Rita Ray [2021] - Love Ain't The Same [Funk Embassy]

Blue-eyed Estonian soul from Rita Ray. I heard her debut album (released in Nov 2019) and raved on it at the time so will add a link to it.  Don't 'sleep' on it as it is a tremendous album.

This is her first release (12 Mar 2021) since that album, having released two singles from it ('Fool For Loving You' & 'Lover Man') prior to the release of the album.

This is going straight into 'The Dirty Dozen' pile this week as quality always surfaces to the top!  A wonderfully soulful retro tune.  Her voice is incredible, ranging from sutry and smokey to sweet and melodic on a well crafted song. Easily one of the best tunes of the year so far with a cool vintage/retro video to go with it driving, what looks like, a 1970s Lincoln Continental Coupe (Mark IV as a guess) and inserting an 8 track cartridge!

Listen to Full Album 'Old Love Will Rust' released 15 Nov 2019 here.

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Here's a few tracks from her debut album 'Old Love Will Rust' to give you a flavour of what to expect. I hope you'll agree that each one is exceptional and she wrote, composed, arranged and produced the whole album herself.  I certainly hope there is a new album in the offing!

Little Girl (Live)

Fool For Loving You

Oh Honey (Live)

How Much Can A Small Heart Take? (Live)

Old Love Will Rust (Live)

Disco Stu (Live)

Details

Rating:	9.2
Genre/Style:	Retro Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy
Cat No:	None
Year:	12/03/2021
Key:	3B
BPM:	62
Value:	£1

Hadiya George [2021] - Hot Flavor (Godmode Smash Bros Remix) [The Remedy Project]

A new single from Atlanta,GA singer/songwriter Hadiya George released 12 Mar 2021 with several mixes. The mix I've selected is the 'Godmode Smash Bros Remix' which gives, what is essentially an R&B track, a disco vibe.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul/R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	The Remedy Project (Defected)
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	5A
BPM:	102
Value:	£1

Paul Simpson Connection [2021] - Treat Her Sweeter (DR. Packer Remix) [Easy Street]

A Dr. Packer remix of Paul Simpson Connection's 1985 boogie/funk jam 'Treat Her Sweeter' was released 19 Feb 2021.

Details

Rating:	7.2
Genre/Style:	Disco Funk/Boogie
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Easy Street
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	7A
BPM:	117
Value:	£1

Funky French League, Young Pulse Feat. Natasha Watts [2021] - Keep the Fire Burning [Self Released]

Yet another cover version of a disco/club classic. This time it's a cover of Gwen McCrae's 'Keep The Fire Burning' from 1982 (written by Willie Hutch) by an outfit calling themselves Funky French League & Young Pulse (DJ/producer from Paris) featuring UK singer Natasha Watts

It features on a six track EP 'Love Will Bring' released 5 Mar 2021.  It is essentially three tracks, each having a full length version and a radio edit.

Listen to Full EP here.

Details

Rating:	7.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Disco/Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	8B
BPM:	118
Value:	£1

ZENESOUL Feat. Aaron Ridge [2021] - Love And Be Loved [Self Released]

This may have come out as a single in Nov last year, but seems to be being re-promoted with a new live acoustic video published 2 Mar 2021.

I'll post the recorded and the live version as the live version's sound level is quite low.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	02/032021
Key:	7B
BPM:	106 (NB I counted 36/58)
Value:	£1

3TOB Feat. Dave Hollister [2021] - Golden Time of Day [Ambitious]

Dave Hollister features on a new single by 3TOB with a good cover version of Maze's 1978 classic 'Golden Time Of Day' the title track of an album and also released as a single.

3TOB is Tony Toni Ton'e's original band.  Elijah EB Baker, Carl Wheeler, Antron Haile, John Jubu Smith and Amar Khalil.

Ambitous records is owned by band member Elijah Baker.

Details

Rating:	8.7
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul/70s Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Ambitious
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	9B
BPM:	95
Value:	£1

ZENESOUL [2021] - That Love [Brown Shuga Inc.]

Nigerian born artist now living in Brampton, Canada has just released her new single (12 Mar 2021). 

Also, just published is, a live video of a track from featuring Aaron Ridge which I actually prefer to this one and will post separately. She also appeared on THEHONESTGUY's album 'Love Songs For No One' which I featured in Feb.

She released an album 'Coffee' last year  (27 Aug 2020) and a five track EP 'Worth' in 2019.

Listen to Full Album 'Coffee' here.

Listen to Full EP 'Worth' here.

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Details

Rating:	7.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Brown Shuga Inc.
Cat No:	None
Year:	12/03/2021
Key:	3A
BPM:	74
Value:	£1

Maiya Blaney [2021] - Something Bout U [NTL]

Maiya Blaney from Brooklyn, NY, releases her fifth single on 5 Mar 2021 which is a laid back and mellow neo soul tune.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	NTL
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	4A
BPM:	62
Value:	£1

Paige Pascal [2021] - Improve [Self Released]

Debut solo single from UK singer Paige Pascal, released 16 Mar 2021. She has appeared as featured artist on a couple of singles such as Fiest 'Insane For Love' and Volt 'Are You Down' neither of which are appropriate for this blog as they are hip-hop/R&B tunes.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	16/03/2021
Key:	7A
BPM:	59
Value:	£1

Misha, Kaisha, cocabona, Ian Ewing [2021] - Good Together [Sundae Sauuce]

The second single (released 10 Mar 2021) from (Mike) Misha taken from a forthcoming EP  'Gusto'. The first was released in Feb called 'Roadblock' featuring Danny Polo on vocals.

Misha is half Finnish and half Ukrainian Hip-hop/R&B producer based in Helsinki, Finland. He released his producer debut 'Feel' in May 2018. After a couple of releases via Chillhop he reelased his debut EP 'Midnight Sun'.

Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul/R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sundae Sauuce
Cat No:	None
Year:	10/03/2021
Key:	10A
BPM:	113 (NB I counted 85!)
Value:	£1