London neo-soul artist Kianja follows an upbeat single with more introspection on the deeply affecting "In a Different Light".
In Jamila Woods' latest single "SULA (Paperback)", Toni Morrison and her 1973 novel of the same name are not static literary phenomena. They are an artist and artwork as galvanizing and alive as Woods herself.
It was fashionable to say R&B was dead in 2010 because it wasn't the commercial force it was in the late '80s and '90s. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Soul Motivators, one of Canada's leading funk bands, do the damn thing on their sophomore album. And they strongly encourage you to as well.
On Aloha, Son Little ponders the ambivalence of life and love, and decides he could be right. Or he could be wrong. Either way, the music is soulful and comforting.
Son Little finds commonalities across jazz, hip-hop, soul, R&B, and rock. His latest album grew out of a setback, but he created a stronger, simpler, more ruminative set of songs. Here he talks about creativity and obstacles and how they work together.
José James has a rich, velvety voice that simmers and smolders. He takes it easy in a seductive way. The vibe is romantic and sexy on No Beginning No End 2.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell re-imagined for 2020. SZA does most of the heavy lifting here, while Justin Timberlake busts a selection of moves in a charmingly self-deprecating way.
Texas artists Leon Bridges and Khruangbin create some mellow, cosmic soul on a delightful EP that shows off their respective strengths.
D'Angelo's Voodoo may well be the working blueprint for "post-Soul" black pop, but are pop fans ready to embrace more than the same five melodies and the same five bass-lines?
Chicago's Heazza proves deeply listenable on her six-song debut EP that alternately tears at the heart and heals it.
Chicago-based vocalist HEAZZA blends pop and neo-soul on her new single "The Dark". She discusses finding a song's emotional core.
On his first solo album in eight years, Raphael Saadiq proves the power of the personal narrative by placing personal tragedies in heartbreaking context.
London's Bryony Jarman-Pinto explores R&B, jazz, and Afropop in exhilarating fashion to create her unforgettable debut, Cage and Aviary.
High-energy single "All in Me" sees Japanese soul singer Nao Yoshioka get funky in the heart of Philly.
With its punchy beats and electrifying groove, DJ Chillz makes "1111 Accord" sound so effortless.
Origin is a rich, intoxicating listen that benefits from Jordan Rakei's clear, succinct vision. The desire to challenge himself to write a more thematic, conceptual album has encouraged Rakei to write more immediate, more impactful songs.
The Heavy's latest release, Sons, demonstrates that their musical trajectory is far more complicated and nuanced than what's been embraced by popular culture.
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.
Junius Meyvant's "Ain't Gonna Let You Drown" is a soulful love song that recalls the classic soul/R&B era.
Jamila Woods, herself, a poet, singer, activist, and teacher, casts Legacy! Legacy! as a beacon for a type of self-empowerment informed by the predecessors who built and shaped culture.
On While We Wait, Kehlani rests her case on the ins and outs of modern love on her latest project with defiant candor, featuring some of the freshest sonic accouterments millennial R&B has to offer.
As far as talent goes, Lion Babe boasts it in abundance, but originality remains in short supply on their sophomore album, Cosmic Wind.
London-based collective Nubiyan Twist lean toward neo-soul on Jungle Run, a style that tends to be a free-flowing mélange of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and electronics.
Danish R&B singer KING releases a fresh, playful slice of laid back neo-soul full of character as a taster for forthcoming debut EP.
Empress is brilliant. Ray BLK has earned a spot at the top of the R&B heap. Hand her the crown.
The second album from the unique New York jazz/pop/soul outfit GADADU is an odd – and oddly inviting – collection of songs that combine old-school tradition with new ideas.
Noname's Room 25 sees a brilliant writer finding her outlet, taking in the world around her, and spinning it into her own extraordinary web.
Noname's Room 25 is vintage neo-soul and future rap hand in hand; a soulful sanctuary for those turned off by the austerity of mainstream mumble rap.
The Internet's fourth album, their most focused if not their most compelling, is a distillation of everything that makes them so distinctively cool.
Even with its shallow letdowns, Janelle Monáe's Dirty Computer succeeds overall because it mostly delivers the same elements that made the Metropolis lineage soar.
One of the Bay Area's finest exports Monophonics offers up soulful covers of some classic tunes on their new EP.
At the peak of his powers, Justin Timberlake could probably get away with a confused backwoods-pop hybrid like this. As it stands, people are seeing it for what it is: the most misguided album of his career.
Curtis Harding combines sweet soul and a funky bass line to create a smooth confection that makes one want to dance, hug, and kiss.
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