Browsing Tag

Funk Pop

Spotlight Feature: Sam Handy is ‘Done’ in his soul-fix of a pop hit

Posted on 18 December 2021

Reading UK-based solo artist, Sam Handy, has been lauded by Jeff Beck, the BBC and everyone lucky enough to catch his soul-spilling sound live. After his latest single, Done, he’s set to take his career to even greater heights – the world can’t sleep on this.

Like all of Sam Handy’s recent releases, Done was produced by Ed Stokes. Discernibly, Stokes shares Handy’s passion in keeping the focus on stellar songwriting and instrumental ability; instead of over-producing the raw elements out of the track.

With the funk of Nile Rogers in the light instrumental hooks, the raspy, harmonic neo-soul vocals that carry reminiscences to D’Angelo and the sniping lyricism, Done becomes so much more than a sum of its parts. The single that explores toxic relationships is an intoxicatingly all-consuming track that allows the instrumentals to bring the warm catharsis while the lyrics prove that soul and resilience go hand in hand. In an emboldening way, Done reminds you that everyone deserves a backbone. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Done is now available to stream on Spotify. To keep up to date with new releases, follow Sam Handy on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

New Sense released the ultimate funk-soaked synth-pop nostalgia hit with ‘Lavender Tea.

Posted on 8 November 2021

‘Lavender Tea’ is the latest indie synth-pop nostalgia hit from the experimental Bay Area solo artist New Sense (Ethan Brown). The funk-soaked ode to the 80s takes influence from icons, Earth Wind and Fire, Tame Impala and Still Woozy; New Sense also wears his MJ influences on his sonic sleeve in the high-energy track that is infectious from the first hit.

There is plenty of authenticity in Lavender Tea to quench your thirst for fresh funk; we can’t wait to hear what New Sense serves next.

Lavender Tea is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Indie folk-pop duo The Graes have released their 80s-inspired earworm Figure it Out.

Posted on 10 October 2021

If you can’t get enough hits of nostalgia recently, hit play on The Graes 80s pop-rock banger, Figure it Out. If Boyz II Men made their debut in the contemporary indie-pop era, we’re fairly convinced their tracks would unravel as eclectically and harmonically as Figure it Out.

With sticky-sweet lyrics such as “I know we’ve got issues, but I like them too”, The husband and wife folk-pop duo brought realism into the romantic narrative without ever bursting the affectionate bubble. At this point, we shouldn’t need to tell you that the single comes charged with commercial and earworm potential. If any song is going to convince you to accept your other half’s idiosyncrasies, it’s this infectiously honest release.

Figure it Out officially released on 22nd October 2021; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Christopher George goes ‘All the Way for the Win’ in his debut single.

Posted on 24 September 2021
Christopher George

Pop artist Christopher George is set to release his optimistic floor-filler, All the Way for the Win, which carries the untainted soul of Bananarama along with elements of funk and disco to ensure that the euphoria really flows through this stridently enlivening release.

Before you even get to the chorus, you can tell that Christopher George has a soul of gold. His technical ability is one thing, his ability to appeal to human emotion in such a visceral and compelling way is quite another. His his Jazz degree and years of experience as a professional session musician allowed him to be primed and radio-ready for his solo debut. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Check out Christopher George on his official website, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

15DL tries ‘Something Different’ in his latest single

Posted on 24 August 2021

Get your soul-fix with 15DL’s smoother than smooth bluesy funk-pop track, Something Different, which affectionately explores the mission to break the cycle of romantic monotony. It is singles such as Something Different that remind you the opposite to love isn’t hate; it is indifference, the thing that we greet most people with through their lack of ability to set our souls on fire.

With the cleverly provoking lyrical concept, vocals that your soul will want to surrender to and the rich organic tones that will take you to an aural plateau, it is easy to see why so much hype has amassed around 15DL who made his debut earlier this year with the single DAWN.

Something Different is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tom Tom Park embraces authenticity in his single, ‘Adore Me’, featuring Disc Eyes.

Posted on 10 July 2021

For his latest feat of hyper disco-pop, Netherlands-based songwriter and producer Tom Tom Park teamed up with vocalist Disc Eyes to create a vibrant funk-riding hit that surpasses energetic and moves into the realms of mania – in the best possible way.

The dancey beats, dizzying synths and funky basslines are reminiscent of what you will find on Daft Punk and the Weeknd records. But Adore Me comes with an even deeper sense of soul which is where the influence from artists such as Donna Summer comes into play.

Given that Tom Tom Park has already received praise from one-half of the Scissor Sisters (Jake Shears), he scarcely needs our approval. Yet, notably, his boldly eccentric approach to disco deserves to be met with rapturous acclaim internationally; digging authenticity out of disco in 2021 is no easy feat.

Adore Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your nostalgia hit with Smooth Retsina Glow’s funk-pop jazz-fusion single, Memories Made

Posted on 4 June 2021

‘Memories Made’ is just one of the singles that alt-rock outfit, Smooth Retsina Glow, has toured the US with since making their debut in 2020; with international airplay and 60 shows under their belt, they’re well on their way to shedding their ‘up and coming’ status.

With enough funk to give Nile Rogers a run for his money and sticky-sweet pop sensibilities to the female vocals, Memories Made is a tranquil yet equally enlivening track. There are serious melodic grooves in the rhythm section but with the choppy staccato guitar chords, there’s plenty of upbeat energy pouring from the heart and soul of this nostalgia-inducing track.

You can check out the official video to Memories Made by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

V!V passes the vibe check with her electronic funk-pop earworm, ‘MY NRG’.

Posted on 2 June 2021

Funky moody pop may sound like a paradox, but that’s exactly what will greet you when you hit play on the latest single released by alt-pop singer-songwriter V!V.

MY NRG is the sophomore single from the Detroit-born Chicago-raised artist that delved into Chicago’s music scene by collaborating with up and coming rappers and vocalists. After taking plenty of inspiration from Tyler, the Creator, V!V started to create her grooving loops to flow with her vocals that can only be described as radiant.

MY NRG comes with a smorgasbord of attitude, but it is all in the name of demonstrating the importance of protecting your energy and knowing your worth. It is an infectiously empowering track that you will need on your summer pop playlists as soon as you hear it.

MY NRG is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lara de Belder has made her Jazz Pop debut with ‘Turn it Over’.

Posted on 29 May 2021

Lara de Belder’s debut single, Turn It Over, is easily one of the most promising debuts made in 2021. Discernibly, the British-American artist brought plenty of her experience in the theatre to her jazzy debut single that reflects upon themes of obsession and desire.

With a voice as mesmerising as Cher’s and the endlessly enlivening instrumentals bleeding euphoria with every progression, Turn it Over is consistently captivating. The single allows you to mentally contend with the dark side of obsession as the jazzy instrumental arrangement finds a way to absolve any guilt you may be harbouring from obsessive behaviour. We have all been there.

Turn it Over is the first single to be released from Lara’s upcoming concept album that explores relationship breakdowns. Needless to say, we’re already stoked to hear it.

Turn it Over is now available to stream on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hatty Keane – Big soul groove at ‘Club 69’

Posted on 17 May 2021

‘This one goes out to the Fashionistas’….and oh, yes. It most certainly does. With a gloriously old-school drum machine pattern and the most sublime disco-soul groove, ‘Club 69’ instantly transports you back to the height of the 1970’s dance era. Think big hairstyles, big beats, and a big, mirror-ball lit dancefloor; Donna Summer, Anita Ward, Thelma Houston, and Gloria Gaynor are all here in spades. Funky wah-wah guitar, retro-as-anything synth strings, and a bass that literally forces you to dance, Keane really has hit every note – both vocally and metaphorically – absolutely perfectly. There is some serious soul power in her voice, and for sure the track is artfully arranged and put together, but overall – and most importantly – this is one seriously fun record. Get up, get down, and get to ‘Club 69’.

Check out ‘Club 69’ on Spotify; follow Hatty Keane on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes