Hiatus Kaiyote "Tawk Tomahawk"

I'd like to thank the good people at Moovmnt for introducing me to this KILLER debut album from a newly formed band in Melbourne. Comprised of singer, songwriter Nai Palm, keyboardist Simon Mavin, bassist Paul Bender & drummer Perrin Moss, Hiatus Kaiyote craft a glorious blend of pretty much everything; soul, jazz, rock, classical, hip hop beats, dubstep & beyond. But no schizophrenia here, This album flows effortlessly. Check it out.

Ya'koob "Fleeting Physical" feat. Bilal Salaam

Really dope electrosoul track from Kuwait based musician, producer, emcee Ya'koob of Army Of One featuring the wonderful pen & vocal from DC native, singer Bilal Salaam. Check it out & get the free download.

Kendra Morris "If You Didn't Go"

Nice work from blue eyed soul sensation Kendra Morris. "If You Didn't Go" slows the pace into a deeper & lush string laden ballad done late 60's early 70's style. This serves as the second single from her upcoming album "Banshee" coming out thru Wax Poetics label in June. Purchase the 7" on Wax Poetics site & the digital on iTunes.

Being Bilal

While in ATL for his electrifying show with Hot Ice Live, Bilal shot the first installment of his short film series, "Being Bilal". This installment capture him during his in-store meet & greet and interview at Moods Music as well as footage from the live show. If you know Bilal, you know he holds nothing back. Check it out!

Sonnymoon "Wild Rumpus"

Sonnymoon encourages you to contact your animal side with Wild Rumpus, their second single off of their upcoming eponymous LP. As the title suggests, this cut questions what separates Human from Animal. it opens like the dawn with the morning sun, bright and boisterous, with the energy of a gang of thirsty animals at a watering hole. Forget your responsibilities and dance around like a fool for 4 minutes and 51 seconds, after which we promise you will feel more alive." Dane & Anna.
Purchase the limit 7" here  or get the digital on iTunes.

Sonnymoon - Wild Rumpus Single by Plug Research

Shafiq Husayn "Loop Series" Demos III & IV

Shafiq Husayn & Dove Society released the third & fourth installments in the Loop Demo series. In Demo III, we once again catch the producer working on a KILLER tune with Miguel Atwood Ferguson laying down strings with his Sa-Ra partner OmMas Keith on the boards. Demo IV follows singer Jimetta Rose from her job at Amoeba Records to the studio as well hear the tune "Emerald Fields" from the album. Check em out.

THEESatisfaction "QueenS" OFFICIAL VIDEO

Seattle based duo THEESatisfaction released the first video from their debut album "awE naturalE" on SubPop. Directed by Dream Hampton, the video see the duo & other beauties celebrating & rejoicing in their "Queen-dom". Check it out!

Dezaray Dawn "Over It"

GA based Dezaray Dawn released the first glimpse into her upcoming album "The Dawning" with the broken soul groover "Over It", her proclamation that she moving on from wrong doing. Check it out & get the free download.

B.jamelle "Adam Even"

DMV chanteuse B.jamelle's musical offering for the month of April is the slow grinding sexy groover "Adam Even" producer again by Slimkat 78 (Mello Music Group, 78er's). Temptation at its finest.

BadBadNotGood "BBNG2"

BadBadNotGood is a Toronto based jazz funk band consisting of Matt Tavares on keys, Chester Hansen on bass, and Alex Sowinski on drums. All under the age of 21, the trio has been blazing a trail with their funky jazz renditions of hiphop songs & beyond including the music of Dilla, Odd Future, Gucci Mane, Kanye West & James Blake. Recently, they played Coachella & are currently collaborating with Frank Ocean. Their latest album, BBNG2 is available for free in every digital format at http://badbadnotgood.com/.

Wes Felton "Handle With Care"

DC based renaissance man W. Ellington Felton is back with his eclectic blend of soul, hiphop & jazz funk that make you groove, headnod, chill & think with lyrics of love, inner turmoil & social injustices . "Handle With Care" is complete with guest features from some of the DMV underground elite including Bilal Salaam, Kaimbr, Uptown X.O., Zach Cutler, JSoul & more.



Darryl Reeves "Mercury"

One of my most anticipated releases of 2012 is the long awaited album from ATL based saxophonist & producer Darryl Reeves. It's been 8 years since his debut album "Diary of a Bandstand" & the new album "Mercury" was well worth the wait. With him on sax & his trio Kenny Banks (keys), Joel Powell (bass) & Kenton Bostick (drums), the four craft a superb album of 70's inspired yet modernly fresh soulful afrojazz funk with a hint of hiphop. Warm, funky & at times spiritual. "Mercury" features an awesome cast of guest artist including singers Valencia Robinson, Carmen Rodgers, Gwen Bunn, trumpeter Dashill SunnovahKind Smith & saxophonist Kebbie Williams. Check out his funky rendition of the Donald Byrd / Mizell Bros. classic "Think Twice" featuring Valencia Robinson & emcee D-Focis & prepare to fall in love on April 20th! For more info, go to http://www.darrylreeves.com/.

Moodymann "Picture This"

Detroit techno & electrofunk legend Moodymann released a stunner of a 8 tracker for free download via ScionAV featuring his classic blend of soulful house, electro boogie, jazz & minimal techno including the jazz "U Runaway" that recalls his classic "Black Mahogani". Get the download here.

Full Crate & Jesse Boykins III "Her Throne" & "See With Me"

Dutch producer Full Crate & singer Jesse Boykins III teamed up & created two awesome electric soul tunes, the topsy turvy ballad "Her Throne" & the electric midtempo groover "See With Me". More than likely you'll hear both of these tunes on the most popular podcasts & internet radio stations all summer. Purchase them on iTunes.

"Her Throne"


"See With Me"

Jose James "Strange Fruit (for Trayvon Martin)"

While doing his show, "Yesterday I Had the Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday" live in AB Brussels, velvet voiced Jose James dedicated his rendition of Billie's brooding classic "Strange Fruit" to the memory of Trayvon Martin. It's scary how befitting this song is to that situation.

Thundercat "Walkin' (Official Video)"

Bassist Thundercat, who's album "The Golden Age Of Apocalypse" topped everyone's Best Album of 2011 list, finally released a video for the tune "Walkin'" & it is as wacky as you would expect it to be with a colorful cast that includes Taz Arnold, Miguel, J*Davey, his brother Ronald Bruner, pornstar Havana Ginger and his Brainfeeder crew Austin Peralta & Flying Lotus who neutrilizes him in the end with his eye laser beams lol. Yeah it's wacky!

Ayah & Slakah "Keep Up"

Canadian sensations Ayah & Slakah the Beatchild team up once again to create a beautiful and breezy piece of dance floor soul for your listening pleasure. "Keep Up" is 9+ minutes of killer pulsating & almost minimal soulful house madness with just a drum track, key stabs & subliminal vocals urging you to catch them if you can. Pure fire! Get it below!

Leroge Marzbot "Best Friend"

Digging this jazzy keys & drum driven track from singer Leroge Marzbot about the complication of being caught in the middle of friendship & a relationship.

"A song inspired by my best friend. Ever had a close relationship with someone of the opposite sex; & the person you're in a relationship feels threatened? My best friend is like a sister to me. She's been there, & always will be, so I decided to put it in song & further explain the dimensions. Hopefully plenty can relate"

Best Friend by Leroge

Analogue Monsta "Time To"

Great debut video from singer Suzi Analogue & producer TOKiMONSTA. As Analogue Monsta, the two are combining their love for genre defying, foward thinking electro-madness with this colorful & trippy video that morphs into an awe inspiring animation. Check it out.

Grooveman Spot Trio "Too Awakening"

Beat conductor Grooveman Spot is back on the scene with this awesome 24 minute beat tape of jazzy headnodding madness inspired by Ahmad Jamal's "Awakening" (hense the cover art). Check it out!

Zara McFarlane Limited Edition 7"

To celebrate National Record Store Day on April 21st, Brownswood Recordings will drop a limited edition 7" from UK chanteuse Zara McFarlane. The A side will be her whimsically haunting tune "More Than Mine"from her debut album "Until Tomorrow". The B side will feature an awesome mash-up taking the vocals her tune "Chiaroscuro" and placing them over the funky spiritual groove of "Lions of Judah" (recently reimagined by Emanative & Ahmed Abdullah for The Steve Reid Foundation). Check out the stream below & SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RECORD STORE ON APRIL 21st.

Will Sessions "Funky 45's"

Detroit's mighty Will Sessions (Elzhi "Elmatic") released a series of funky 45's that can be purchased thru their bandcamp page. Four 45's total complete with old school funk inspired grooves, breaks & reggae dub tunes including tunes they produced for Rickey Calloway & Marcelo De Luca!

Missoless feat Erik Rico "Under The Sun"

Killer future soul from Moscow born French based producer, musician Missoless featuring lyrics & vocals from LA based singer, producer Erik Rico released on her own label Manyvibes Music. Check out the beautiful visual to accompany the track & get the full ep complete with remixes as well as on her label website  or on Traxsource. Also, check out much of her amazing previous work on her Soundcloud page.

Erimaj "Live At The Loft"

Check out this amazing live performance from the NY based band Erimaj lead by drummer Jamire Williams & featuring singer Chris Turner (Bilal, Esperanza Spalding) recorded at a killer "Live At The Loft" show days after Valentine Day. A party so hot the police came & shut it down.

ERIMAJ - Social Life from LIVE AT THE LOFT on Vimeo.

Ntjam Rosie "L' Amour" (Rob Manga's Goodsoul Mix)

Dutch singer Ntjam Rosie, who's album "Elle" made top 5 on my Best Of 2011 list, is now gearing up for the April 20th release of  "Live At Grounds" , a cd / dvd combo of her mesmerizing live show. In celebration & as a gift to her fans, she teamed up with DJ Rob Manga to bring this banging afrohouse remix of her French love song "L'Amour". Get the free download below & preorder "Live At Grounds" here.

Leon Ware Feat. Quadron "Orchids For The Sun"

Not many has had a more influential or lasting career in soul music quite like legendary singer, songwriter & producer Leon Ware. Having written & produced some of soul music's most classic tunes including hits for Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and many more. Also not being a stranger to the new wave of soul working in the 90's with artist including Maxwell, Zhane & Omar to recently with international sensations like Jazzanova & Liquid Spirits. So it is no surprise that the Danish duo Quadron showed up on his radar.  Upon moving to LA, Mr. Ware got the duo into the studio to come up with this beautiful sunshine filled tune "Orchids For The Sun" that recalls his work with Marvin & Marcos Valle. This tune is scheduled for release on 12" sometime this month!

Columbia Nights "Feel"

The excitement is building as we are getting closer to hearing a project we predict will be on our Best of 2012 music list. Record Breakin' Music released the next download from the soul trio Columbia Nights. This time they move into jazzier territory with an amazing rework of George Duke's 70's classic "Feel".

“George Duke has been an inspiration to our ears for some time. His mid-70s fusion period, brought to us by pioneering jazz label MPS, gave us classic records like The Aura Will Prevail, Liberated Fantasies, and Feel. These gems all spent plenty of time on the turntable as we crafted our EP over the past year. As Duke made the leap from sideman and session musician to groundbreaking bandleader and producer, his first solo projects represented a striking new approach to jazz, funk, and R&B. Lush pads, warm Rhodes, and far-out lead synths (not to mention incomparable keyboard chops) are just some of his signature sounds that have influenced our approach to production.

The Feel LP also represents one of Duke’s first efforts with a lyrical focus, and the album’s title track sees the instrumentalist offering wisdom through beautifully arranged, ethereal harmonies that resonate with the spirit of Columbia Nights. His message of transcendent love is one that we live by, and we hope that our re-imagining of Feel inspires you to do the same. ” – Columbia Nights

Athalia "Black Rainbows"

Killer work from up & coming Melbourne singer Athalia. Cosmic & somewhat glitchy electrosoul with production from the Zurich dynamic duo Jazzo & Melodiesinfonie. "Black Rainbow" is a free download to get us excited & ready for the release of the full project "ThoughtCrime" on May 14th & it certainly has.

Seven Davis Jr "Lo-Fi Vintage"

After a brief hiatus from music & the boards, producer Seven Davis Jr returns with his signature blend of electrofunk & spaced out otherwordliness.

Fayth Hope "Out Of Obscurity, Pt. I: From The Darkness..."

We first told you about Birmingham singer Fayth Hope back in 2010 with her single "Truly Deeply Madly". At last, the now GA based singer releases the first installment of her full project. "Out Of Obscurity, Pt. I: From The Darkness..." sees the singer / poet continue her soulful groove with joints ranging from headnodding to headbanging including the remix of her first single by Pittsburgh producer BusCrates. Check it out & purchase below.

Miles Bonny x B. Lewis "Egg Black"

SOUNDROTATION favs Miles Bonny & B. Lewis finally released their collaboration EP "Egg Black". Killer grooves from funky electrosoul, experimental to headnodders filled with jazziness.

B.jamelle "Marsy Muse"

DMV chanteuse & SOUNDROTATION fav B.jamelle is back with another slice of hotness with the mellow groover "Marsy Muse" produced by Slimkat 78. Quite sexy tune about letting go & giving in. Get the download at a name your price option. (Again, don't be cheap).

Insightful "Feather'd Son"

Amazing new trippiness from San Diego beat craftsman Insightful. Creative & edgy experiments in hiphop & sound. Available as a free download!

Also check out the visual for the track "Space Tea"
 

The Seshen

Great debut album from the Bay Area based band The Seshen who's blend of soul, hip hop, lounge, electronica & pop with jazzy vocals has garnered them comparisons to the likes of Little Dragon, Quadron etc.