Browsing Tag

RnB Singer Songwriter

Unwrap Gratitude this Christmas with KayPressPlay’s Afrobeat RnB single, Favourite Gift

Posted on 11 December 2024

Afrobeat RnB trailblazer KayPressPlay delivered a seasonal standout with ‘Favourite Gift’, a track that swaps out the usual tinsel-laden tropes for something undeniably more contemporary. Infused with the sultry heat of Afrobeat and threaded with reggae-inspired staccato licks, the single straddles tradition and innovation, presenting a vibe-driven reflection on the priceless connections that define the festive season.

As fiery rap-adjacent vocals cascade over the rhythmically rich instrumentals, KayPressPlay dismantles the glossy veneer of commercialised Christmas fanfare. Instead of indulging in clichés, the track invites listeners to pause and consider the value of connection, love, and gratitude. Through its unorthodox aesthetic, ‘Favourite Gift’ is both a sonic revolution and a call to realign with what matters.

Following a trajectory of stylistic ingenuity that has turned KayPressPlay into one of the most promising voices in Suffolk, this release continues to cement the artist’s status as a fearless innovator.

Stream Favourite Gift on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sharpen your sense of self-worth in the groove pockets of TAZ’s latest RnB Funk release, tunnel vision

Posted on 10 December 2024

With her latest single, Tunnel Vision, TAZ claims her place as the goddess of groove, delivering a funk-wrapped celebration of self-love and empowerment. Hailing from Surrey, the rising star built on the acclaim of her debut, Summertime x, with an up-tempo Neo-Soul release that bursts with vibrant energy and candid lyrical storytelling.

The lush harmonies in Tunnel Vision pop with radiant colour, intertwining seamlessly with staccato guitar chops that electrify the track’s rhythmic pulse. As the song unfolds, the emotive intensity crescendos, with TAZ’s soulful vocals becoming a clarion call for romantic empowerment.

For anyone who suffered fools in the name of love, Tunnel Vision has what it takes to convince the new generation of RnB fans to take every fragment of their self-worth into the battleground, otherwise known as the modern dating scene. The live feel of the production amplifies the authenticity of her message, with each lyric cutting straight to the listener.

Inspired by legends such as Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Alicia Keys, TAZ fuses Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Pop influences to scribe an arrestingly unique sonic signature into her critically acclaimed hits.

Stream tunnel vision on major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jodré painted emotional horizons in his lush duality charting RnB single, Leave

Posted on 2 December 2024

Based in London and backed by Aether Records, the Portuguese-Angolan artist Jodré delivered a rare RnB ballad that efficaciously navigates the complexities of a bittersweet breakup aftermath with unwavering realism in his latest single, Leave.

By capturing the dualism between fondness and agony and using sublime melodies and haunting harmonies, the young prodigy created a lush fusion of sound and colour. As his soulfully iridescent voice transforms every lyric into a vivid emotional tableau, listeners are invited to visualise the depths of his introspection. The track balances playful melodies with punchy, thought-provoking lyrics, embodying odysseys of growth and self-discovery diehard romantics are destined to chart.

Influenced by the likes of Daniel Caesar, Brent Faiyaz, and Frank Ocean, Jodré fuses elements of faith, existence, and the divine with the rawness of human experience. This unique combination results in a mellow yet reflective sound that offers an ethereal perspective on love, mental health, and personal duality.

Leave was officially released on November 29; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Penny Taylor’s ‘Cuff’ Unchains the Soul of Modern RnB

Posted on 28 November 2024

‘Cuff’ by Penny Taylor smooths out the edges of contemporary RnB. With a trappy pulse, wavy oscillations of reverb wrapping around the melodies, and Taylor’s constantly in-flux vocal presence, it’s the definition of a melodious feat of sonic mesmerism. Hit play and sink into the single, which sees the singer-songwriter lay it all on the line while teasing salaciously hot imagery into the mix, ensuring it hits on every conceivable level.

Having honed his unique sound for over a decade—starting from humble beginnings with a USB mic hanging from his childhood room’s ceiling fan—Taylor has evolved into an unreckonable force in the music industry. Drawing inspiration from Bryson Tiller, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole, his distinctive hip hop, neo-soul, and RnB fusion makes him peerless, as does his ability to tune into universal emotion and make them hit with personal resonance.

Taylor may not have reinvented the RnB wheel with ‘Cuff’, but his authentic contribution ensures he has earned his place in the innovative vanguard as the genre shifts with the times, keeping the vibes raw, real, and relatable for this generation and beyond.

Cuff is now available to stream 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

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

Posted on 20 November 2024

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