“Valentine’s Day needs a bit of Retro Soul to get the party started and South of Savoy delivers with their new release, ‘Love the Feeling.’
The track offers an energetic ode to love with hints of that vintage sound and the kind of timeless lyrics that always land. A fun track sure to put a smile on your lover’s face and a little spring in both your steps as you move together either in or out of bed.”
“This track starts as a melancholic slow burn about the end of a relationship, but the build follows the same pattern most of us go through post breakup. So as the song build it shifts in tone to a more hopeful array of emotions.
Eastcliff does a great job of allowing the emotions to dictate the pace and build. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a journey and one well worth taking.”
“Ready for some German Funk and Soul?
Then it is your lucky day because Radius and Leonora team to give us exactly that with ‘Plans Tonight.’ Though you;d never guess these talented artists are German by the sound of this high energy song.
And ode to being held back by the nine to five of a steady job this is a fun track about letting go and having some fun despite the demands put on you by being a so-called responsible adult.”
“Kenny Sharp delivers this love letter of sorts to his home state of Virginia. The languid blues feel gives the song a Ray Charles vibe and his classic ode to Georgia is certainly and apt comparison for this track. ‘Virginia Slim’ is a smooth and warm and wraps around the soul like a wisp of fragrant tobacco in the still summer time air.”
“Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart have a sound that blends roots rock, soul, and Americana. Their latest release ‘Sins,’ is a powerful, grungy blues track that highlights Rebecca’s raw vocals and the band’s gritty, NYC-inspired sound.
There are plenty of things to like here and the talent is undeniable. The production dynamics could have left a more pleasing finish to the tone, but instead they leaned in on that raw grit a bit more than I would have liked and I do wish the song had stronger sense of build or escalation. That said, I would love to hear more music from this collection of talented performers.”
“The groove is pleasing and I like that side of this track, but for me the vocals felt a bit melodramatic.
Overall this song was a case of trying to do and be too much. The talent is there and could have shined, but for all the world this one felt like a group of talented people saying ... Hey let’s throw everything we got up against the wall and see what sticks.
The end result felt like an unorganized mess lyrically, and the varying performance style felt at odds rather than complementary to each other.”
“Eric Hagen gives off Nathaniel Rateliff vibes on the track ‘Accuse Me.’ The track has a Bluesy Soul vibe, with some Americana thrown in for good measure. The song feels like a sit at home drinking while pondering how it all went wrong vibes. But rather than wallowing in despair, the lyrics take on a bit of righteous indignation to create an IDGAF brand of attitude.”
“Kenny Sharp cuts us up with the gleaming blade that is ‘Smooth.’ This Retro Funk/ Soul number has a bit of Bruno, but also some Hip-Hop-esque verve that reminded me of Yung Grvy.
This is a one of those tracks that lodges in your gut and reverborates out to your bones with the groove. I dare you to listen to this and not be persuaded to move to the Funk.”
“A Blues infused Retro Soul track probably isn’t what you are expecting to hear coming out of the Netherlands. Though that is exactly what Soul Survivors gives us.
’You’re The One’ is proof you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when you have a wealth of talent and infuse emotion and passion into your work. This track has a timeless quality that feels a bit like a warm hug for the soul.”
“L’MArco and AshtnMrtn team to give us ‘Jubilant People,’ a Reggae track that speaks to the times and the strong spirit of people who refuse to be controlled. Rhythmic and with a infectious beat this track is one that lingers in the mind long after that last note. ”
“Paris Pick is the Yukon’s Pop princess and this Retro Soul track will only add to her star power. ‘Get My Baby Back’ is delivered in a sing song vibe that certainly has influence in the doo wop era but the this track, about dealing with the losses life hands out, still manages to feel fresh and contemporary in style. ”
“Lisa Crawley deliver a sultry soundtrack to the complexities of our mind. The overall sound has an almost spaghetti western vibe that adds a mysterious air to the build. The mix of her sensual delivery and that grittier melody makes for an engaging multi-dimensional track that keeps the listener on their toes. ”
“A Jazz influenced Soul track, ‘Lose’ offers a chance to sit back and relax as you contemplate fate and the times in life when no matter what you do things just do not work out how you’d hoped. Isa Y clearly has an old soul and this track has a bit of that old school crooner to go along with the smooth musical groove. ”
“Emotive vocal power is at the heart of this track from M’Lynn. Riding a smooth R&B groove, ‘Still Got It’ offers a that soulful smooth delivery and the lyrics have a nice emotional hook. This song has one foot in the past and the other solidly in today’s musical landscape with a nice contemporary feel to the overall build. ”
“Mallow Smoke delivers a smooth sultry groove on their latest track, ‘Smoke.’ Singer Mikayla Joseph did remind me some of Amy Winehouse and like her most famous hit this track also deal with addiction.
’Writing it was my way of expressing what it’s like to deal with someone you love struggle with addiction and substance abuse and how it presents itself in relationships,” Joseph explained. “ It healed my heart just a little bit. Fighting the demons that push you into a place where you become dependent on drugs and alcohol is hard enough by itself, trying to do it alone is even harder. And loving an addict is heartbreaking.’”
“This track from Noak Hellsing delivers a nice tranquil vibe somewhat reminiscent to Sheryl Crow’s hit ‘All I Wanna Do.’
Except ‘All Day’ is more of a jazz-influenced soul sound with less of that Pop edged gloss.
THe track is a smooth ride and is the kind of track you can enjoy while taking a mellow evening drive, or while sipping a cold beverage poolside with friends as the sun sets. ”
“The world is unmistakably fractured and one of the few unifiers is music. I AM SOPHIA address the divided nature of society but offers a plea to ... ‘Meet In The Middle.’
The track has a Retro Soul vibe with a little dash of Reggae to spice up the offering. I have to think Bob Marley would be proud of the talent and of the message. ”
“The track truly took off for me with the tempo shift around :35 seconds in, though the initial build was intriguing enough to hold me until the song came alive. The back and forth tempo and vocal delivery is well crafted, and the overall track is uplifting and true to the human spirit.
Kenny Sharp will certainly draw comparisons to Mumford and The Lumineers and there isn’t anything wrong with that, but this track is far from derivative so it stands on its own just fine.
The addition of Micki Brayboy adds to the talent and gives the song another layer.”
“This track introduces the world to Mallow Hill as it is the band’s debut single. ‘Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ drips with sultry Blues and the vocal tone has a bit of Winehouse over the top of a Gary Clark Jr. musical vibe.
’Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ is about the personal growth and realization of habits formed from toxic relationships and how we all tend to slip on a pair of familiar shoes even though the damn things tend to hurt our feet. ”
“Christmas is a time for nostalgia, reflection, and of course sharing the love. Michael Costantini delivered all three with his track ‘What Christmas Is For.’
Musically, the track falls somewhere between a vintage Rock vibe and Retro Soul, while the lyrics feel entirely contemporary and festive.
This is the fresh new Holiday track I needed this year!”