Soul Strutter: September 2023

Saturday, 30 September 2023

Will Downing [2023] - What Part of My Love [Sophisticated Soul] PROMO

Ahead of his two UK appearances, The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, Mr Will Downing releases a new single, "What Part of My Love" on Monday (2 Oct).

It's a cool mid-tempo, grown up, stepper co-written with, and produced by, Hubert Eaves IV and is a sure-fire winner.

He will be appearing in the UK with Maysa on the following dates:

Mon 23 Oct (19:00–22:30) - O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London

Tue 24 Oct (19:00–22:30) - Band on the Wall, Manchester

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Sophisticated Soul
Cat No:	None
Date:	02/10/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/97
Price:	£1

Cleo Sol [2023] - Gold [Forever Living Originals] (Full Album)

Having been relatively quiet on the release front for the last two years, London's Cleo Sol delivered a new album, "Heaven", only two weeks ago on 15 Sep, so it was quite a big surprise to discover another, "Gold", released on 29 Sep.

We said that "Heaven" (which was her first release since "Mother" in Aug '21) was a strong set with at least six standout tracks from the album's nine tracks but wait until you listen to "Gold". It's outstanding and grabs you from the beginning and never lets up. It would be churlish to, and we couldn't anyway, select the standouts, just start from the beginning and listen through to the end. Some may label this as neo soul but it is just pure soul and doesn't need a label as we'd describe it more as traditional soul than neo soul.

We also stated earlier when we posted the new Jaszy Shaver album ("Voyage To Surrender") that it was a candidate for album of the year from a neo soul artist but has stiff completion from this one.

Cleo Sol (Cleopatra Nikolic) is from Ladbroke Grove, West London born to a Jamaican father and Serbian/Spanish mother who debuted in 2011 with "High". The latest album is now her fourth.

We suspect, as is often the case, DJs will pick up on the more uptempo track "Life Will Be" and ignore the ballads which would be a shame!

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Forever Living Originals
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/09/2023
Price:	£7.99

Amaria [2023] - Day By Day A COLORS SHOW [COLORSxSTUDIOS]

L.A. based Amaria (McGee) from Tampa, FL, debuted in 2021 with a single called "Morning" and followed it up with "Waiting". Since then she released another six singles before her debut album "Bittersweet" in Aug '21.

After another three singles in 2022/23 she released her second album "All For You" in Apr '23 which included all three singles "All For You", "Get Away" and "Secrets" (music video for all three included below).

Her first release since then is a COLORS SHOW performance of "Day By Day" released on 29 Sep.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	COLORSxSTUDIOS
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/09/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/95
Price:	£1

Princess [2023] - Say I'm Your No. 1 (Tony King's 5 Years On 12" Mix) [BMG]

We've had unissued Prince song ("Get Blue") earlier and now a reissue and remix from Princess (Desiree Heslop) who had a UK Top 10 pop hit in Aug/Sep 1985 with "Say I'm Your No. One".

The Stock Aitken & Waterman produced song has been remixed and is from a forthcoming compilation "PWL Extended: Vols. 1 & 2"' available on 2x double LP, 3CD and digital.

Prior to going it alone, Princess sang with Osibisa in the 70s before touring as a background vocalist with several artists. She recorded a third album which was scheduled for release in 1990 but was never released. After the death of her mother and assassination of her brother she retired from music and moved to the US between 1991-2003 at which time she returned both to England and music.

In 2014 she released her third album "The Emergence" .. but surely should have been called "The Re-Emergence" with it being her first album in 27 years?

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	80s Soul / Remix
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	BMD
Cat No:	None
Date:	27/09/2023
Key/BPM:	10A/104
Price:	£1.29

Prince [2023] - Get Blue [NPG Records]

A fourth previously unreleased Prince song from a forthcoming reissue of Prince & The New Power Generation's "Diamonds and Pearls (Super Deluxe Edition)" is "Get Blue" which was pre-released on 29 Sep.

The 'core' album was reissued on 28 Sep with the Super Deluxe Edition full set slotted for 27 Oct. The CD/Blu-Ray set consists of 7 CDs and a Blu-Ray disc with the Vinyl edition consisting of 12 discs. The 75 song set contains 47 previously unreleased songs.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album Track
Media:	Digital
Label:	NPG Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/09/2023
Key/BPM:	2A/88
Price:	£1

Elena [2023] - Selfish [EDYONTHEBEAT]

Tongan singer Elena Latoa, from Central Auckland, has released her third single, "Selfish", on 29 Sep.

All three singles have been released this year. Her other two, "Ur Vibe" (Feb) and "Senses" (May), are also well worth having a listen to, so we've included them below.

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TBC

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	29/09/2023
Key/BPM:	3A/74
Price:	£1