Soul Strutter: 07/30/23

Sunday, 30 July 2023

Sekou [2023] - Out Of Mind [Island Records] (Full EP)

Sekou Sylla is a new 18 year old London based singer originally from Ashby de la Zouch, Leics.

He debuted on 12 May with "Better Man" and followed it up with "Forgiving Myself" on 28 Jun, two days before both were included on his debut five track EP "Out Of Mind" (30 Jun).

He has a powerful and distinctive voice for someone so young which, no doubt, was honed in church.

Our top picks are "Be With You" and "You And I", the others are a tad pop oriented in the Ed Sheeran / Lewis Capaldi mould!

He is certainly a rare talent but sadly, more than likely, will be steered down the pop route as he has been signed by a major label.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Island Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/07/2023
Price:	£2.09

Rachel Modest [2023] - Beautiful [Numen Records]

It's so refreshing to come across a new release from a 'real' soul singer. Sheffield-born Rachel Modest (aka Miss Modest aka Rachel Bradley) was a finalist in the last season on The Voice UK. We have included her blind audition in Sep '22 singing Donnie Hathaway's "For All We Know" for which she received all four chair turns. She chose Sir Tom Jones and reached the final twelve. Her full journey on The Voice is summarised HERE.

She was the lead singer with The Bluefoot Project in the early noughties and is founder and choir director of Wakefield Community Gospel Choir, she says that 'she cut her stripes' in church.

Today she has released a new single "Beautiful". Rare soulies may be interested in her version of Alice Clark's (album only original except for a couple of 45 reissues) modern soul favourite "Never Did I Stop Loving You" which she released last year (Apr '22) so we've also included it below.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/55
Price:	£1

Drew Schultz feat. The Four Tops & James Jamerson Jr. [2023] - Crying in a Whisper [Skill Soul Music]

With all the fake artists floating around on streaming platforms recently we hold them at arms length. One that has cropped up on Friday (28 Jul) is by Drew Schultz claiming to feature Four Tops and bassist James Jamerson Jr. the son of Funk Brother James Jamerson.

However, digging deeper into this one, "Crying in a Whisper", it was released as the first single from "Back to Class" by Drew Schultz in Aug 2012, but was a 3:17 edit of the 4:19 album track. The music video from 2012 is included below.

The album was a benefit album for the music programs of the Detroit Public Schools. Drew is a soul music lover, drummer, percussionist, songwriter, and producer and drummer for The Four Tops since he was 19. He has performed with The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, The Miracles, Dramatics, Contours, Chairmen of the Board, Harold Melvin's Bluenotes, George Clinton, Dennis Coffey, Freda Payne, Melvin Davis, Spyder Turner, and many more

The Four Tops line-up at the time was Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence Payton, Jr. and Spike DeLeon. Alexander Morris has now replaced Spike DeLeon, although with Duke Fakir now 87, we don't known how much performing they actually do these days. James Jamerson Jr. died in 2016 aged 58.

NOTE We had this drafted a few days ago for posting today (Sunday) and have noticed that the full album has also been reissued on Saturday (29 Jul).

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Reissue
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Skill Soul Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Key/BPM:	8B/110
Price:	£1

Wayne McGhie [2023] - Love Is The Answer (with RAM) [Axe Records]

A digital (and CD) reissue of a single originally released in 1972 on Axe imprint Tuesday by Wayne McGhie but originally released under the name Ram.

McGhie was a Jamaican-Canadian singer/songwriter born in Montego Bay. He only released a handful of singles all on different labels from the late 60s to late 70s, although his name does crop up on writers credits on several others.

He recorded just one album, "Wayne McGhie & The Sounds Of Joy", in 1970 released on a budget label, Birchmont which was owned by Quality Records. It's half and half original songs and covers and seems to be quite rare and sells for big bucks. There is only one listed on Discogs with an asking price of €2,000 (£1,750), however, only a few years ago they were selling consistently for £10 so, we would imagine some scene or other has discovered something on it which is now in-demand? Having said that the album has been reissued (by Light In The Attic in 2004) so Discogs may have inadvertently included reissues in their prices..

The A side "Love Is The Answer" is an early 70s funk number, but it is the B side "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" that may be more of interest. Only one original has sold on Discogs in 2018 for £156 but it has been reissued on vinyl twice, by Light In The Attic 2006 and Tramp in 2017.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital / CD
Label:	Axe Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	9A/116 / 7B/114
Price:	£1.58 / £4.27

Endre Blaq feat. K Delore [2023] - Cant Be Without You [VocalFlo Music]

Tampa, FL, native and Navy veteran, Endre Blaq has been performing music since he was 10 years old in church and gospel choirs.

In 2009 he fell in love with neo soul inspired by the likes of Robert Glasper, The Foreign Exchange and Eric Roberson.

He released his debut single "Alright Now" in 2018. We also featured him in Mar '21 with his album "Daydreamer". His first single since then is "Can't Be Without You" feat. his wife K Delore.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	VocalFlo Music
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	7B/88
Price:	£1

Incognito [2023] - Back On The Beach [Splash Blue]

Posted from promo on Tuesday, the new single, "Back On The Beach", from Incognito is released today via Bandcamp. It will gain a wider release on the main digital platforms in early August.

The song is a summery laid back, mainly instrumental, (Bluey) guitar led jazzy groove, with trumpet/horns coming later, and a few sporadic vocal chants.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Splash Blue
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/07/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

T-Groove feat. Dave Goodridge [2023] - Love On The Rise [LAD Publishing & Records]

Tokyo producer, arranger, remixer & composer Yuki 'T-Groove' Takahashi collaborates with Stevenage singer Dave Goodridge (aka Misteridge) for a new single "Love On The Rise" released on 6 Jul.

The single comes with an instrumental but we've only posted the vocal.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	LAD Publishing & Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	06/07/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/100
Price:	£1.98

Charlotte Forman [2023] - I cant make you love me [Self Released]

A Sunday afternoon song if ever there was one. Whatever you may think of the song, "I cant make you love me", originally recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1991, you can't deny that this is beautifully sung.

Before you're tempted to say that it's a pop standard, it has been recorded well over 200 times including by Nancy Wilson, Will Downing, Prince, Patti LaBelle, Boyz II Men, Tank, Ruben Studdard and of course George Michael and Adele.

Charlotte Forman is a 29 years old singer/songwriter based in Durham originally from Essex.

It's obviously a song she's performed for many years as there is a video of her singing it from Aug 2014.

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/07/2023
Key/BPM:	6B/63
Price:	£1