Browsing Tag

RnB Singer Songwriter

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

Spotlight Feature: Unveiled Desires: Kaye Fox and the Candid Rhythms of ‘WWYD’

Posted on 20 November 2024
https://open.spotify.com/track/0wg3UilAl4AEhJUb3eMaWC?si=14cf9e74351c41bc

Kaye Fox, long recognised as the clandestine force behind chart-topping hits for icons like J. Cole and Kanye West, finally commands the spotlight with her single, ‘WWYD’

Fox transformed the R&B scene by turning personal revelation into an art form. By questioning, “What would you do if you knew I was wide open?”, she stripped the facades commonly held in the theatres of affection, where desire can distort through candour when you refuse to keep your cards close to your chest.

The soul-stirring anxious rumination unfurls against a backdrop of 90s R&B nostalgia and contemporary soul as Fox’s vocals allow her lyrics to flourish with vulnerability and strength, merging the haunting magnetism of Lauryn Hill and the emotional gravity of Mary J. Blige. The smooth, underlying beat complements her intricate vocal phrasing, drawing listeners deeper into the narrative.

This single holds a mirror to the disarray of today’s dating culture while acting as a kaleidoscope of her own talent in connecting with listeners with intimate universal truth.

After WWYD, it’s clear that no RnB radar will be complete without Fox’s name. Stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sasha Sky found her place in a niche of style and grace with her indie RnB single, Outside of Us

Posted on 20 November 2024

Sasha Sky, a seraphically sublime soulstress emerging from County Durham, reached the epitome of sophistication with her indie RnB release, ‘Outside of Us’. As her lines weave through organically magnetic harmonies that embed the emotions of the lyrics into the listener’s psyche, the melodies carry just as much ease with their mellifluous loungey gentility.

With warm, distinctively embellished textures and intricately stacked layers that don’t merely sum to a whole but open a panorama of soulful experience, the track invites you to immerse in the colour and sincerity of its composition, grooving against your emotional impulses and leaving a lasting mark.

This single stands in stark contrast to the modern charts’ disregard for genuine grace as it vindicates the romantically scorned, showcasing Sasha as the embodiment of the refinement she portrays in her music.

Since beginning her music career during the 2021 lockdown, Sasha has drawn upon her lifelong love for music, songwriting, and poetry, a venture emboldened by her studies in Performing Arts and Music at New College Durham. This background honed her ability to weave sonic narratives that speak directly to the soul. As the crowning point of her career so far, Outside of Us is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to a superlative voice in contemporary indie RnB.

Outside of Us was officially released on November 7th and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris J Hudson – What Do You Wanna Do ft MoskoStar1: A Game of Hearts and RnB Harmony

Posted on 13 November 2024

In What Do You Wanna Do, the two legends in their own right Chris J Hudson and MoskoStar1 create a velvet-touched sonic seduction that resonates with lyrical vulnerability and soulful bravado.

Born from Chris J Hudson’s creative evolution—from Phoenix indie band frontman in Thunderbird to an LA-based solo visionary—the track is a testament to his commitment to making music that embodies heart and soul. His influences, spanning from Prince’s experimental genius to the groove of Timbaland and the emotive depth of Joni Mitchell, are distilled into this bilingual RnB gem that bridges borders and musical backgrounds.

The single pulses with smoky Latin guitar tones and jazzy sax lines, underscored by melodious keys, that bring a nostalgic warmth straight from the 80s and 90s RnB playbook. It’s a quintessentially smooth yet fiery RnB-Soul fusion, reflecting Hudson’s belief that music should mirror what’s in the soul, not just provide easy pleasure. The track’s groove feels like a game of chess in the arena of love, where the object of desire holds all the proverbial cards, leaving the protagonist grappling with the pain of ambiguous longing.

Hudson’s artistry, defined by a mission to spread love and mindfulness, is undeniably at the heart of this sultry release. It’s an aural aphrodisiac designed to sweep listeners off their feet—while slyly reminding us that love often leaves us at its mercy.

What Do You Wanna Do is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aneyrah – Marmalade: A Sticky-Sweet Slice of RnB Pop Seduction

Posted on 29 October 2024

‘Marmalade’ by Australian artist Aneyrah is a scintillating blend of 90s RnB pop nostalgia and disco grooves, offering a sensuously provocative record that shimmers with an arcane aura.

As the earworm progresses,  Aneyrah’s soulfully indomitable vocals are wrapped around a solid rhythmic pulse that magnetises the senses with every beat. Given the sharpness of the irresistible pop hooks in Marmalade, it wouldn’t be surprising if Aneyrah shared a lineage with Kylie and Dannii Minogue.

Lyrically, the single explores the complexities of relationships that precariously hang in a passionately tormentative grey area; each verse is an ethereally fiery declaration of a heart navigating its way through ambiguous romantic territory.

With her ability to fully command a sticky-sweet melody, every glittering note counts in this lyrical confession of love and longing. We can’t wait to hear what follows from the iconic conduit of soul; she’s the full RnB pop package.

Marmalade hit the airwaves on October 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ishy Dee caressed Afrobeat RnB with a sensual touch with his latest single, Mami

Posted on 19 October 2024

With his latest single, ‘Mami’, the conduit of soul, Ishy Dee, continues to redefine the contours of Afrobeat RnB with his ethereally honeyed vox and inspired approach to rhythm

Since erupting onto London’s music scene in 2013, Ishy Dee has garnered the attention of notable figures such as DJ Target from BBC 1Xtra and the discerning critics at GRM Daily, woven his sounds through the city’s streets, headlining numerous shows and accumulated stratospheric stream counts.

‘Mami’ commences with syncopated beats, setting the stage for a deeper immersion into Afrobeat’s rich legacy. As the African rhythms ascend, Ishy Dee’s vocals layer the track with an aphrodisiacal soul. The artist’s choice to preserve the organic essence of the initial recordings adds a raw sincerity to the track, eschewing heavy post-production for authenticity.

The release is a seasonal metamorphosis in sound form, thanks to the way Ishy Dee artfully carries the warmth of summer into the cooler months, making ‘Mami’ a staple for those seeking to keep the chill at bay with love-drenched tones.

As the second instalment of his upcoming EP ‘Feed The Sheets’, following the earlier ‘Paper Planes’, ‘Mami’ has only added to the hype surrounding the breakthrough boundary-pusher.

Stream the latest single from Ishy Dee on all major platforms via this link.

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

Anirban Jee is soul searching in the lush landscape of his RnB Pop earworm, Looking for Something

Posted on 23 September 2024

Anirban Jee serenaded his staunch fan base once again with his soulfully smooth tribute to 80s RnB and Soul, Looking for Something.

Passion permeates every progression in the lush landscape of pop hooks, funky guitar chops and reverb-radiating synth lines which carry the Australian singer-songwriter’s honeyed timbres right into your soul as he narrates the emotions which rush to the surface when you’re yearning for something far beyond the superficial without knowing exactly what you’re looking for.

The award-winning artist has done so much more than found the perfect RnB pop formula; he’s found the key to connection and it is opening all the right doors in the industry with his profoundly sophisticated and magnetised sonic signature which listeners the world over have fallen head over heels for.

Looking for Something is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Scene by Scene: Shah Brielle’s Cinematic Sound in “Issues”

Posted on 19 September 2024

Shah Brielle injected filmic sophistication into the sphere of contemporary RnB with her latest single, Issues. With echoes of Latin guitars interwoven into the lush production, the Chicago singer-songwriter orchestrated a vignette which mirrors the tremulous journey through love’s intricate labyrinth. Her powerfully crystalline harmonies resound as a beacon through the fog of emotional turmoil, articulating the push and pull of a love that’s as intoxicating as it is flawed.

The track unfurls like a cinematic narrative, each lyric threading deeper into the listener’s consciousness, much like waiting for a film’s climax with bated breath. With lyrics such as “Will I continue to swim through the flood to find your flame?” she encapsulates the desperation and determination of clinging to a flickering hope in love. This emotional odyssey is paralleled visually in a gripping music video that portrays a groom’s resolve as his wedding day unfolds with unexpected trials, prompting viewers to question the resilience of love.

After breaking onto the Chicago music scene in 2013, Shah Brielle has amassed a loyal following with her syntheses of world-music-heightened RnB and soul, which reflects her adoration for icons like Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.

Stream the official music video for Issues which premiered on September 6th on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heal your ‘Heavy Heart’ with Kay Soul’s instant RnB classic

Posted on 10 September 2024

Hot on the heels of her seminal EP, Heavy Love, the Chicago-raised RnB singer-songwriter, Kay Soul lived up to her moniker once again with the unveiling of her latest single, Heavy Heart, which exhibits her peerless ability to fuse soul-stirring evocations with classic RnB elements.

With a wistful sigh as the first note, Kay Soul set the tone for an aching emotional journey before the melodies swiftly take hold and cradle the harmonies which resound with seemingly endless honeyed sustain, crafting an installation of pure catharsis for the romantically jaded.

Her lyrics weave a rich narrative of how heavy heartbreak weighs on the soul, yet leave ample space for listeners to instil their own despair before finding swathes of consolation. The instrumental arrangement, driven by reverb-laden synths and evocative piano keys, works in synergy with the vocal lines to testify to the healing power of music as the breakthrough artist radiates nothing but pure love and profound connection.

Recognised widely for her artistry, including accolades for her gospel performances and significant album releases, Kay Soul continues to leave a lasting impression on the music industry. Be a part of her legacy and hit play.

Heavy Heart was officially released on August 23rd; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast