Latest R&B Posts

clayton – livelove [TMN DEBUT PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - September 22, 2016

clayton
livelove

When I first laid ears on “livelove,” I was instantly transported back to my mom’s old minivan, cycling through that iconic collection of Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield tapes over and over again while we went to and from school. There’s an undeniable connection there that I just can’t shake, not that I would ever want to.

This brand new, debut tune is coming your way from LA-based, singer-songwriter clayton, who’s bringing a fresh perspective on classic soul styling that he’s self-dubbed Soul Nostalgia. The evocative air surrounding it is hard to look past, considering the classic, clean guitar work, silky smooth vocals, and a bassline with just enough funk. In addition to the instrumentals, which are written and performed entirely by clayton himself, we also have a strong, positive sentiment in the lyrics that’s overwhelmingly welcome, especially given the current state of the world.

If you’re feeling this tune, make sure to follow clayton over on SoundCloud. His handle is appropriately named “claytonluvsu,” so he won’t be hard to find. If you do struggle, though, just click here, and show some love back.

Austin Paul X SNDNGCHLLZ X Byrdipop – Binary [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - September 14, 2016

Binary
Austin Paul X SNDNGCHLLZ X Byrdipop

Soundcloud

Miami based Austin Paul, SNDNGCHLLZ, and Byrdipop have come together in a collaborative track that’s absolutely mesmerizing, and they pulled it off in less than 48 hours. What’s even more impressive is the fact that these three haven’t previously worked together. They were partnered up in a celebration of local music by the forthcoming lll Points Festival, which takes place October 7th – 9th, at Mana Wynwood.

This is the the third release on the festival’s 1st compilation, with one more release yet to come in the pack. “Binary,” as they’ve titled it, is a wonderfully sonic listening experience that pulls elements from RnB, ambient electronica, and pure experimental bliss. It only takes a few seconds to lock you in, and once it does, you’ll be wondering where you can get more.

Hopefully this admirable project from lll Points Festival helps inspire these budding artists to work together more, because, quite frankly, we need more.

There are still tickets available, so if you want to see acts like M83, Thievery Corporation, LCD Soundsystem, Method Man and Redman, Black Coffee, Earl Sweatshirt, and close to a hundred more, we highly recommend picking them up now.

[R&B] Xavier White X Paul Couture – Life For You

Posted by Tyler Trew - August 31, 2016

Xavier White X Paul Couture
Life For You

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Xavier White and Paul Couture make quite the pair. Their previous collaboration on “Bad Blood” was one of our favorite R&B tracks of the Summer, and now they’re back with another single together. This time it’s “Life For You” that has been released as a free download on Lush Records.

“Life For You” has more of a robust sound than their last song together. What’s interesting about “Life For You” is that it’s structured like a dance record, with the ebb & flow of the build, drop and breaks, but Xavier sings throughout and remains the centerpiece of the record. It’s the perfect mixture of several styles, from R&B, to soul, to trap and beyond. Paul Couture hit another home run with his production work on the single. We haven’t been disappointed one bit with these two, and we hope to hear more work from them again in the near future! They’re truly something special, and they’re on the cusp of really going somewhere with their music. Stream their newest single, and don’t forget to download it for free!

[Soul] Jesse Boykins III – Earth Girls

Posted by Dominic Powell - August 2, 2016

Jesse Boykins III
Earth Girls

Soundcloud

Compared to his modern contemporaries, Jesse Boykins III stands head and shoulders above the rest and has a firm grasp on the title of ‘most talented male vocalist’. Taking up the mantle left open by the likes of MusiqSoulchild, JB3’s releases are the blueprint, the vehicle to, and representation of soul music in 2016. Pulling from an eclectic array of themes such as neo-soul, R&B, reggae, hip-hop, and jazz, Boykins has mastered the feat of flowing interchangeably across musical realms. Further, his success and assimilation into each of these genres leaves listeners wondering if he is redefining them all.

Following up a wildly success 2014 LP titled Love Apparatus, Jesse Boykins III has unleashed his latest album August 1^st. At first listen, BARTHOLOMEW stands up against its predecessor and will certainly age well by touching on classic themes throughout. While the album has features from the likes of Noname, Little Simz, Willow Smith, Syd, Mick Jenkins and others, his best work is done on a solo piece. The standout track of the collection, “Earth Girls” also serves as the introduction to BARTHOLOMEW. Playing softly into existence with an emotional piano loop, Boykins’ unmistakable voice harmonizes the lines of the chorus before leading into the ballad that is verse one.

Jesse Boykins III’s full length work BARTHOLOMEW can be downloaded via WeTransfer here. Lucky readers living in New York will also get a chance to see the album performed with his live band The Beauty Created at the Brooklyn Bowl on August 17^th – tickets can be found here while they last.

R&B
Soul

[Event Preview/Playlist] The Underground Music Showcase – 7/28 – 7/31 – Denver, CO

Posted by Matthew Bloss - July 27, 2016

It’s no secret at all that The Underground Music Showcase in beautiful Denver, CO has become a mainstay for our Mile-High Ninjas, and as we’re just a day out, we are once again gearing up for another edition of one of the U.S. festival scene’s best kept (not-so) secrets. One of the few remaining music gatherings in the fair city of Denver to eschew the typical smattering of major label festival fare, The UMS boasts a lineup of over 400+ acts strewn across various shops and bars dotting Denver’s historic South Broadway district, and we’ve been salivating like one of Pavlov’s pit-bulls in anticipation of this year’s entry.

Headlined by a number of intriguingly eclectic acts including Poliça, Thee Oh Sees, Sunflower Bean, Allah Las, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and The Bright Light Social Hour as well as some of the city’s most promising acts like Flaural, Shady Elders, déCollage, The Yawpers, Inner Oceans and Sunboy; 2016’s version of The UMS offers us yet another tastefully curated weekend of music in one of the best settings possible. We’ll be out in full force all weekend, and in anticipation of this year’s festivities, we’ve put together a playlist highlighting some of our favorite UMS artists. Get your sunscreen ready, and we’ll be seeing our Denver friends in the sun all weekend!

’POLIÇA – Chain My Name’

Soundcloud

’Thee Oh Sees – Web’

Soundcloud

’Sunflower Bean – Easier Said’

Soundcloud

’Allah
Las – Buffalo Nickel’

Soundcloud

’The Yawpers – Sister Mary’

Download

’Lee Fields & The Expressions – You’re The Kind Of Girl’

Download

’Bright Light Social Hour – Escape Velocity’

Buy

’Flaural – Mind Field’

Soundcloud

’Inner Oceans – WILD’

Soundcloud

’Sunboy – Oracle’

Soundcloud

’Shady Elders – Pale Blue Dot’

Download

’déCollage – Rise Above’

Buy

[R&B/Soul] Xavier White X Paul Couture – Bad Blood

Posted by Tyler Trew - July 27, 2016

Xavier White X Paul Couture
Bad Blood

Buy

Lush Records just came out with with a huge new single from Xavier White and Paul Couture. Their work on “Bad Blood” is just what the crossover R&B style needs at this moment in time. Nothing is watered down, and we get a real work of art from some talented individuals.

“Bad Blood” meets in the middle of a crossroad between R&B, soul and trap. Instead of watering down each element and creating something that doesn’t identify as unique, Xavier and Paul worked to have their single stand out. From the get-go, the piano chords grab your attention, and things only get more enticing as the song moves forward. Paul’s work on the instrumental is as good as it gets. That leaves us with Xavier’s vocal. The same can be said for his performance. His voice encroaches on perfection for this type of song, and he even flexes his pipes towards the end showing just where he can take things. “Bad Blood” is the one song you need today. Great thing is, it’s out now as a free download.

R&B
Soul

[Electronic] Coolwater Set & RAC – The Coast ft. Jvzel

Posted by Hank - July 26, 2016

Coolwater Set & RAC
The Coast ft. Jvzel

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Coolwater Set is a project made up of Far East Movement and the Scandinavian artist, Autolaser. As if that doesn’t already sound sweet, they bring in house legend RAC to collaborate on their latest single, “The Coast.” Right now they only have two songs out and we haven’t seen new music from Coolwater Set since last year’s single “Up To No Good” so I honestly didn’t see this one coming. On “The Coast” theses artists blend their own unique styles into a sick electronic/hip-hop groove. Jvzel keeps the cool with R&B backing vocals as the rhythms and bass build together. The resulting tune possesses a diverse sound, one that almost everyone can appreciate. After tuning in, you’ll be happy to hear that a full Coolwater Set EP is on the way.