In this time of political unrest, racial strife, and pandemic, soul and R&B walked tall and carried a big stick, while also being a much needed balm and source of warmth in 2020.
What It Is, the new album from multi-instrumentalist, producer, and Quantic collaborator Sly5thAve, represents a triumph of musicianship over genre conventions.
Flõstate are an electrosoul duo comprised of producer MKSTN and singer-songwriter Avery Florence that create a mesmerizing downtempo number with "Home Ground".
PopMatters Picks Playlist features the electropop of WEIRDO, Brooklyn chillwavers Psychobuildings, the clever alt-pop of Lili Pistorius, visceral post-punk from Sapphire Blues, Team Solo's ska-pop confection, and dubby beats from Ink Project.
PopMatters Picks Playlist features the electropop of Bamboo Smoke, LIA ICES' stunning dream folk, Polish producer SOUNDQ, the indie pop of Pylon Heights, a timely message from Exit Kid, and Natalie McCool's latest alt-pop banger.
New Zealand dance producer Sola Rosa teams with rising soul singer Thandi Phoenix for the upbeat, discofied, joyful, and positive "Something Good".
Electro/hip-hop producer, Gromo teams with pop/R&B singer Rhea Raj for a beat-filled, Latin- and Indian-influenced electrosoul stunner, the winning "Slowly".
St. South has released a debut album full of raw emotions and intimate bedroom pop. Get Well Soon is a loose concept record about a breakup and the variety of responses it produces.
Berlin's Ay Wing creates a late summer anthem with her latest electrosoul single, "Antidote".
Carnival beats and textures drive the upbeat party atmosphere on DJ Zinc and Kudu Blue's new single, "Out of Control".
Gogol Bordello/Dälek collaborator Tobi has shared the stage with everyone from Green Day to Danzig and now steps out with a deeply personal collection of songs, Puzzle Pieces.
On What's Your Pleasure, Jessie Ware returns to where it all began, the dance floor.
British diva Jessie Ware cooks up a glittery collection of hedonistic disco tracks and delivers one of the year's best records with What's Your Pleasure.
The new debut from producers Lazerbeak and ICETEP, Night Stone offers dance and electrosoul that harkens back to the depths of a club that, for now, is largely inaccessible.
British producer SOULS and R&B/hip-hop artist RoRo team up for the hip-hoppy electrosoul of "Glory".
Hold Space for Me, the debut album from Orion Sun, is an accomplished blend of soul and R&B, with a little hip-hop thrown in as well.
New York musical omnivore Anda spins some delicious, mellow electrosoul on "Blinded". It's also the title tune from her new EP, releasing this Friday.
Electrosoul group the Seshen's "Faster Than Before" offers psychological depths over sensational electronic sonics.
London-based Afrofuturist band, ONIPA frame discussions of humanity within a pan-African sonic context on their brilliant debut, We No Be Machine.
San Francisco alt-R&B/electropop group, the Seshen tie musical and emotional threads together beautifully on Cyan.
South London's MEI shares her brilliant new single for "DIM: Don't Ignore Me", which showcases her intriguing blend of electronic, hip-hop, and soul. MEI is truly an artist to watch.
Atlanta's Sequoyah Murray has delivered one of the best albums of 2019 with his extraordinary debut Before You Begin.
On her first full album Athena, Sudan Archives is soulful, surreal, and makes music on her own distinct and magnificent terms.
Up now on Brits in Hot Weather, we have swaggering alt-pop from Pelicandy, rousing indie from Chay Snowdon, electrifying synth-rock from former Wild Beasts co-vocalist Tom Fleming, the melodic electronics of GLOWS, and the brooding debut single from Baby Taylah.
Friendly Fires' first album in eight years, Inflorescent, brings the band's poppy, vibrant sensibilities to their full blast, a euphoria people definitely need in 2019.
Producer Ekiti Sound debuts with an ultra-modern take on Nigerian traditions old and new on the eclectic Abeg No Vex.
Electropop's Ruby the Rabbitfoot delves even deeper into R&B on her latest tune "Raw Plate of Expectations", creating an infectious bit of electrosoul.
How do you navigate the personal murk of every day, or in the political climate that hates you? Blood Orange's Angel's Pulse is a "mixtape" that sounds like how it might feel to live underwater.
Peter Ibbetson strips away the more soulful electronic elements and softens the edges of Harlequiin's "Eat Me Up Astoria", immersing the track in a hazy, digital mist.
Seattle producer Spekulation's "Oh Grow Up" has all the joyful bounce and animated sparkle of the best summer tunes.
South Africa's Seba Kaapstad have created a deep musical statement in Thina, in which music, lyrics, and performance interact in a way that will wash over you and leave you feeling musically and emotionally refreshed if you let it.
South Africa's Okzharp and Manthe Ribane have perfected a soulful and spare electrosoul sound that's instantly memorable and meaningful.
Today begins our new regular guide to the best new music coming out of the UK. The first edition features Tirzah, Immersion, Sorry, Thyla, and Barbudo.
With the help of Loyle Carner's laid-back rapping and some well-placed horns and handclaps, Tom Misch brings us the chill-out track we need to make it through the end of winter.
Electropop artist SOHN shares two new stunning songs ahead of his upcoming European tour.
Is Rudimental's "These Days" the next great summer jam or is it just treacly sentimentality? Our writers debate...
Soulful balladeer Reigen reminds us that sometimes not knowing is a real place to start understanding.
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