, funk, and RnB, allowing Co Co Jones to blaze across unchartered ground. It’s a track you won’t dare to listen to half-heartedly; the message to live in the moment and embrace the heat of the season is one that will stick you long after the outro.

Jones has always been a pure conduit of innovation, and OutSide is no exception. The single ignites an explosion of emotion and authentic experimentation that is undeniably infectious, further showcasing Jones’ ability to meld edgy grit with swathes of feel-good soul.

By drawing from a deep well of talent that spans singing, songwriting, lyricism, and poetry, Co Co Jones is a one-of-a-kind entity in the industry, destined for infamy.  Since releasing her first full project, SuperSoulSista, in 2006, Co Co Jones has consistently proven herself as an unreckonable force. From the radio hit Anticipating to her last project, Love, Jones, she has demonstrated versatile skill that few can rival.

Whether on stage or in the studio, Jones commands attention with her soulful presence and ability to lyrically ensnare; traits that have earned her the privilege of collaborating on multiple projects and gracing numerous platforms, including television, film, radio, and live performances.

OutSide was officially released on August 2nd; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the groove with Ryan Alexander’s funk-chopped disco pop earworm, Stay the Night

Posted on 31 July 2024

Ryan Alexander’s latest single, Stay the Night, featuring pop vocalist Michael, is more disco than a disco ball with its funk chops which cut through the kinetic grooves to ignite dancefloors and send sparks of serotonin flooding through the psyche of anyone who encounters this synthesis of sonic nostalgia and salaciously amplified contemporary innovation.

The hit mainlines the guitar rhythms of Nile Rodgers with the beats of Daft Punk, while the infectiously euphoric pop vocals from Michael turn up the heat in this magnetic earworm, resulting in a track that showcases the immense potential of this independent producer’s talents.

Although Alexander is currently reverberating through the underground, it is only a matter of time before he breaks major ground and storms the mainstream with his flair for expansively fusionistic songwriting and producing.

Hailing from Glasgow, Ryan Alexander’s passion for music is evident in every beat of his rapidly growing discography, which is picking up major traction through his local performances in October Café and other revered venues around his hometown. There’s no doubt that a big break is around the corner.

Stay the Night was officially released on July 22; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dry awakened a new era of jazz fusion with his electrifying symphony, Refresher

Posted on 3 July 2024

Dry’s debut EP, Kickback Selections, introduces jazz fusion fans to a bold new talent with the opening single, Refresher. The instrumental score is an unforgettable showcase of the composer’s modernised touch in the jazz scene. Symphonic keys scintillate alongside expressively enthused drum fills, defying the laid-back expectations set by the EP’s title as the loungey nuances invite listeners to lose themselves in a chiptune-esque euphonic universe of electrifying energy.

Despite only beginning his journey into the music industry as a college freshman, Dry’s already attracting a loyal following among virtuoso-seeking jazz fusion fans. His unique blend of traditional jazz roots with electronically augmented elements of neo-jazz marks him as a fresh, innovative force. Refresher is an attestation to how good music speaks to the rhythmic pulses while superlative melodies evoke an emotional response. Dry is firmly in the latter camp; transplanted by the exhilaration delivered by his honed, eccentrically adventurous,  production style.

Fans of Lo-Fi Riders will not want to miss this sonic escapade. Dry’s talents in masterfully melding funk, jazz, and contemporary styles into an authentically modern symphony are sharp enough to enable the independent artist to tear through the mundanity and monotony within the modern industry.

Kickback Selections was officially released on June 29; stream the EP on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jeffrey A. Meyer became the superlative savant of soul with his reggae-rock hit, L.O.V.E., featuring G. Love & Special Sauce

Posted on 11 June 2024

By merging talents with G. Love & Special Sauce, best known for his single, Rainbow, created in collaboration with the soulful one and only, Jack Johnson, the accomplished fusionist, Jeffrey A. Meyer, orchestrated the ultimate source of sonic serotonin with his funk-spliced, pop-hooked and reggae-wrapped roots rock hit, L.O.V.E.

The vibe-heavy sun-bleached hit keeps you ensnared with every chameleonic shift as Jeffrey A. Meyer exhibits his dynamic vocal talent and delivers everything from funked-up soul to evidence of his command over rhythm in the revved-up with rapture rap verses.

The North Dakota-born, Cali-based artist’s creative ambition with L.O.V.E paid off in spades; you can’t help but catch the self-love fever and forge a spiritual connection to the euphonically rugged in all the right places single that proves you’re never outside of love if you project adulation inwards.

Between the wind in the harmonica blows, the staccato rhythms pulsing through vintage tubes and the delicious grooves, L.O.V.E is as authentic as euphoric earworms come; each instrumental vividly paints the radiance of the track’s emotional underpinnings.

With more fresh, feel-good, funky jams ready to drop through Jeffrey A. Meyer’s sophomore album in 2024, there has never been a better time to affix the orchestrator of tonal transcendence to your radar.

L.O.V.E. was officially released on May 24; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NASRUS has unleashed their fearlessly unfiltered funked-up debut, Neurotic Goddess

Posted on 27 May 2024

The pop/R&B duo NASRUS, comprised of Grammy-nominated artist Shawn Rivera and acclaimed singer-songwriter Norm Adams, exhibited a testament to their fearlessly unfiltered lyrical approach by unleashing their genre-fluid debut single, Neurotic Goddess,

Eschewing the typical ilk of funked-up, synth-laden hits, Neurotic Goddess dives deep into the psyche of the kind of narcissistic nightmare that you’d hope to only encounter in your subconscious and not the streets.

The audaciously infectious anthem leaves over-explored female archetypes behind, opting instead to explore the chaotic magnetism of neurotic femme fatales. The playful, devil-may-care narrative spills swathes of catharsis for anyone who has ever tangled with such a personality, providing a vindicating outlet for their pain.

The funk guitar chops against the rhythmically compelling beats, 90s aesthetics and synth-pop melodies paired with the augmented dualling vocals positioned NASRUS as one of the hottest duos since Daft Punk brought the funk.

Stream Neurotic Goddess on Spotify now and let NASRUS take you on a wild ride through the depths of neurotic euphoria.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC’s Summer Fling put the soul in funk-rock with ‘Blissful Haze’

Posted on 25 May 2024

NYC’s Summer Fling broke their two-year spell of silence by conjuring an elemental force of feel-good furore in their single, Blissful Haze, which delivers exactly what it says on the titular tin.

Using high-energy funk-rock as the stylistic bedrock of the release and finding room to inject soul, blues, pop, and jazz, the seven-piece powerhouse ensured Blissful Haze transcends sound to visualise a state of mind you can enter simply by hitting play on the single which filters nostalgia through a modern indie pop lens.

Few vocalists could match the electrifying energy of the dynamic instrumental arrangement that layers shimmering organs over funk rhythms and hard-hitting horns, but Eddie Kam, an indomitable emissary of charisma, went supernova on the infectiously zealous soul.

With each member of Summer Fling a recently graduated jazz musician, you can rest assured that you’re in rhythmically safe hands as you get taken through the helter-skelter ride of rapture.

Blissful Haze was officially released on May 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast