Browsing Tag

Alt RnB

Alt-RnB Visionary Isabelle Mettle Reached Her Experimental Zenith with ‘Not Feeling You’

Posted on 19 January 2025

Isabelle Mettle, the 22-year-old producer, songwriter, and vocalist from North London, has built a reputation for her fusionist sonic signature and ability to instil emotion into innovation. Her latest single, Not Feeling You, is a testament to her fearless experimentalism, merging retro-fused soul with glitchy trip-hop textures and neo-soul waves that hit with deliberate force.

The track unfolds like a sonic tug-of-war, capturing the emotional turbulence of feeling out of sync in a relationship you’ve outgrown. Mettle’s harmonised vocals act as an anchor amidst instrumental chaos, her soul-drenched delivery piercing through the unpredictable landscape. It’s a study in contrasts: the complexity of shifting time signatures pairs with jagged turntable scratches to create moments of disarray, while her control and precision tether the track, preventing it from spiralling into complete disorder.

By the time the neo-soul undertones reassert themselves in the mix, the track feels like a fully realised emotional storm — a visceral portrayal of dissatisfaction which aches with evocative weight. Each element of the production seems intentionally misaligned, mimicking the inner confusion of a love gone stale.

With influences rooted in soul, R&B, jazz, and alternative music, Mettle has been refining her craft since her early teens. She describes herself as a producer and songwriter first, with vocals being an extension of her creative process rather than the sole focus.

Not Feeling You was officially released on January 17th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Defy gravity with the interstellar psychedelia in Olek The Vyne’s debut alt-RnB single, Labels

Posted on 17 January 2025

Olek, The Vyne’s debut single, Labels, pulls you from the mundane and drops you into a vibe-soaked alternate dimension. Rooted in trippy alt-RnB yet transcending genre conventions, the track’s interstellar pulse melds with Olek’s lush, honeyed harmonies to create an intoxicating panorama of affectionate warmth.

It’s an invitation to surrender to a smooth, mellifluous flow capable of altering states of mind while reflecting on the lyrical underpinnings which advocate for embracing the messiness of relationship dynamics and finding peace in uncertainty.

The Houston-grown experimentalist, who is set to be known for pushing boundaries and colouring outside the lines, lets his mastery of intimate storytelling shine in Labels. Inspired by his personal journey and longing for meaningful connections, Olek crafts lyrics that cut to the emotional core while his reverberant vocals smooth over hypnotically rich instrumentals.

The track’s magnetic pull stems from the boldness of its experimental alt-RnB framework, which invites vulnerability and raw expression. As a flag planted firmly in the ground for his artistry, Labels is a testament to his ambition and the precision of his craft.

Labels will be available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud, from January 17th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pampoo sang the gospel of gratitude in ‘Simple Days’

Posted on 14 January 2025

Pampoo’s seminal release, ‘Simple Days’, filters contentment through honeyed R&B harmonies, allowing euphoria to rise on rhythmic waves and cascade into soul crooning that gently yields to gospel-esque lyrical sermons. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t just feel good; it creates a comforting refuge from hectic modernity. Their message is simple—if you’re content with your lot in life, you’re on the only rich list that really matters.

This collaboration began as a spark of friendship between longtime confidants Jim Vincent and Chris Blatherwick, who reignited their creative synergy by swapping musical snippets between Albany, NY and Connecticut. When they drew producer and old friend Ted Swan back into the fold, they brought new textures to their sound. Balancing alternative rock, folk, Americana, hip-hop, and R&B influences, they shape something that transcends standard genre boundaries.

Within ‘Simple Days’, mindfully motivational rap verses brush shoulders with youthful backing vocals that lift innocence into the spotlight. This evolving embodiment of soul helps you see the beauty in your day-to-day existence, reminding you that even the quiet moments hold their own warmth.

Pampoo knows precisely how to let soundscapes shimmer with authenticity. ‘Simple Days’ isn’t a disposable good-vibes anthem; it’s a euphonic act of enlightenment that encourages you to find wealth in life’s simplest corners. With an EP in the making, there’s plenty more sonic serotonin to come from Pampoo.

Simple Days will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from January 14th; find your preferred way to listen and connect with the artist via their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sauce999__ Launched a Soulful Escape Beyond the Stratosphere with his cosmic RnB release, ‘The Flying Saucer’

Posted on 8 January 2025

With The Flying Saucer, the breakthrough luminary Sauce999__ crafted an intergalactic alt-RnB experience that defies conventional boundaries and went beyond Earth’s orbit. Featuring SALTHOUSE and Raquel, the track is a standout moment from the Boston-based producer’s eccentric LP of the same name, released in November 2024. Sauce999__ utilised a synthesis of vintage samples and live instrumentals to create a soundscape that lifts listeners far above the monotony of material reality.

The track balances the nostalgic warmth of old-school RnB grooves with a modern, experimental edge. While mostly instrumental, it doesn’t shy away from emotion; spacey vintage samples serve as the perfect transmission while the ethereally soulful non-lexical vocals and outro mark the outro, tying together a composition that feels both otherworldly and grounded in authenticity. By juxtaposing familiar retro tones with exploratory production, Sauce999__ delivers a sensory experience which simulates floating weightlessly through the cosmos.

Unlike typical psychedelic tracks, The Flying Saucer forgoes cliché motifs, instead carving its own unique path into sonic escapism. Sauce999__ proves himself not just as a producer but as an architect of vibes, expertly cradling his listeners within the dreamy transcendence of his work.

Stream The Flying Saucer on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alvin Dudley’s Alt RnB single, ‘Separate’, is a blaze of heavy emotional artillery

Posted on 28 December 2024

Alvin Dudley’s new single, Separate, wastes no time establishing a cinematically melancholic tone from the first throbbing beat within the disillusion-slick intro before the trap beat arrives beneath his harmonised bars, which keep one foot in the trap arena and the other firmly in RnB territory.

The way the melodies ebb, flow, and swell around his charged-with-emotive-artillery vocals as he lays it all on the line sweeps you into the centre of a heartbreak vignette. When the vibrato in his voice is introduced, prepare for the emotional weight to bear down, as he plaintively reflects on how the past became the present and obliterated a shared future.

Released by Soulstorm Music, Separate digs deep into the regret of being at fault and the sorrow of a relationship on the brink. Written at a time when the Chicago-based artist felt lost and directionless, it resonates with anyone who has yearned for the unreachable.

Alvin Dudley has been turning heads since his debut in 2019 by blending emotion with immersive sounds, and Separate stands as the epitome of sonic raw emotion. With this single and a forthcoming EP, he’s set to prove why he has every chance of becoming one of the biggest R&B hip-hop innovators in 2025.

Separate dropped on December 19th; stream the single on all major platforms, including SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Under the Ephemeral Veil: DANIELA’s Sonic Resonance in ‘Waiting’

Posted on 26 November 2024

DANIELA’s latest indie RnB single, ‘Waiting,’ is as ethereal as slipping through a semi-lucid dream. The indie-tinged journey through stripped-back soul demands that listeners surrender to the seraphic sublimity of its dreamy atmosphere, which stands as an exhibition of DANIELA’s authentic to the nth-degree talent.

With every note, she demonstrates a masterful command over texture, tone, and melody, carefully curating each sonic element to immerse her audience into a vignette of dreamy, lovesick longing. The warmth of her vocal whispers serves as the gravitational core of the track, leaving the listener tantalised long after the music fades.

Originally from Italy and now enriching London’s diverse music scene, DANIELA draws inspiration from icons such as Amy Winehouse and Lana del Ray, weaving her rich, emotive vocals with contemporary production that hints at nostalgia. Her musical narrative is steeped in neo-soul, jazz, and Italian melodic influences, culminating in a distinct sonic signature.

With a background rich in performance—from London’s speakeasies to the jazz circuits of the Emirates—DANIELA has honed her craft on illustrious stages, contributing to her seasoned artistry. Her live performances resonate with the strength of her studio work, notably during standout gigs such as the WOW Festival at Southbank Centre, backing legends like Sister Sledge, and enamouring audiences in venues as diverse as the Grand Hyatt in Doha and the spirited bars of Soho and Shoreditch.

Waiting was officially released on November 15; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

FRNZY reverberates apathy through his wavy alt RnB release, you don’t excite me

Posted on 21 November 2024

FRNZY’s seminal alt-RnB single, you don’t excite me, marks a stratospheric stride forward for the genre, deftly weaving soulfully tender melodies with the stark contrast of its titular message. Instead of aiming to run in parallel with contemporary icons in the vein of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd, the independent artist overtakes predecessors, driven by daring his daring sense of authentic modernity.

The subtle autotune doesn’t mask the raw sentiment at the heart of the track as they bleed into the wavy atmosphere of you don’t excite me. Instead, the vocal treatment breeds a succinct synergy, amplifying the seamlessness of the progressions that will linger with you long after the outro.

The production layers lush textures that invite listeners into the catharsis of the release, showcasing FRNZY’s knack for balancing emotional depth with cutting-edge soundscapes. The track is the perfect introduction to the artist, who is clearly destined to shape the future contours of RnB.

FRNZY released you don’t excite me on November 15; stream the single on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PASHA is en-route to RnB royalty with her latest single, Paper Route

Posted on 29 September 2024

‘Paper Route’ by PASHA reaches the epitome of RnB sublimity, marking her as a distinct force in the genre. Far from being a mere fusionist, PASHA is an alchemist of sensual soul, using hypnotic house beats as the conduit for her seraphic sonic sensuality.

The smooth production of the track is as timeless as it is tantalising, with its syncopated trip-hop-esque beats blending seamlessly with evocative piano keys, creating one of the most comforting and mesmerising dynamics in contemporary RnB.

As her vocals transcend traditional harmonics, they venture into a plateau of soulfully arcane reverie, showcasing an ethereal and evocatively resonant vocal range. It’s this rare combination of elements that positions PASHA as a potential new icon in the music industry. If there’s any artist powerful enough to rival the originality of The Weeknd, it’s her.

PASHA’s journey began in Queens, though her sound is a testament to her upbringing between East Atlanta and Haiti. Her musical roots were nurtured by the diverse artistic influences around her, leading her to pick up the classical guitar at just ten years old. Since her debut in January 2024, she has ensnared audiences with a string of bittersweet singles that explore the nuances of young womanhood, love, and self-reflection.

Paper Route was officially released on September 27; stream the single on YouTube and Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JJORDAN serenaded his fans out of the scarcity mindset with his exotic RnB release, Abundance

Posted on 17 September 2024

With his latest single, ‘Abundance’, the independent West-London artist, JJORDAN, ushers his listeners into a world where love transcends scarcity and thrives in luxuriant harmony. Infusing R&B with Afrobeat rhythms, JJORDAN has cultivated an exotic sonic aura that’s difficult to find elsewhere in the genre, resulting in a track bordering on celestial through the synthesis of sensuality and a grounded sense of spiritual enlightenment.

Serenading his fans with smooth vocals, JJORDAN celebrates love as a rich, fulfilling experience, encouraging listeners to embrace the right partner when the time comes. His narrative weaves seamlessly through the dynamic rhythms, which evoke an irresistible urge to dance while soaking in the sentiment. A pivotal moment in the track arrives when ‘Abundance’ veers into jazz fusion territory with smoky horn stabs that billow into lush, reverb-heavy production.

With Abundance on your playlists, you can carry the sound of summer into the colder months; the days may get dark, but your playlists don’t need to if you keep JJORDAN, who has been on an upward trajectory ever since his debut release, on your radar.

Abundance sank soul into the airwaves on September 5th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast