I’ve been trying to get myself into new styles of music that I don’t listen to often, with r&b being one such genre. Over the past month or so, I’ve discovered a great set of tunes from the genre, spanning from songs with a retro vibe to more contemporary r&b tracks. As such, if you’re into this style of music, there should be something to love here!
Review by Jane Howkins
Picture by Millie Blooms
Millie Blooms – Bounce Ya Necks
Bounce Ya Necks is our first song, created by the very talented Millie Blooms, hailing from Monmouth. The track opens up with an awesome drumbeat, which combines well with the eerie bass, underpinning the song. The rhythm really makes this track, adding a great deal of atmosphere to Millie’s amazing tune. Her vocals have an almost whispered quality at times, with the backing vocals accentuating the lead vocals every so often. It’s catchy, but the rhythm and electronic drums make Bounce Ya Necks sound really distinctive!
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Fia NyXX – Lost Without You
Fia NyXX is a new r&b artist on the scene, also taking inspiration from the Motown genre, as well as a more contemporary r&b sound. Lost Without You has a really distinctive sound, featuring a fingerpicked violin melody as the main instrumentation, also working well with the rhythm of the piece. Fia’s sultry vocals follow the main melody played out on the strings, as the sparse percussion plays in the background. If you like your r&b a little different from the norm, this is for you!
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Felicia Lase – Sign
Sign has a nice mix of classic and contemporary r&b, making for something that should appeal across the board. It’s quite slow at times, with the beat having an old school vibe. Felicia Lase’s vocals are stunning – they sound good on the verses, but it’s on the choruses where they truly shine through, belted out in style. The organ that appears every so often has a fantastic retro feel, mixing well with the strings and piano that characterise this song so well. This is one of my favourite songs on this list.
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Lotti – Casualty
Casualty is a slow song, having a dreamy quality to it. A slow percussive beat runs through the piece, picking up slightly on the chorus, as some gorgeous synth effects take pride of place in the background. The bass is quiet but still adds a backbone to the song, playing underneath Lotti’s smooth and soulful vocal delivery. The gospel-esque backing vocals add a lovely vibe on the chorus, backing Lotti’s lead vocals in a wonderful fashion. This is one for those of you into your slower tracks.
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Randy Beth – kaleidoscope
Randy Beth’s addition to this list is another slow tune, featuring subtle synth melodies in the background, alongside the groovy bass. Despite the leisurely tempo, kaleidoscope still sounds very funky, oozing cool throughout. Randy’s vocals sound effortless as she sings the words to this fantastic tune, with the hip-hop style percussion adding another element to this track. The backing vocals are layered, appearing occasionally to add a special dose of beauty to the music.
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Buster – Steppin’ In (Out)
It’s time for a more up-tempo tune, this time in the form of Buster’s amazing Steppin’ In (Out). The track has a very retro feel, harking back to the heyday of classic r&b music, whilst also retaining some moments of the more modern style. The track features some rapping as well as singing, as the groovy bass and guitar lines play in the background, making you want to dance along straight away! I also felt the track had an 80s vibe, which suits it right down to the ground!
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Enoka – Do It All 4 Me
Do It All 4 Me is a song that bridges the gap between several different genres, including elements of mainstream pop, r&b, hip-hop and electronica. It wouldn’t sound out of place on the current music charts (predicting big things for Enoka) but it’s also got a certain groove to it, particularly with the way the rest of the instrumentation fits the rhythm. The piano and bass meld together in perfect harmony, with the vocals containing a huge amount of emotion as they perform at the forefront of the track.
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Brynja – My oh my
Iceland isn’t a nation I often hear much r&b from, so it’s great to see an artist like Brynja branching out to change things up! My oh my takes things down a notch, featuring what sounds like a harp providing the main melody for the tune, making Brynja’s music stand out from the crowd! The beat is also fairly interesting, drawing your attention to it immediately. Brynja has a lovely tone to her voice, fitting the style of the music well. If you like your r&b a little different from the norm, check this out!
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Malou Madi – Still Cercle
Still Cercle sets an atmosphere from the very beginning, as the bass and synths layer together to create a fantastic texture for this song. Malou Madi’s tune is probably the most experimental track on this list, sounding unlike anything I’ve ever heard before! The vocals are also used in a unique way, adding a rhythmic quality to the piece, alongside the bass and synths. It won’t be for everyone, but those readers that like their music a bit different should find something to love here!
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Silja Rós – Lie Just To Lie
Silja Rós is another Icelandic musician, with her song Lie Just To Lie bringing the old school vibes back to this list. As well as classic r&b, there are also elements of soul, jazz, pop and rock and roll thrown in here for good measure, making for a fantastic mix of sounds. The slow beat works well with the rest of the music, drawing you in instantly. Silja’s vocals are extremely heartfelt and ooze emotion – you can really feel what she’s feeling as she croons along to this beautiful number!
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5ON5 – May I Ask
With dream-pop being so popular at the moment, it’s of no surprise that there’s at least one song here with a dreamy vibe. That track is called May I Ask, opening with a pure stomp of a rhythm, as a faint piano melody plays in the background. It’s quite a minimalist track, but the main chord sequence is beautiful, sounding perfectly crafted as it works its way through the music. 5ON5‘s vocals are epic, following the main note sequence in style. This is one of my favourite songs on this entire list!
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Munk Duane – Myths
Finally, we’ve got the awesome new song Myths, cultivated and created by recording artist and film composer Munk Duane. The track starts out a little differently from what you might expect, with a palm-muted acoustic guitar melody opening things up, before Munk’s stunning vocals appear. The beat is set to make you nod your head along in time, as the vocals slowly get higher and higher before the chorus appears. It’s the sort of track that will appeal to those into folk and indie music, showing a great deal of musicianship overall.
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