Browsing Tag

Afro Pop

Karice reached the pinnacle of sensuous intimacy in ‘Callin’ Your Name’

Taken from her eponymous sophomore EP, the up-and-coming soul singer Karice’s latest Afro Pop rendezvous, Callin’ Your Name, reaches the pinnacle of sensuous intimacy. Each of Karice’s singles is a visualisation of her life experiences, and Callin’ Your Name, in all of its elevated distinction, is no exception.

The voluptuously soft single runs through at a steady tempo, enabling the listener to savour each of the impassioned vocal notes as they create synergy with the sun-bleached instrumentals that made the single summer RnB pop playlist material.

After being introduced to the BeaconSkillz producer, Big Zo, in 2021, the collaborative alchemy soon spilled, resulting in her debut EP, Spirritated, in 2022. Between both releases, you will experience her soulful vocal dynamism and classy approach to orchestrating sonic feats of seduction.

The Karice EP hit the airwaves on May 11; hear it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Princess Wonda is the future of afro-fusion in her sensually emboldening single, My Body

Princess Wonda is the future of afro-fusion in her sensually body-positive single, My Body, taken from her eponymous EP. The UK-born Nigerian vocalist and entertainer unforgettably entered the world music scene in 2021 alongside the Congolese legends 1da Banton and Awilo Longomba. Her debut album charted at #27 on iTunes; given the sensuously rhythmic glamour in My Body, we’re putting our money on this soulfully indulgent hit getting even higher.

One of the hardest relationships women can form is with the skin they’re in; Princess Wonda is the ultimate aural relationship coach in My Body by radiating the confidence that every woman should want to exude. Exotic yet wholesome in equal measure, My Body spills sun-drenched good vibes by the smorgasbord. If this isn’t the afro-pop hit of the summer, there is something seriously wrong with the music industry.

My Body was officially released on April 21; check it out on Spotify.


Review by Amelia Vandergast

Check into Marco x Kelvo’s vibe-heavy ‘Villa’

With every chance of becoming the 2022 summer anthem, if Gen Z can tear themselves away from Running Up That Hill, Marco & Kelvo’s latest single, Villa, is a vibe-heavy slice of smooth, salacious dancehall pop.

The West Ireland hailing artists went all in to prove that even though this summer may feel a little different while we’re readjusting to the new normal, the potential for hedonistic good times is still there. With their distinctive hazy yet rhythmically robust track, the modernist beats bring the energy while the lush reverb and the dual vocals bring the lustful soul.

The Villa will start accepting visitors on June 22nd. You can check-in via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moodytlb ignites sparks in his seductive Afrobeat hit, NAUGHTY

For his latest single, NAUGHTY, the Nigerian-born-and-raised singer-songwriter and artist, Moodytlb collaborated with the equally sensational Yvng Chriis to create a smooth, trappy Afrobeat hit that will get you more than ready for summer and the salacious sparks that ignite under the summer sun.

Since making his debut with his single, Letter to Aisha, in 2019, Moodytlb has come a long way in polishing his distinctive style and ensuring that the soul he pours into all of his mixes resonates. Each of his tracks is deeply personal, created as a means of expression, and produced to help others make sense of their feelings. On that basis, Moodytlb became one of our first loves in 2022. We can’t wait to see how far his gorgeously candid style takes him.

NAUGHTY is now available to streams on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Suraeh brought the dance hall high vibes in his latest afro-pop single, Rest of Our Lives, featuring Bvle

After a seemingly endless bitter winter, Suraeh is bringing in the smitten summer high vibes in his latest afro-pop hit, Rest of Our Lives, featuring Bvle. The track starts in the fairly archetypal way of two strangers falling in love at first sight at the club, but Suraeh put a sticky-sweet spin on the familiar trope.

There’s always the connotation that the good times can’t last and they only come in fleeting and non-committal form but with the hooky chorus of “let’s just have a good time for the rest of our lives”, you don’t have much of a choice when it comes to your soul surrendering to the dancehall-inspired pop track that celebrates perpetual passion.

Rest of Our Lives will officially release on February 25th, 2022. You can catch it for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

They Taking My Money: Superlative South African artist Evida fights bravely on to dust off those cash-grabbing ‘Demons’ (feat. Luna Florentino)

With his much-anticipated new album ‘Mirror For A Miracle‘ on the way soon and after moving into the solo universe lately, Evida returns with his latest hit single that eloquently sums up the current climate in his troubled homeland of South Africa called ‘Demons(feat. Luna Florentino).

Evida is a highly skilled Johannesburg-based Afro-pop/Euro-dance solo project from the multi-talented and award-winning music producer, singer-songwriter, and much-respected South African artist Liam Jones.

Originally a group project, Liam is now striking out on his own as his brother and partner, chose to focus on their personal lives.” ~ Evida

With a sensationally striking beat that brightly lights up your sluggish mood like a match on petrol, you feel the rare quality swirling into your curious mind as you take a step back to immerse yourself in such a high class single. The vocals are crisp and pure, with supremely articulate lyrics that are so honest – and let you into the mindset of self-aware souls – who know where they are headed in this strange rat race.

Demons(feat. Luna Florentino) from the excellent Johannesburg, South Africa-based music producer/singer-songwriter and two-time SAMA (South African Music Awards) nominated artist Evida, is a treasure chest of truth that opens up with an unlatching of lyrical and beat-making skills, that captures your imagination so vividly. These are two quality artists who know that the demons are hunting them, but choose to rise up consummately above it all, to find their true path instead of finding the easy way out like so many weakly do.

This is one of those true summer classics that needs much more love as we all fight through the darkness inside our easy to-grow selfish souls – to find that self-enlightening light within – to be better in all aspects of our life.

Stream this world class new single on Spotify and see more of his gold-finding adventures via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Good Enough: Superb South African singer Asah M inspires the ladies in Barkly East with ‘Sophumelela’ (feat. Dumisani Uyehova)

As she sings gloriously to give us much-needed hope and light where there is unwanted anxiousness and darkness at every corner, Asah M is at her absolute best with her new heartwarming single called ‘Sophumelela(feat. Dumisani Uyehova).

Asanda Masawe aka Asah M, is a sensationally talented South African Afro-pop singer-songwriter. She is so inspired by her hometown — as she wants to be a leading figure — to be an uplifting role model to all those who want to do something special with their lives.

After the success of her debut single ‘Fak’imali‘ from 2020, we are treated to a quality verse from Dumisani Uyehova and we are witness to a glorious song, that brushes away all the dusty doubts, to fill you up with positive energy. The beat is so welcoming and you can’t help but jive along, as you get wrapped eagerly into this catchy song with a real message.

“As the only female aspiring musician in my hometown, I wanted to inspire all the talented young people and show them nothing is impossible.” – Asah M

Sophumelela(feat. Dumisani Uyehova) from the Barkly East, Eastern Cape, South Africa Afro-pop singer-songwriter Asah M, is that call to unite and to put all doubts away to never be seen again. She sings with a grace and determination that you can feel from the pure soundscape, that is seamless in delivery.

This is a hungry talent who is flying free to do what she has wanted to do since she was a little girl. Her time is now.

Stream this gloriously created single on Spotify and see more with her IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Kama Tala has unleashed their Caribbean funk-soaked jangle-pop single, ‘Honore’

If you could imagine what it would sound like if the Smiths was a Caribbean pop outfit, you will be able to get an idea of the jangly magnetism contained in Kama Tala’s recently released single, ‘Honore’.

The Chicago-hailing artist crosses borders and merges everything from soul to rock to pop to jazz in their sun-soaked tracks, but that’s not the most notable facet of Kama Tala’s talent.

The ingenuity largely stems from the seamless melding of the genres while never detracting from the accessibility of his sound. But the true distinction comes through their heartfelt vocal delivery. In a time when physical communities are inaccessible and social media has become a minefield of toxicity, tracks such as Honore are utterly priceless for the way they reach out to you and offer freshly orchestrated positive connection.

Honore is available to stream via SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kyle Sherren has released his latest single ‘Signals’

Kyle Sherren has dropped his single ‘Signals’ combining R&B and Soul to create this energetic yet smooth piece.

It’s one that as soon as you listen your mood is lifted and it’s definitely one of them songs that will go down a treat for the Summer, really fusing this uplifting and happy energy that pours through, whether that’s in the incredibly beat melody or the high-pitched soft vocal ranges, everything about this track keeps this high energy running through.

You can tell as you listen that a lot of hard work has gone into the production of this piece and considering Kyle is pretty new to the music scene, it’s impressive to see just how well he can make music and how he does it in his own way.

The way in which the beat is this super fast pace non stop flowing through and the vocals are more on the mellow side so it’s like combining something really upbeat and then adding in a more calming sound with the vocals and it’s a perfect mix.

After listening to this, it’s safe to say we can’t wait to see what Kyle gets up to next.

Listen to Kyle Sherran’s track Signals by heading on over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Karley Myall

Daron Vande – Waste Time: Sun-Soaked Afro Beats

https://soundcloud.com/daronvande/waste-time

“Waste Time” may not be great advice, but it is the sensational standout single from up and coming World Music artist Daron Vande.

The high-vibe track offers Afro-Beats with sun-soaked Reggae rhythm with one of the smoothest flows we’ve heard in a long time. The Brooklyn-based artist notably excelled in creating an arrestive mid-tempo single with plenty of melodic hooks.

The radio-ready mix is immersive from the first hit. Which is why so many Afro-Beat fans didn’t hesitate in playlisting this vibrant, polished soundscape which comes with plenty of sunny escapism. Waste Time is a track which stays true to its roots, but that’s not to say it doesn’t drip with commercial potential.

You can check out Waste Time for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast