Occasionally great albums go unnoticed and are missed for some reason, I have just discovered one of the best albums I’ve heard all year which was released last month but seems to have been widely overlooked- ‘Saint Heron.‘ It’s a compilation album released by Solange Knowle’s label; Saint Records and features 11 independent artists including Solange herself, Sampha, Cassie and Jhene Aiko.

This is no ordinary compilation, it is organic RnB; soulful and eclectic, every track is unique in style yet they all compliment each other beautifully. It is a great showcase of emerging talent in the genre and has led me to discover artists I hadn’t previously heard like BC Kingdom and Kelela, it also shows Cassie taking her music in a much more soulful, mature direction so looking forward to new material from her.

There is an energy about the album that’s exhilarating, these artists are all making their music their way and it acts as a teaser leaving you wanting more from all of them. If you want to here something fresh and soulful get a copy of Saint Heron now – it will not disappoint!

BC Kingdom- Lock Up


 

 

 

 

One of the highlights for me on Drake’s Nothing Was the Same
album is ‘From Time’, because aside from the fact it’s a great track it features an
artist called ‘Jhene Aiko’ who I had never heard of before. I was amazed at how
distinctive, almost haunting her voice was on the track and couldn’t wait to
hear her solo material.

Sail Out’, the first EP from Jhene Aiko recently dropped
and it did not disappoint. It contains 7 tracks, all of which Jhene wrote,
every one individual in style and lyrical content. What struck me the most upon
my first listen is how unlike anything I’d heard before ‘Sail Out’ is, it’s
soulful but with a hip hop edge to it and I cannot liken the sound to any other
artist or even put it in a genre. Jhene uses lyrical content that typically you
would hear from male artists, singing, ‘Can I hit it again’, ‘Gotta get this
paper’ and ‘We Should Just get Naked’, which adds to her individuality as she
brings an undeniable assertiveness on her tracks.

Production on the EP is flawless, all tracks except one owing credits to the still relatively unheard of duo, ‘Fisticuffs’
who have so far worked almost exclusively with Miguel and Jhene I cant wait to
hear more tracks from these guys!

When I listened to the EP the most overriding impression I
was left with is that I was listening to an artist; this woman clearly knows
exactly the type of music she wants to make and is making it refusing  to adhere to genres or stereotypes. ‘Stay
Ready’ is my favourite track on ‘Sail Out’ and it takes a superior level of
confidence  to record a track as a new
artist with the hottest name in hip hop; Kendrick Lamar. The track is stunning;
lyrically and musically complex, changing tempo and sound half way through and
at 6 minutes long Jhene risks some DJs not giving it radio air time which again
just reinforces the confidence she has in her creativity.

This alluring EP is a must listen for any soul / neo-soul /
RnB or hip hop fans. Jhene’s style is so unique that I think it will divide
listeners; you’ll either love it or not really get it, but if you don’t get it
I would challenge you to not acknowledge her talent and artistry. I cant wait
for her album to drop next year, bringing this level of talent to the table on
a first EP is an exceptional achievement and something tells me this is just a
small sample of what Jhene Aiko is capable of!

Carly – ann (@CarlyMond)

Jhene Aiko – The Worst


 

 

 

 

So you may not of heard of Kane YET but trust me, you need to get to know, cos this 17 year old is coming with a R&B banger!

The video for ‘Dreams’ (from his debut EP of the same name) was a great success & he’s looking to build on that with his newest release ‘Hard Headed‘. The song has a truly sick beat, cool vocals & a street sound that’s extremely catchy yet still has a fresh, underground feel to it. The track also features Shanna SongBird who adds another dimension without detracting from Kane’s stunning voice.

The video is set on the gritty streets of London & is shot in black & white to give it that honest, real-life feel. I’m loving the song & video so go check it out below. If you wanna hear more from this Chingford lad, then download his EP from Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/kaneofficial

Miss Jen (@MissJenOfficial)

Charlie Brown has made a big impact on the R&B scene since his debut single ‘Dependency’ back in December & he recently showed us just how far he’s come when his latest single ‘On My Way’ stormed into 7th place on the UK’s Official Chart.

The track has an uplifting, positive message that is highly relatable & that, combined with a catchy pop inspired sound, has surely been a major factor in its chart success.

Charlie is gearing up to drop his debut album this summer & the R&B world is eager to see what he will deliver. Will it be more of the same urban sounding pop tracks or will he showcase a smoother side with some soulful R&B? Personally I’d like to hear a mixture of styles on the album & I think he could easily pull off a true R&B track that could rival the best in the game.

Check out the acoustic version of ‘On My Way’ below & trust me when I say that you can’t help but be impressed by his vocal ability. This guy can really sing!

Miss Jen (@MissJenOfficial)

It’s been 3 years since his last release but McLean is finally back with his new street album ‘Digga’s House’ & it’s the perfect combo of smooth R&B & quality Hip-Hop vibes.

Every track is executed to a very high standard & the feel is predominately R&B. However there’s also some strong guest appearances from Ironik, Bigz, S.A.S & J2K & production comes in the form of Hip-Hop producer AYO.

After stepping out of the spotlight in 2010 to concentrate on writing, McLean has made a strong comeback & it’ll be interesting to see if he now gets a second chance to break into the mainstream scene.

Check out the video for ‘Where Have You Been’ featuring Bigz below & download ‘Digga’s House’ for free HERE

Miss Jen (@MissJenOfficial)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4uOed2Lhzg&sns=em

West London R&B artist Angel is back with his brilliant new mixtape ‘In Between Time‘ which showcases his writing, production & vocal skills to perfection.
The project see’s him link up with UK rappers Tinchy Stryder, Wiley & Giggs as he cleverly manages to combine an underground feel with noteworthy R&B beats which his Angelites will love. There’s even a reggae inspired track entitled ‘Knock Me Out’ proving his unique tone can work with more than just commercial sounding R&B tracks.
With his debut album ‘About Time‘ due for release in March, Angel shows us just what to expect with this slickly produced mixtape which is available to download for free here:- www.thisisangel.com
Yet again Angel demonstrates why he’s tipped to become a major star in the world of R&B.

Miss Jen
@MissJenOfficial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmpgTFeH6K4&sns=em

Soulful R&B songstress Juliyaa is making ‘waves’ right now with the release of her distinctive debut EP “Stars & Dragons”
The EP title represents her cultural heritage – the ‘Black Star’ of Ghana & the ‘Red Dragon’ of Wales. These influences shine through in her music & lyrics, giving you the perfect introduction to this fun-loving yet contemplative artist.
Juliyaa’s beautiful vocals & sublime harmonies unite with both lively Urban beats & more traditional soulful sounds to showcase her very own style that she calls ‘Rhythmic Soul’. The 6 track EP features notable production from UK beat-makers Basil Hanson, Antony On The Beat & Mo-Keyz.
The first single “Tidal Wave” has an energetic flavour, with crashing beats & dubstep elements which are delightfully refreshing to hear from a soul-inspired female singer. Download “Stars & Dragons” for free & take a look at the captivatingly cool video for “Tidal Wave” below.
Miss Jen (@MissJenOfficial)

Hey soulsters,
here’s a little something special i had the privilege of playing first on my R&B show a little way back.
The fantastic Bristolian singer /songwriter Tanya Lacey drops a smooth gem on em, recruiting the word skillz of Kano on the remix just to enhance what was already an absolute peach of a tune.
The video has now landed so check it and get ready to cop the single when it drops July 23rd
Blessness
RH