Latest R&B Posts

[Remixes] The Weeknd – The Hills (Feat. Eminem + Nicki Minaj)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - October 11, 2015

’The Weeknd – The Hills (feat. Eminem) (Remix)’

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’The Weeknd – The Hills (feat. Nicki Minaj) (Remix)’

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The Weeknd has had a landmark year in 2015 and his current ascension to the pop throne has only been solidified by the fact that he currently sits atop the Billboard Hot 100 with his single, “The Hills”. In case you needed further proof of his current standing though, the Toronto native has landed two major co-signs from Nicki Minaj, and perhaps more unexpectedly, Eminem–both of whom deliver their own renditions of the outrageously catchy tune. Predictably enough, Marshall takes a more vindictive approach, discussing troubled relationships from his past, while Nicki keeps it a bit more raunchy with her version. Both rappers seem to mesh well enough with Abel’s vocals and should ensure that the song holds its position at number one for just a little longer. Stream the tunes above and make sure to purchase the full remix package over at iTunes.

[R&B] Lido & Santell – Ashley

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - October 9, 2015

Lido & Santell
Ashley

Soundcloud

It’s always a good day when we have some fresh music from Lido. The Norwegian producer has decided to bless us with a brand new single, teaming up with Santell aka “the light skinned Tyrese” for a smooth cut dedicated to “Ashley”. The R&B jam might be Lido’s most straightforward song to date, comprised of finger snaps, bass kicks and tranquil synths that hearken back to the genre’s heyday. Though the track has been floating around the internet for about a year now, it finally gets its day in the sun as the first single from Lido & Santell’s upcoming collaborative EP, The Passion Project, set for release on October 23 through Mad Decent and Pelican Fly. Stream the tune above, and make sure to cop the EP when it drops.

TOTEM – Heartease [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - October 9, 2015

(TOTEM)
Heartease

Soundcloud

Our affinity with TOTEM pre-dates anything you’ll find on this incredibly gifted, NYC-based crooner’s soundcloud page. We did some digging, and our earliest posts feature songs that are, well, no longer featured. Sad as it may be, fear not, as we have some good news for you. October 9th brings another tasty selection of tunes from this golden-voiced indie artist, giving fans a few more reasons to swoon.

As we said before, Echoes drops in only a matter of days, and “Heartease” is the fourth and final song to come out ahead of it’s full, official release. Joining “All Falls Down”, “Unrequited” and “Comfortable,” all of which have already come out via SoundCloud, this emotionally charged ride highlights TOTEM’s powerful yet delicate vocals, set to the cinematic backdrop of soaring piano chords, understated percussion, and a provocative bassline.

One of the first songs I ever wrote and definitely a sentimental favorite of mine. It’s about a very specific person and a very specific time I just needed to just get away from her for the sake of my own emotional well-being. I was feeling a lot all at once and I stumbled across a book entitled “Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues”. The blues was what I had and I felt exactly that my heart was in dire need of a break. Writing this song helped give me a little bit of perspective, thankfully.

If you’re digging this tune, we highly recommend heading over to iTunes and pre-ordering the full EP. In fact, you should pry just do it now, so you won’t forget.

Shoffy X Theodor- Ride [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Sara Natkins - October 2, 2015

Shoffy x Theodor
Ride

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Even though it may be Friday, we still have to wake up and do the same routine as Monday. But when you have the weekend to look forward to, it makes the day seem a little more endurable. Now let’s add Shoffy and Theodor’s new collaboration to the mix.

The slow-burning groove, “Ride,” is a musical parallel of walking outside with the sun shining, clouds are nearly non-existent, air is crisp, and soaking it’s beauty and serenity in with a deep breath of the fresh air. The downtempo production floods every single sense with tranquility as it brims with lush organ flourishes and wavy rhythms that are laced with ethereal percussion.

Shoffy’s sultry voice and lyrics set a scene of romance that transitions from the daytime innocent kiss at a picnic to the nighttime intimacy of a bedroom lit by only the light of candles. Rejuvenate yourself with a listen of “Ride” and watch as placidity begins to takes over.

[TMN Exclusive Interview] Autre Ne Veute Riffs on His New Album, Watered Down Tequila & Shapeshifting

Posted by Matthew Bloss - September 28, 2015

Autre Ne Veut
World War Pt. 2

Soundcloud

Arthur Ashin, who has grown much more readily recognizable as his Autre Ne Veut stage moniker over the years, has been one of our most looked-to tastemaking artists since his excellent Anxiety LP in 2013 and sterling catalog as a whole, which dips its toes into experimental R&B, soul, pop, rock and more. Most recently, Ashin’s latest single “Panic Room” stirred up something darkly beautiful within us once again and the busy artist has also been making the press rounds on behalf of the latest Autre Ne Veut full-length, Age of Transparency, which is getting set for an October 2 release via Downtown, along with an accompanying U.S. tour. We wanted a deeper look into one of the most enigmatic and creative minds within any capacity of music, and got to catch up with Arthur for quite the random interview. Be on the lookout for a show near you in the coming months, and in the mean time, read our full interview with Autre Ne Veut below.

The Music Ninja: You’re getting ready to release Age of Transparency, your third proper full-length after both your excellent self-titled debut in 2010 and of course the highly praised Anxiety in 2013. We’ve gotten a few tastes of AoT with “World War Pt. 2”, its jazz-tinged counterpart, and “Panic Room”, but wanted a little more insight as to what sets Age of Transparency apart from your other works including the Body EP. You were dealing with some rather heavy emotional stuff around Anxiety, what was your headspace like on your latest LP?

Autre Ne Veut: It is more naturalistic in tone. There are more nods to 70s Rod Stewart, ECM style jazz recordings, Alice Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, Ornette Coleman, Astral Weeks than there were on Anxiety. Spiritually, it feels a bit more related to the self titled album than Anxiety, or rather like a hyped up improvement or something. Still laden with self doubt and anxiety, but I try to tackle it from a bit more of a remove at times. That said, the vocal sound on AoT leans in even more than on Anxiety, it is dryer, more present, more tactile.

TMN: If we’re not mistaken, at one point you made a living as a jingle-writer. Not many people are aware of this fact, but do you think any of that job has seeped into Autre Ne Veut and added a bit of added accessibility to your sound whether it be a conscious move or not?

Finish the rest of the full transcript for our Autre Ne Veut interview after the jump!