Soul Strutter: 08/04/23

Friday, 4 August 2023

Spotify Embed Issue - only playing samples

It seems that Spotify, in their infinite wisdom, in the last few days has made some modifications to embedded links so that now, even if you're logged into the Spotify web app, only 30 second samples can be played from Spotify embeds from websites.

Spotify seem to change code 'willy nilly' without testing the implications, we recall spending days with their technical support last year over an issue which 'miraculously' rectified itself within a few days.

So, hopefully within a few days it will be back to normal, if not we'll escalate.

A work around, which we know is a pain in the butt, but if you wish to listen to full songs, is to click on the song title on the Spotify embed to take you to the Spotify web player which, if you are logged in, will play the full song.

It may be that they are trying to drive listeners to their web app to listen which, if the case, will have a severe impact on websites that embed links, which in turn will limit traffic to Spotify, so we shall see if sanity prevails!

If it isn't sorted tout suite then we will revert back to embedding from YouTube and that will be Spotify's loss and YouTube's gain.

As a matter of interest, we wonder if artists get any streaming fees for playing only 30 seconds? We very much doubt it, so artists/labels may wish to take this up with Spotify as well.

The Bamboos [2023] - Ex-Files [BMG]

There hasn't been a particularly great batch of releases today but we can only post the best of what we find. That's not a slight on this release, just a passing comment that the number of good ones to choose to post has been very limited.

This is the latest, and second, single, "Ex-Files", pre-released from The Bamboos' upcoming album "This Is How You Do It" set for release on 3 Nov. The other one was "Midnight Glow" way back in Feb which feature rap from Ozay Moore.

The song is co-written by Kylie Auldist and Lance Ferguson who we posted a single, "Freedom", from yesterday under the guise of Menagerie, which is rather good.

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

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	BMG
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/08/2023
Key/BPM:	6B/110
Price:	£1

King Sis [2023] - Hindsight [Epidemic Sound]

Well it must be two weeks since we had new material from King Sis as she has another double helping out today. We didn't post her last pair as didn't think they were up to scratch.

The latest offering is under the banner "Hindsight" which includes two songs "baby back" and "save yourself". The better of the two, we think, is "save yourself".

We wonder at the policy of releasing music every two weeks as inevitably the quality will begin to wane and perhaps some will tire of it, but it's getting her noticed and as long as the quality is consistent then all is good. We'll leave you to decide!

Another prolific artist is Spring the Artist who also has a new single out which is the fifth in twenty days and her fifteenth release this year which we are deciding whether to post.

Sometime 'less is more' as there is a risk of overexposure.

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

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Epidemic Sound
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/01/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/86 / 8A/66
Price:	£1

TJ Jackson [2023] - You [Rio De Rojo]

We wonder whether you can detect vocal similarities, as TJ (Tito Joe) Jackson is the youngest son of Tito Jackson of The Jacksons, obviously named after his father (who's actual real name is Toriano Adaryll Jackson) and grandfather Joseph who died recently (on 27 Jun '23) aged 89.

With his two brothers, Taj and Taryll, he formed a group called 3T who have released around five albums between 1995 and 2015. TJ embarked on a solo career in 2019 and has released something like twenty five singles, three EPs and a full album.

We've only featured one of his singles, "Movin' On", in Oct '21 which we noted as from a forthcoming debut album "MMM" which hasn't materialised as yet, so maybe it's still under way?

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Rio De Rojo
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Jade Novah [2023] - Affirm Me [Let There Be Art]

Atlanta's Jade Novah (Lindsay Fields/Johnson) releases her third single of 2023 today called "Affirm Me".

We have received more information about Ms Novah since her previous release. She was born in Cleveland, OH, moving to Atlanta when 21 and started writing songs for artists such as Myá and Christina Milian.

She commenced a solo career in 2012 and rose to prominence via releasing cover songs on YouTube, a cover of Rhianna's "Diamonds" has now received 13m views. She also performed background vocals for Beyonce, Rhianna and Lady Gaga.

Jade's debut single "Show Out" arrived in 2013 with an album "In Search Of Me" also slotted for release which didn't see the light of day. Her debut album "All Blue" eventually came in Nov 2013 followed by "Stages" in Feb 2020.

As well a singing, Jade is also an actress and voiced Ashlee Starling and Echo in the season 34 episode 18 ("Fan-ily Feud") of The Simpsons

She married producer Devin Johnson (a producer / arranger on American Idol and graduate of Berklee College of Music) in Dec 2015 and uses Johnson (rather than Fields) as her surname on writing credits.

UPDATE 10 Aug: New Music Video added.

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

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Let There Be Art
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Les Imprimés [2023] - You [Big Crown Records]

Another cumulative single released by Les Imprimés, which is combined with another five, building towards a twelve track debut album "Rêverie" due on 11 Aug.

We've posted the first three i.e. tracks 4-6 previously when "Falling Away" was released in May. The latest single is "You"

With a name like Les Imprimés you would be forgiven for thinking that the latest signing to Big Crown Records was a French group, however, it is Norwegian artist Morten Martens.

He released his debut single "No One To Fight" on Industry Music Group in June 2021 which is the only track so far not on the album as obviously it was recorded for another label.

The first two tracks, "If I" and "Never Alone", were released together on 7" vinyl single.

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

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Big Crown Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	31/07/2023
Key/BPM:	2B/72
Price:	£1