southern rock // soul
Sothern rock bursting with soul! Alabama Shakes amplify my love for music. Their powerful groove and vigorous energy makes me a little less sad about great 60′s acts I was born too late to see live. Janis Joplin meets Nina Simone rocking out with The Black Keys, shedding gleams of hope to shake loose dusty spirits.
Turn it up.
Alabama Shakes – Hold On
Alabama Shakes – You Ain’t Alone
+ Purchase/Visit
soul // soft r&b
The transatlantic success of British retro-soul singers is nothing new. From Amy Winehouse to Adele, British female artists have been strongly dominating the musical landscape for nearly a decade. LeaLea Jones delivers that kind of British retro-charm with an über-cool beat that brings to mind such Aurgasm favourites as Anjulie and Corinne Bailey Rae. She first captured my attention back in 2010 with her catchy single “Cake” and is currently working on her debut album. “Dry”, taken from the upcoming album, might be some of the finest urban grooves I’ve been listening to lately, offering some solid yet not overly produced beats and sweet soul vocals.
Sultry doze of neo-soul, jazz and R&B.
LeaLea Jones – Dry
+ Purchase/Visit
Funk // Beats // Soul
Lack Of Afro aka Adam Gibbons has released his third album already, and for lovers of funk, beats and soulful production he should not be a stranger. Often compared to the sound of an early DJ Shadow and besides producing his own LP’s also a producer of acts like The Diplomats of Solid Sound and Frootful, this funky dude is also a frequently asked remixer. Like Mark Ronson, but sans the cheeky funk covers, Lack Of Afro rolls with original samples mixed with original instruments. He manages to make any song he touches sound vibrant with organic soul & deep bass, whether producing a retro soul groover like “A Time For” or the throw back funk sampling “Roderigo”. To celebrate his love of music, you can listen to this special mix on Mixcloud. For more musical tasters also check out the LOA soundcloud page.
Lovingly produced soulful grooves.
A Time For (feat. Wayne Giddens) (from This Time)
Roderigo (from Press On)
Songwriter // Jazz // Soul
Stac (Stacey Dowdeswell) is signed to London based label Wah Wah 45s and her debut album Turn That Light Out was released June 21st 2010. This album is produced by label mate Scrimshire & engineered by previously featured Benedic “Nostalgia 77″ Lambdin. The album’s ten tracks have since been remixed into a pair of remix albums (vol.1 & vol.2) featuring versions by Bonobo, Kidkanevil, Hint, Ashley Beedle, Natural Self & TM Juke. Stac’s biggest influences are Lewis Taylor, Jamie Lidell, Erykah Badu and red wine, resulting in songs filled with emotion, subtle layers and an attitude that makes her an artist to keep an eye on.
See for yourself with original album track “Tip”, a mature, intelligent track and its remixed counterpart “Tip (Hint remix)”, taking all that maturity into the club and shakin’ it like there ain’t no tomorrow. All three Stac’s albums are available for download on the Wah Wah 45s shop, including two free tracks from the remix competition.
Blue eyed soulstress from LDN
Tip
Tip (Hint Remix)
+ Purchase/Visit
soul pop // avant-jazz-pop
“You’ll hear smoky soul, flights of dazzling invention and intricate layers of deeply felt emotion. With a voice that belies her age; twenty year old Kimbra already enchants her audience, having been inspired by jazz greats such as Nina Simone, while also bringing a contemporary edge more akin to Bjork and Camille.” I haven’t been this excited about a song in a while. (thx, benschwarz)
Vocal precision, soul-felt thumps, & beauty
Kimbra – Settle Down
+ Visit