Soul Strutter: 07/05/21

As regular readers will know I do like a bit of occasional jazz and love the muted horn (which isn't anything to do with erectile dysfunction before anyone asks, and 'apparently😉' there's a blue pill you can take for that!).

This came out on 25 Jun 2021, but the original version was released a month earlier (14 May), but for me "Keyon's Cocktail Mix" is far superior, almost unrecognisable to the original (in YT clip below).

Samm Henshaw (Iniabasi Samuel Henshaw to be exact) is from South London and debuted in 2015 with an acclaimed EP "The Sound Experiment".

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dorm Seven
Cat No:	None
Year:	25/06/2021
Key/BPM:	4A/74
Value:	£1

Nao Yoshioka [2021] - Liberation (Philly Soul Sessions Ver.) [Sweet Soul Records]

Nao Yoshioka is a neo soul singer originally from Osaka, Japan, but is now based in New York.

She debuted in 2012 with a single "Make The Change" from her debut album "The Light" released the following year and has released five albums to date.

Her latest single was originally released in Aug 2019 but this is a new Philly Soul Session version released 18 Jun 2021 which is smoother version, but I think I actually prefer the original (also posted below).

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key/BPM:	6A/90 : 8A/90
Value:	£1

Raelle [2021] - Sunrise [Self Released]

I think I know a certain radio presenter who may love this! It's definitely a 'grower'.

Raelle is a 21 year old artist from South London. This is her second single this year ("Purple Skies" was featured here in March) and her fifth to date, having released three singles last year debuting with "Close To You" on 20 Mar 2020. All are pretty good so I've posted her full discography so far with "Sundown" being my favourite which is a nice stepper with jazz undertones.

I've also included a live video recorded in Jun which features "Purple Skies" along with two covers: Masked Wolf's "Astronaut in the Ocean" & Doja Cats "Streets", "Purple Skies" is the second song.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Year:	11/06/2021
Key/BPM:	7A/81
Value:	£1

Lady Wray [2021] - Games People Play [Big Crown]

The new single from Lady (Nicole) Wray should have an across the board appeal to lovers of both traditional and contemporary soul music. Released on 30 Jun 2021 on Big Crown. It's a new song and not the Joe South song of the same name recorded by the cast of hundreds.

Nicole Monique Wray was raised in Portsmouth, VA (born Salinas, Carolina) and was 'discovered' by Missy Elliot and debuted in 1998 with an album "Make It Hot" (under the moniker Nicole) from which she had a #2 R&B and #5 Hot 100 hit with the title track featuring Missy Elliott & Mocha.

She signed with Big Crown in 2016 changing her stage name to Lady Wray.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Big Crown
Cat No:	None
Year:	30/06/2021
Key/BPM:	3B/74
Value:	£1