Browsing Tag

RnB Singer Songwriter

Jerrelle’s ‘Bluetooth’ Links Emotion to Strategy in a Hypnotic RnB Trap Pop Hit

Posted on 12 March 2025

You’ll have no problem connecting with Bluetooth, Jerrelle’s latest RnB trap pop single that ensnares with the beat and pulls you in deeper through his cultivated approach to lyrical storytelling. The track is a calculated and cultivated interplay of emotion and strategy, where every verse keeps you locked in.

As the single progresses, the full picture manifests through polished electro hooks and Jerrelle’s charismatically sharp vocal presence, which remains unflinchingly magnetic throughout the track. Adding an almost mind-bending dynamic is a carnivalesque polyphonic melody that cavorts around the bass-swathed beats, injecting unpredictability into the rhythm while the lyrics cut through with an awareness of modern connection as a game of moves and counter-moves. Who said romance was dead?

Jerrelle’s ability to hold the reins between vulnerability and control mirrors his diverse influences, spanning from Lauryn Hill to Brent Faiyaz. There’s a quiet intensity in his delivery, a balance of smoothness and sharp edges, reinforcing the complexity of human interaction that Bluetooth lays bare.

Bluetooth is available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Richie Gathu & PrimRose’s ‘Toxic’ Dances on the Razor’s Edge of Destruction

Posted on 9 March 2025

Following a wavy prelude laced with saturated disquietude, Toxic by Richie Gathu featuring PrimRose ensues with an artfully moody, reverberant beat, trip-hop-esque syncopation, and neo-classical keys that add an ornate touch of grace. PrimRose’s seraphically affecting vocals become the centrefold of the alt-RnB vignette as they pull all the thematically aesthetic layers together in this exhibition of how deep toxic dynamics cut.

When Gathu’s vocals come into the mix, the dramatic stylistic shift veers into a far more soulful pantheon, sharpening the track’s emotional depth. The cinematic narrative that unfolds between the two collaborators proves that nothing is fair in love and war, and nothing is ever black and white in matters of the heart.

Toxic doesn’t romanticise toxicity; it lays it bare, making every reverberation feel like an echo of something unresolved. You’ll be thrown across the entire emotional spectrum while the RnB revelation is in session and come away with the affirmation that the only right that matters in games of the heart is doing what’s right for you.

Toxic is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JohnnyTheWidower’s ‘My Lady is Gone’ Rains Soul into the Blues

Posted on 8 March 2025
Broken Piano by Johnny The Widower aka The Solar Guy

JohnnyTheWidower, AKA The Solar Guy, doesn’t just touch on loss in My Lady is Gone—he lets it simmer, steeping every note in raw feeling without letting the weight drag the groove down. The Brooklyn-based songwriter, producer, and engineer channels blues, R&B, and afrobeat into a smoky, jazz-kissed atmosphere that feels less like a structured composition and more like a session that caught fire in real time.

With a cohesiveness that gives the impression of a seasoned band rather than a solo project, the track makes space for fluidity without sacrificing precision. The instrumentation carries the kind of ease that can only come from instinct, stripping back the years to a time when music was created for catharsis, not marketability. It’s indulgent without excess, hitting that rare sweet spot where musicianship and emotion are balanced without tipping too far in either direction.

For those tired of surface-level soundscapes, JohnnyTheWidower delivers oceanic depths, leading listeners further out before hitting them with a visceral crescendo in the outro. It’s impossible to walk away unaffected.

 My Lady is Gone is available to stream on all major platforms, including Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ivana June Redefines Heartache By Exploring the Hypnotic Intersections of RnB, Bossa Nova & Indie in ‘Around’

Posted on 8 March 2025

Ivana June refined the entire London RnB scene in the space of three sensuously stylised minutes with her latest single, Around. With contemporary indie sensibilities, a deep reverence for soul, and a voice that leaves no celestial beguile to be desired, the hypnotic indulgence transcends sound as it euphonically reverberates through you, allowing accordance to creep into every corner of your psyche. If this was the 17th century, she’d be burned at the stake for the alchemy which breathes through the cathartic tempo.

As her most emotionally intimate release to date, Around captures the cognitive dissonance of heartbreak—the push and pull between the joy someone once brought and the pain they left behind. Through soft and supple harmonies, June commands sonic subjugation, lulling listeners into an ethereal, lush-with-wavy-saturated-reverb bittersweet reverie of a remedy.

Blending her love for groove, jazz, and storytelling, Around intertwines Bossa Nova rhythms with warm RnB and soul melodies, dreamy guitar lines, and raw yet gentle vocals. Co-produced alongside Pete Anderson, the track is infused with the influences of Cleo Sol, The Marías, and Amy Winehouse. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist with a gift for evocative lyricism, June has been lighting up London’s live scene with her band, set to perform Around at her headline show at 91 Living Room on March 14th.

If any newcomer has what it takes to steal the spotlight away from 2025’s biggest stars, our money is on Ivana June. This is just the beginning. Stream the single on Spotify from March 7th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Matté Takes the Plunge into Alt-RnB with ‘Deep End’

Posted on 7 March 2025

While many figureheads in RnB are unafraid to chip away at the mould with their sonic signature, Matté came in like a wrecking ball of innovation with his latest single, ‘Deep End’. From the outset, the saturated distortion sets a tone that’s anything but conventional, before the bassline groove threads itself beneath his honeyed-to-the-nines vocal lines. The warmth in the production is unparalleled, giving the track an almost exotically luxe feel as the instrumentals move with unrestrained expression.

Fragments of funk, indie, and soul slot seamlessly into the mosaic of alt-RnB that seduces the senses, proving Matté has no interest in blending into the background. His refusal to play by the rulebook extends beyond the sonics—his lyricism pulls no punches when it comes to romance, either. In an era where detachment often dominates the genre, he stands apart as a rare diehard romantic, unafraid to go all in and wear his heart on his harmonies.

Now based in Los Angeles, the Atlanta-born artist is building a legacy by melding smooth melodies with raw emotion. ‘Deep End’ cements that reputation further, as he lets his storytelling and unique blueprint do all the talking. For those tired of the same recycled formulas, this is a reminder that RnB still has space for innovators.

‘Deep End’ is available to stream on all major platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bronx-based RnB Visionary, BRIEL the Artist, Pulled Listeners Into the Haze of Infatuation with ‘THE BLINDS’

Posted on 4 March 2025

After stepping back from the airwaves following his 2023 debut, QUESTIONS, BRIEL the Artist returns with THE BLINDS, proving just how much sharper his sonic signature has become. The Bronx-based avant-gardist of R&B innovation layers smooth harmonies over syncopated beats and oscillating synth lines that warp into a kaleidoscope of soul. The Lo-Fi production doesn’t soften the impact—it amplifies the emotion, pulling you into a hypnotic immersion where BRIEL lets the leash off his expression, letting it run wild and free in this rich, introspective soundscape.

The track dives headfirst into the push and pull of new attraction—the thrill, the uncertainty, and the way assumptions take the reins before reality has a chance to catch up. Using the metaphor of closed blinds, BRIEL reflects on how we get lost in our own mental stories instead of letting relationships unfold naturally. The lyrical honesty latches onto the ears, while the fluid instrumental textures make sure the hook stays planted deep.

With plans to take THE BLINDS to the stage across New York City, along with upcoming film projects and new releases, BRIEL is clearly playing the long game.

For those ready to get lost in the highs and lows of love, THE BLINDS is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aric B. Sinks into the Shadows of Lost Love with ‘ALWAYS U’

Posted on 27 February 2025

There’s no rough to take with the smooth in this hazy dream of an old-school soul serenade. ‘ALWAYS U’, taken from Aric B.’s hotly anticipated LP, THINGS NEVER SAID, is a love song unafraid of its own vulnerability. Mellifluous layers of nostalgia meld around the teasing tempo of the beats, while reverb-soaked synths spill into every corner of the track, enveloping Aric B.’s voice in an atmosphere thick with longing and regret.

Unlike the polished bravado often found in R&B heartbreak anthems, Aric B. doesn’t play the victim here. He paints himself as a less-than-perfect protagonist, taking full accountability for the love that slipped away. That candid honesty makes every lyric cut deeper as he mourns the one that got away with no ego left to shield him. As the track swells towards its multi-layered harmonic crescendo, Aric B. broadens his vocal range with a skill that reflects the depth of his talent.

The Decatur-born singer, songwriter, and producer has been shaping his sound since childhood, influenced by gospel roots and an extensive career spanning jazz, pop, and soul. From singing at Fenway Park to collaborating with Grammy-winning producers behind icons like Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, Aric B. has spent years refining his voice—both literally and artistically. ALWAYS U is proof that he’s arrived at a sound that is unmistakably his own.

The single is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pam R. Johnson Davis’ Up & Down: A Lesson in Love’s Unforgiving Rhythm

Posted on 16 February 2025
Pam R. Johnson Davis

While most artists rely on assimilation to reach the same affecting heights as their influences, that isn’t the case for Pam R. Johnson Davis; she shows the capacity for true originality within the organically expressive fluidity of her sound. Her latest single, Up & Down, produced by Mico Davis, is a testament to her ability to tease genre-fluid artistry into raw emotion.

With a standing ovation-worthy vocal performance, she tempers the rhythmic complexity of the instrumentation beneath her, pouring every note straight from the soul. There’s a reason her music has travelled across 120 countries and amassed over 122,000 streams—whether performing original compositions or classics spanning Aretha Franklin to Garth Brooks, her presence commands attention.

As a singer, songwriter, poet, and historian, her work has already earned two Global Music Awards, and Up & Down only cements her reputation further. The track traverses the highs and lows of a perpetually precarious relationship with unparalleled grace, carried by husky powerhouse vocals and jazz-tinged progressions.

Whether she’s behind the mic or not, Pam R. Johnson Davis carries a room-lightening energy, and through Up & Down, that presence becomes almost tangible. Your speakers won’t just pulse with the smooth syncopated grooves—they’ll radiate. For anyone who has ever suffered from romantic whiplash, this is a lesson in healing that should be mandatory.

Up & Down is now available to stream on all major platforms. Find your preferred way to listen on the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

‘Good Lord!’ – Malya Tempts the RnB Gods with Her Sultry Debut

Posted on 10 February 2025

Some artists tiptoe into the industry, but Malya kicked the door wide open with her debut single, Good Lord! The Sydney-born singer-songwriter has spent nearly a decade honing her craft on stage across the Western Suburbs, and at 23, she’s finally ready to take her own sound to the airwaves. Taking cues from the vocal fluidity of Ariana Grande and the soulful weight of SZA, she’s riding the contemporary RnB wave in a direction that pays homage to the golden era of 90s icons while staying radio-ready for the new generation.

Good Lord! is a full-bodied meditation on desire—sensuous in its production, intoxicating in its delivery. Every note carries intent, ensuring not an ounce of the soul in her performance slips by unnoticed. Self-produced and sonically rich, the track boasts the same earworm appeal as her influences without leaning into imitation. The hypnotic melodies wrap around lyrics that revel in the body’s ability to spark obsession, making for a track that doesn’t just flirt with seduction—it commands it.

If this is Malya’s first step, it won’t be long before she’s towering above us from the RnB pantheon.

Good Lord! was officially released on January 26th and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jaisy Blurred the Boundaries Between Reverie and Reality in ‘can’t get enough of you’

Posted on 8 February 2025

 The boundaries of romanticism and obsession blur in Jaisy’s ethereally dreamy, reverie-slicked release, can’t get enough of you, which exhibits her as the ultimate alchemist of contemporary alt-RnB. It’s hard to know where the kaleidoscope of hazily hued instrumental tones ends and where the lush natural reverb which spills from her harmonies starts.

To describe can’t get enough of you as hypnotic is an understatement at best; rather than being a release you consume, the single consumes you so that by the time the rock riff-licked crescendo hits, you’ll be beyond susceptible to the semi-lucid spell Jaisy cast.

The Toronto-based artist, producer, and dancer has been steadily building her name in the alt-pop and RnB scene, refining her craft at Seneca College’s Independent Music Production programme. With over 15 shows under her belt—including a headlining gig that attracted over 100 fans—Jaisy’s music is as much about emotional depth as it is sonic ingenuity. Each track she creates dares to test new extents of vulnerability, speaking to the overwhelming emotions that come with progressing into adulthood, balancing the desire to be taken seriously with the lingering nostalgia of youth.

We’ve heard countless new entries into the RnB arena already this year, but as far as making an everlasting mark goes, few have done it better than Jaisy. With can’t get enough of you paving the way for her upcoming EP, To: You, she is set to speak to even more listeners through her intoxicating sound.

can’t get enough of you is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast