Last year I completed a round-up review based on soul music, and it was very successful! The genre is often considered to be something of the past, but there are a whole host of new bands and artists emerging from the underground scene that use soul within their music, so it’s certainly not dead yet! If you like the genre, this list is for you!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Susy K
Susy K – Workin’
First up is Susy K – a Scottish singer-songwriter with quite a musical background. Workin’ suits this list well, due to its vintage sound. As soon as the song starts, a chorus of horns starts, mixing well with the bluesy background. The bass is really prominent, working its way through the music in a groovy way. Susy’s vocals are incredibly smooth, harking back to the glory days of the soul movement. It’s a track full of energy, designed to get you up and dancing straight away!
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M-Dot – One Day at a Time
M-Dot is another stalwart of the music scene, as this singer-songwriter has been creating music for over 20 years. One Day at a Time is the culmination of all his efforts. The track sees M-Dot combining a traditional soul sound with a more modern hip-hop vibe, making for a fantastic mix of sounds. The main piano melody is gorgeous, running along nicely with the rhythm section. The vocals are largely rapped, having a smooth delivery that really helps to emphasise the lyrical content. This is one for those with a wider music taste.
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Sylfronia King – Heartbreak
Heartbreak is a song that really harks back to the glory days of the 1970s, as it’s full of funk and soul. The strings that open the track up work well with the beat and bass to create something that sounds almost like a disco tune at times. Sylfronia King has an amazing voice, perfectly suited for this groovy piece of music. The chorus has a particular energy that will work its way under your skin in no time, bouncing along in a lovely way. Just try and listen to this without wanting to dance along!
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Jen Ash – Trouble
Trouble sounds awesome from the very start, opening with a staccato piano melody that carries through most of the tune. The saxophone is also really impressive, providing some lovely soulful licks in the background of the tune. Jen Ash has a gorgeous singing voice, full of of sultry tones that really draw you into her music instantly. Jen has a fantastic range, showing how powerful her voice really is here. The track has quite a dark atmosphere, with the music suiting the themes of the lyrical tune well.
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Alexandra Miller – Trampoline
France is a nation with a vast cultural history, and Alexandra Miller continues the tradition with her new release, Trampoline. The track sees Alexandra mixing an old school vibe with a more modern pop quality, mixing the genres well. She’s got a very unique vocal style, dropping down to a whisper at times. However, it works really well, particularly when combined with the pretty soundscapes she’s created on this tune. The piano sounds wonderful when mixed with the rest of the music in the background, creating a catchy beat.
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Asha – Kiss Me Tender
Asha is another musician mixing modern pop soundscapes with a retro sound, however her song Kiss Me Tender certainly has its own merits! Asha’s vocals drift through the tune in an effortless way, with a slew of backing vocals also used to make the song sound even more impressive. It’s a track with multiple layers, used to create the sort of song that you’ll need to listen to a few times over to fully hear everything. The bass is particularly funky, throbbing along as the strings provide further textures to this poppy track.
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Lukx – Hello
Lukx is a musical project created by a European father and son duo, with Hello being one of their latest releases. It’s more of a hip-hop song, but it’s also very funky, with a little bit of soul thrown in for good measure. The lead vocals are rapped in a smooth manner, as the synths and bass drift along in the background, sounding infectiously catchy throughout. The chorus changes things slightly, adding in some female vocals that repeat the title of the song – the variety is very welcome, mixing things up nicely.
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Project 1268 – Records Back
Project 1268 is an band mixing together elements of Americana, soul, r&b and roots into one fantastic package. Records Back is a perfect example of their sound, also adding a bit of jazz into the mix. The brass instrumentation is really epic, especially when it’s mixed with the bass and ska-style guitars. The female vocals soar in a soulful way, showing a lot of power. The beat is fairly steady, however it’s still got lots of dancing potential, due to how groovy the tune is. This is one of my favourite songs on this list!
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Fantastic Mr Marcel – Double-Edge Sword
We’ve featured Fantastic Mr Marcel before on these pages, so it’s great to share another new track, this time titled Double-Edge Sword. Whilst it’s quite poppy, the backing effects add a really noir vibe, showing an artist not afraid to mix different styles and genres together. The vocals are deep, flowing perfectly alongside the rest of the music. The strings are particularly beautiful, working rather well with the fast drum beat. It’s a captivating piece of music and one of my favourite songs from the last month!
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Mariana Masetto – Yendo
Mariana Masetto is a musician, singer, percussionist, writer and teacher from Argentina, who has already released five albums. Yendo sounds quite subtle at first, featuring some unique sounding keyboard and guitar melodies as the main instrumentation. A Latin-infused beat kicks in after a while, adding a cool flavour to this tune. Mariana uses her vocals in a very distinctive way, weaving in and out of the music in an effortless way. It’s certainly an interesting piece of music, and perhaps one of the most experimental tunes on this list!
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Charlotte Sessions – Should I Be the Man?
Piano instructor Charlotte Sessions also produces her own music, showing she is an artist capable of many talents! Should I Be the Man is a bouncy pop song that has as much in common with the jazz genre as the soul movement. The piano is timed perfectly with the beat, having a wonderfully upbeat quality that makes the track get stuck in your head instantly. Charlotte has a nice voice too, melding well with the piano and the brass instrumentation that appears occasionally. The backing vocals are also really gorgeous, echoing Charlotte’s lead vocals in a harmonious way.
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Beth Macari – Feel The Same
The first thing apparent on Feel The Same is just how amazing Beth Macari’s vocals are. The tone is perfect for this style of music, showing an artist with a great deal of control over her vocal range. The verses are fairly subtle when compared to the choruses, which explode with upbeat energy. The synths and keyboards add a slight 80s feel to the music, attaching yet more retro elements to this fantastic track. It also wonderfully catchy in every way, working its way into your head after the very first listen.
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