Browsing Tag

RnB Soul

Dara Blaxx drops the stunning lead single from her new EP, with ‘Before I Leave’

Posted on 20 April 2021

Dara Blaxx is a 25 year old British Nigerian singer-songwriter who discovered her voice at the tender age of sixteen; and wow, what a voice. Soulful, sultry, and powerfully seductive, Dara has all the smoky, late-night elements of soul, Motown, blues, and jazz rolled up into one beautiful vocal performance. There’s elements of Sade, Joss Stone, and Dina Carroll in the timbre of her lower register, for sure, but also older classics like Etta James, Betty Wright, and Brenda Holloway.

‘Before I Leave’ is a beautifully performed tale of love and loss, and the indecision around staying or leaving; deep trap-soul beats and groove, a real R&B feel, added to the emotional vocal, make ‘Before I Leave’ – from Blaxx’s debut 6-track EP ‘Arrythmia’ – an absolute powerhouse soul track. Already hitting playlists on BBC Music Introducing in the West Midlands and in the Solent, this deserves to be all over daytime radio this summer. It’s beautiful.

You can hear ‘Before I Leave’, and the rest of the “Arrhythmia” EP, on Soundcloud. Follow Dara Blaxx on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes.

Brianne Matthews – Holding On: Modern and Minimalist RnB

Posted on 17 April 2021

Holding On is just one of the tender tracks to feature on RnB artist Brianne Matthews’ debut EP, ‘Metanoia’. With stripped-back instrumentals, plenty of the focus falls upon Brianne Matthews’  vocals that pull old school soul styles into a modern and minimalist production. The experimentation with spatial effect mixed with the compelling message that runs through the lyricism, reminding you that if you feel lost while tethered to the past, you’re not alone, is sure to resonate.

The case made in Holding On becomes even more convincing through the addition of the male vocals that add plenty of baritone soul to the mix that was orchestrated to stay with you long after it fades; it’s safe to say that the breaking artist was successful.

Holding On is now available to stream via Spotify. For more info, head over to Brianne Matthews’ official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Amba Tremain gets smooth, soulful, and heartfelt with new single ‘Honestly’

Posted on 22 March 2021

South Coast soulstress and Sofar Sounds regular Amba Tremain mixed R’n’B and jazzy soul on her brand new second single ‘Honestly’, an old school classic earworm of love, longing, and loss which showcases Tremain’s superb rich, soulful voice over shimmering guitar chords, echoey drums, and slow, grooving bass. It’s a perfect track to show off that timbre, the sparse instrumentation allowing plenty of space for Tremain’s vocal to sit front and centre, warm and powerful and wrapped around the music.

There’s obvious Motown influences in here – James Brown, Aretha, maybe a little Irma Franklin too, but there’s more contemporary parts too; Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, or Beverly Knight. It’s sublime and beautiful, heartfelt and honest, and it bodes very well for Amba Tremain in 2021.

You can hear ‘Honestly’ on Spotify, and follow Amba Tremain on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Janockeil cranked up the evocative intensity with his latest RnB single ‘Feeling’

Posted on 23 January 2021

Ahead of the release of his forthcoming EP, RnB luminary, Janockeil, has released his sensually resolving single ‘Feelings’; a refreshing exposition of just how deep our intrinsic need for connection really is.

Janockeil found the perfect balance between evocative intensity and raw vulnerability with Feeling, evading the risk of the track becoming just another RnB single which alludes to a romance only ever seen in RnB music videos. After the 2020 we’ve all just endured together, I have no doubt that there will be high demand for such compassionate and compelling contemporary aural soul on the airwaves; Janockeil’s future looks exceptionally bright.

You can check out Feeling for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Flow has brought RnB into a new era with ‘Where You Been’

Posted on 15 January 2021
https://soundcloud.com/flowsadventure/where-you-been

North Carolina RnB Soul pioneer, Flow, released his latest sun-soaked hit ‘Where You Been’ on December 11th, with elements of Deep House and Afrobeat weaved in, it’s impossible not to catch the infectious high vibes.

While playfully experimental progressions allow glitchy beats to add to the energy of the smooth RnB melodies, Flow gives you an idea of how he came about his moniker. By switching between soul-dripping crooning and energising Rap verses, there isn’t a moment in the track which will allow your attention to falter from the fresh ingenuity on offer.

You can check out Flow’s latest single via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Being with your special soul: Porto’s MDMelo (ft. Francis) drop ‘All the Way-In the Moment EP #4’

Posted on 27 December 2020

MDMelo (ft. Francis) bring the heat on the spectacular new indie romantic R&B Soul track: ‘All the Way‘-In the Moment EP #4‘.

Porto, Portugal-based music producer, mixer and audio engineer MDMelo is a man on a mission to get his music to masses with his new EP series. With Francis as the singer-songwriter for this project, this is a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice for the heart to get a boost from our slumber in 2020.

His voice is smooth and calming, this is the story of love that is waiting to be reunited and the wait to be together is so hard sometimes. You want that touch, that laugh and that moment on the beach and holding hands while gazing at the stars. That calm water relaxes both of you as there are no distractions, no TV and nothing interfering with your special moment. This is so pure and will strengthen your bond.

‘All the Way‘-In the Moment EP #4‘ from the talented producer MDMelo and the incredible vocals of Francis, is a track that makes you drift away for a while and the video is so relaxing too. Each part of the video perfectly encapsulates what the song is about and the ending is what love should be about. After the long wait, this excellent song shows that love is about being patient and being in the moment when you have that opportunity.

Check out the YouTube video and follow the good vibes on IG.

Stream the YouTube video and

Isla Croll gives us a soulful lesson in love with ‘Irreplaceable’

Posted on 24 December 2020

15-year-old RnB singer-songwriter Isla Croll proves with her latest single ‘irreplaceable’ that maturity in sound and soul is in no way related to the number of decades you’ve been roaming around the planet.

With her tendency to embrace everything from Jazz to Hip Hop to Pop to Funk in her soundscapes, her resolving, emotional and honest tracks speak directly to the soul. Irreplaceable directly speaks to souls recently maimed by feelings of insecurity. Isn’t modern romance just incredible for that?

With a voice so imploring and an artistic intent so pure, she’s made it difficult for any other RnB artists to follow in her footsteps, thus making her sophomore single somewhat of a paradox. The majority of your consciousness may be drawn to her magnetically velvet vocals, but there’s a lot to be said for the intricate Indie Jazz-laden instrumentals which trickle, swell and soar in synergy with Isla Croll’s pitch-perfect harmonies.

You can check out Isla Croll’s inspiring new single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

OCCORO tightened the bond between poetry and RnB with ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’

Posted on 22 December 2020

OCCORO’s single ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ will enamour fans of RnB and poetry alike. From the first offering of nuanced meta lyrical wisdom, attention piques as you prepare yourself to hear more linguistic prowess, OCCORO certainly delivers.

Nothing Gold Can Stay is the title track from the Dallas-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer’s debut EP, any fans of Robert Frost will recognise the title, while everyone will get a fresh distinctive sonic experience to indulge in when they hit play. Nothing Gold Can Stay does so much more than just cover the same RnB ground. With almost psychotropic Indie tones in the absolving soundscape, it is as rhythmically transfixing as it is lyrically powerful.

Their lexicon is just as awe-inspiring as their visceral ardent lyrical flow, and as for the production, you couldn’t ask for a more commanding and all-consuming feat of contemporary Indie RnB.

You can check out Nothing Gold Can Stay for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get lost in Byron Freeman’s RnB labyrinth of conflicted emotion offered through their latest single ‘Maze’

Posted on 17 December 2020

‘Maze’ is the latest single to be released by NJ-based artist Byron Freeman which paints a poignant picture of the complexity of the human experience. Conflict runs through the lyrics which are delivered with unadulterated soul so that the listener’s inner conflict can find resolution and validation.

Smooth reverb-soaked Trappy beats trickle away under Byron Freeman’s absorbing vocals which pull you into the tender compassion from the first vocal note. With plenty of space in the verses, there is plenty of room for reflection as Byron Freeman’s evocative soul-deep wisdom meets your own consciousness.

You can check out Byron Freeman’s single Maze for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lisa Denae – Smoke featuring David Cadence

Posted on 4 December 2020

Right from the intro in her standout single ‘Smoke’ featuring David Cadence, you’re confronted by RnB Soul artist Lisa Denae’s talent when it comes to implanting her direct lyrics under your skin.

With trappy beats bringing even more conviction to the soulful yet unapologetically furious RnB single, the empowerment won’t fail to resonate. Instead of exhibiting scornfulness in Smoke which unravels as the perfect post-breakup diss track, Lisa Denae exudes that awe-inspiring energy of someone finally realising their power and worth, and it is safe to say that energy is infectious.

David Cadence brings an incredible dynamic to the track when he breezes in towards the outro to act as the Rap villain. It’s impossible not to become immersed in the conceptually narrative hit.

You can check out Smoke for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.