Jazmine Sullivan [2021] - Amazon's 2021 "Represent the Future" Summit Performance [Live]

Whilst doing the last post for Ari Lennox, this popped up on my YouTube feed .. so why not?  It's a four track live studio performance by Jazmine Sullivan from 26 Aug 2021. 

It includes "Pick Up Your Feelings" (from "Heaux Tales" 2021), "Tragic" (her latest single), "Let It Burn" (from "Reality Show" 2014) and "Need U Bad" (her first single from "Fearless" 2008).

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Live
Media:	Digital
Label:	N/A
Cat No:	None
Date:	26/08/2021
Value:	N/A

Ari Lennox [2021] - Pressure [Dreamsville]

The latest single from Annie, oops I mean Ari Lennox is "Pressure" released on Friday (10 Sep 2021). I have to admit that it's not really my 'cup of tea' but was 'suggested' to me a certain radio presenter so I have dutifully posted it.  I guess it's one that grows on you after a few plays. It samples Shirley Brown's "Blessed Is The Woman (With A Man Like Mine)" from 1977. 

It seems that since Silk Sonic's video for "Leave The Door Open", 70s style music videos have become 'de rigueur', but how this tune 'qualifies' for a 70s style video is anyone's guess! There's even a homage to Donna Summer at 1:02!

She is from Washington D.C. and her real name is Courtney Shanade Salter and officially debuted in 2016 with an EP "Pho", although she self-released some material beforehand. Her debut, and only album thus far, "Shea Butter Baby" was released in 2019.

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Details

Rating:	7.4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Dreamsville
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/09/2021
Key/BPM:	8B/72
Value:	£1

Piper-Grace [2021] - Things Lovers Do [Cupid Entertainment]

A debut release from Piper-Grace who is from South West England (the second this week from that neck of the woods, the other being Webmoms). She states her influences are as diverse as Nina Simone and Rhianna and that she began singing aged 2!

"Things Lovers Do" was released on Friday (10 Sep 2021) which I would describe as R&B flavoured neo soul. 

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Cupid Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/09/2021
Key/BPM:	4A/87
Value:	£1

Harmony Devoe Feat. JaKeith [2021] - When U Fall Outta Luv [J3Lyricology]

Played as a breaker a few weeks ago (21 Aug) on the Global Soul chart show prior to release, the new single from Harmony Devoe Feat. JaKeith (aka Dwight Gifford / Dwightmusic)  "When U Fall Outta Luv" was released on Friday (10 Sep 2021). It comes with the original,  clean  (posted below) and an instrumental versions.

Harmony Devoe is from Detroit now living in Tampa, FL. She released a debut EP "Chronicles Of A Lyricist" in 2017.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	J3Lyricology
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/09/2021
Key/BPM:	8A/65
Value:	£1

Keisha Adams [2016] - The Platinum Vybe Years 1995-2000 (The Lost Masters) [Platinum Vybe Music] (Full Album)

This post was inspired by a tune from Keisha Adams played on Mark Merry's Soul Sermon show this week. I went looking for the track in question ("You Bring Out The Best In Me") and discovered that it is still available on a compilation "The Platinum Vybe Years 1995-2000 (The Lost Masters)"  (click album image below),

It's a stunning ballad/stepper from the 'flip' of a 1996 CD single "Love Don't Love You" released on Platinum Vybe. There were two versions "The Peaceful Mix" and the "LP Version". Whether or not the album materialised, I don't know, as it's not listed.

There's some other very nice tracks on the album, so I may as well post the full album.

I can't find anything else from her, although Spotify has a release called "Forgotten Part" with three tracks from the same year which doesn't sound like her and is almost certainly not the same artist.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Platinum Vybe Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	2016
Value:	£7.99

Poynt of Vu [2021] - There’s No One Like You [Self Released]

A song that's been doing the rounds in the last couple of weeks on a few radio programmes is a cover of The (Detroit) Spinner's "There’s No One Like You" (from "New And Improved" 1974) by Poynt of Vu who are music veterans Stephen Thomas, Daniel Porter and Byron Woods.

I first saw it / heard it via a SoulTracks SoundCloud 'exclusive' a few weeks back (21 Aug 2021) and have been waiting for it to be released but as yet have not found it available anywhere, so I don't think it has actually been officially released yet. If anyone knows otherwise then please leave a comment.

In the meantime it has been posted on YouTube.

Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/08/2021?
Value:	£unreleased?

Sophia Cruz [2021] - On My Mind [SOCLOSE] (Full EP)

Sophia Cruz appears to be a new artist who, apart from this six track EP "On My Mind" (released today 13 Sep 2021), has only one single "Just For You" to her name, which is included on the EP. 

There are at least a couple of other female artists with the same name who I believe are not the same artist, as this one is from Chicago who states that this is her debut EP, although she has some tracks on her YouTube channel from ten years ago.

This EP will no doubt split opinion with some thinking it's 'too white' sounding but I present it for your listening pleasure (or otherwise). Personally I think a lot of new neo soul material sounds a bit 'androgynous', meaning that you can't really tell whether a singer is black, or white or any other race, creed or colour for that matter as the vocals are quite 'samey' (i.e. wispy) .. and actually does it really matter? ... remember the Gordy label adage ... "it's what's in the grooves that count"!

I, like the next 'real soul' music lover, 'prefer' my music to be authentic, black and American but that doesn't, and shouldn't, preclude appreciating all flavours of 'soul' music. A case in point is the current selection of the week Down To Earth which is not black, not American and some may say not soul, but I like it and hopefully others will too!

Anyway, getting off the soapbox, the standout tracks, for me, are "Next Life" and "Another You". Whilst hunting for her facebook link I noticed that her single "Just For You" was played by Franklin Sinclair on The New Music Hour on 10 April 2020.

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	SOCLOSE
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/09/2021
Value:	£5.94