Tonia Johnson Mays [2021] - The One [Self Released]

I'll stop saying this soon as it's becoming boring ... but yet another debut release. A self-written and self-released gospel/soul ballad from Tonia Johnson Mays titled "The One".

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Deep Soul / Gospel
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/08/2021
Key/BPM:	3B/74
Value:	£1

Italia [2021] - Drive Me Crazy [Self Released]

And still the debut releases come ... this time from  a blue-eyed (assuming that the cover photo is of her!) female vocalist going by the name Italia. What chance do I have of finding anything about her with that name? ... zero to none! .. so she will have to remain a mystery for now.

This is a sultry, moody, laid back neo soul ballad called "Drive Me Crazy" released on Friday (17 Sep 2021) which I quite like.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / Blue Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/09/2021
Key/BPM:	7A/54
Value:	£1

Hal Mingo Project [2021] - I've Got So Much To Give [Self Released]

Yet another newcomer! Hal Mingo Project Feat. Elle_bi (aka Lorena Bianchi) with a homage to a lesser known Barry White hit from 1973 "I've Got So Much To Give" which was sandwiched between "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby" and "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" the same year. It's not a straight cover, but rather 'influenced by'. I've included the Barry White song below for comparison.

I believe they are from Italy .. and how do I think that ... because when I went onto their YouTube channel it asked me if I wanted to translate from Italian to English .. which is also where I discovered that Elle_bi is Lorena Bianchi which is also a bit of a giveaway ... what a genius!

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Details

Rating:	8.1
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/09/2021
Key/BPM:	6A/116
Value:	£1

John White [2021] - (Can't) Get You Out of My System [Orpheus Enterprises]

John White's one and only album "Night People", originally released in 1987 by Geffen, has just received a digital reissue on 14 Sep 2021. Several of the tracks, to these ears I'm afraid, haven't stood the test of time but a few of the ballads have.

"(Can't) Get You Out of My System" was his only chart outing reaching #27 on US R&B charts which was coupled with the album's title track "Night People". The other tracks worthy of mention are "Don't Let It Be Too Late" and "Mood for Love". The up-tempo 80s dancer "Fooled Around (And Fell In Love)" (which is not the Elvin Bishop song from 1976) still stands up.

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Details

Rating:	8
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Orpheus Enterprises
Cat No:	None
Date:	14/09/2021
Value:	£7.92

David Michael Wyatt [2021] - THE REPRISE [The Good Stewards Collective] (Full EP)

"THE REPRISE" would appear to be the debut EP (released 17 Sep 2021) from Houston, TX, based gospel singer David Michael Wyatt, although he is not a new artist as he has a page on Discogs with listings for appearances on other's recordings dating back to 2015 including being featured on a Kenny Lattimore's Christmas album in 2016.

"Prosper" is a contemporary deep gospel ballad which is the 'real deal' which I would have thought was ripe for an airing on Mr. Merry's Soul Sermon show, it if hasn't been featured already?

The rest of the EP is in a similar vein, but this, for me, is the outstanding track.

To confuse the issue, "Prosper" was recorded by Tobe Nwigbe in 2019 and featured David Michael Wyatt which is totally unrecognisable to David Michael Wyatt's new version that is tagged as "DMW Edition".

Tobe Nwigbe featured on the blog in Feb with a cover of HM & The Blue Notes "Wake Up Everybody" on which he jokingly refers to himself as Tobe Pendegrass & The Mint Notes. If you watch the video for it closely you will notice David Michael Wyatt on background vocals.

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Details

Rating:	9
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul /Gospel
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	The Good Stewards Collective
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/09/2021
Key/BPM:	4A/91
Value:	£4.95

Blair Perkins [2021] - Good (Blair Perkins LP) [Bavaria Entertainment]

You will instantly recognise the sample in this (Teena Marie "De Ja Vu (I've Been Here Before)" written by Rick James from her 1979 debut album "Wild And Peaceful" for any who don't!).

"Good" is taken from Blair Perkins' debut, self-titled album released on Friday (17 Sep 2021).

He is a new artist from L.A. who, to date, has released two singles, both this year and both appear on the album ('Bout It, Bout It" and "Care 4 Me").

The majority of the album leans more towards R&B so I have chosen just to feature this track. 

I have also posted Teena Marie's superb original if you haven't had the privilege of listening to it before. I posted the full "Wild And Peaceful" album to commemorate the tenth anniversary of her departure in early January and also did a tribute to her when she died in 2010 on, the now archived, Modern Soul blog which was imported here last year.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul / R&B / Sample
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Bavaria Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/09/2021
Key/BPM:	11B/79
Value:	£1

Ana [2021] - Let Me Fall [Self Released]

What, I suspect, is a debut single from Ana (aka Anacaona Joseph) as I can't find anything else by her nor any information about her.

"Let Me Fall" was released on 18 Sep 2021 which is a self-written, mellow, semi-acoustic neo soul ballad. I detect a hint of an accent in her vocals, which I would guess is Spanish from her  name, so that may narrow down her country of origin to Spain or more likely Latin America? (but of course I could be completely wrong!)

UPDATE

Just received a comment which states that Ana is French Canadian, so I was 'completely wrong' as I was guessing purely by the name Anacaona being of Hispanic origin. So, thanks to 'Nope' for leaving comment .. any further info would be welcomed.

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/09/2021
Key/BPM:	N/A
Value:	£1

Una Rams & Langa Mavuso [2021] - next2me [Self Released]

Una Rams (aka Unarine Rambane) is a South African singer from Thohoyandou (north east of SA) who released his debut album ("hold me when it's cold: a mixtape") on 27 Aug 2021. The standout track from it is "next2me" which was also released as a single on 6 Aug. It features Langa Mavuso (aka Nkosinathi Nhlakanipho) who is a singer from Johannesburg who emerged in 2016.

This one is real grower! It reminds me of something/someone else which I can't quite put my finger on at the moment, but will hopefully come to me. I initially thought perhaps Samm Henshaw but I don't think that's what it is so I'll have another think! In the meantime if you have a suggestion then by all means leave a comment.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single / Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	06/08/2021 / 27/08/2021
Key/BPM:	4A/45 (Tunebat states 89 but it's actually half that!)
Value:	£1