Soul Strutter: 08/09/23

Wednesday, 9 August 2023

R.I.P. - Sixto Diaz Rodriguez (10 Jul 1942 - 8 Aug 2023)

The subject of Oscar winning 2012 Netflix documentary 'Searching For The Sugarman', Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has died aged 81. He had an operation following a stroke in Feb.

We did a feature on the documentary a couple of years ago after viewing it on Netflix (link above).

He was born to Mexican immigrants in Detroit in 1942 and named Sixto as he was the sixth son. In 1967 he released a single on Harry Balk's Impact label which was reissued by Light In The Attic in 2008.

He later released two albums in 1970 and 1971 on Sussex which now command high prices. Several singles were taken from the albums. They were all largely ignored in his home country but he later found success in South Africa where he became a cult figure. Rodriguez was completely oblivious to his cult following in South Africa until, in 1997, his eldest daughter discovered a website dedicated to him and contacted the site which resulted in invitation to tour. Consequently his albums were re-released.

Owing to Spotify's new policy we are now unable to provide tribute playlists as only 30 second samples can be played so we have included links to his two 70s albums and posted his 1967 single.

1970 - Cold Fact

1972 - Coming From Reality

Willow Stephens [2023] - Art of Loving You [Self Released]

Not quite the finished article as this six tracker is building into Willow Stephens sophomore album "Best Of Me" which follows "All That Glitters" in 2020. There have been two previous releases with five and four tracks respectively.

The six tracks have been given the name of the newest release "Art Of Loving".

Willow is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Montana originally now resident in L.A. since 2015. Her roots are in jazz, folk, R&B and classical music. The folk side comes through on some songs tracks but there are one or two more soulful ones.

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For Full EP Playlist on YouTube Click HERE

Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/01/2023
Price:	£5.94

Honey & Blue [2023] - Brighter Days [Self Released]

Honey & Blue are Columbus, OH, based duo fronted by singer/songwriters Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber.

They debuted with a self-tiled album in Feb 2015 and released their third album "Bloom" in Jun, 2020 (which contained ten tracks) and in May '22 released the "Bloom (Deluxe)" edition extended by six tracks.

Since they they have just released a few festive singles over Christmas in 2022 and "All I Need" in May '23. Their second single of 2023 is "Brighter Days" released today (9 Aug).

The last time we featured them we posted a live video of a mashup up of "What's The Use / Give Me The Night" which we include again as it's still unreleased.

NB not available on Spotify as yet

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/08/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Yuri feat. theRAY [2023] - FLY HIGH [N3RVE]

Released yesterday (8 Aug) is a single called "FLY HIGH" by Yuri feat, theRay. If the listing is correct, the only other release from Yuri was way back in 2014.

Beware if buying as there is an English and Japanese version!

We can't find much about Yuri but to be honest didn't look to hard with only Yuri to go on but presume that she is Japanese (or possibly Korean).

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Details

Rating:	7.9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	N3RVE
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/08/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/100
Price:	£1

Mad Yella [2023] - Pass You By [OVN]

Two weeks ago we received an email from the proud father of the drummer (Sam Moore) of up and coming Kent band Mad Yella with their forthcoming single "Pass You By" which is officially released today (9 Aug). It follows their excellent last single "With Your Love" in Nov '21.

The core group (all in their 20s) consists of Kojo Degraft-Johnson (vocals), Will Evans (guitar), Chintachai Thanasinkasetchai (bass), Jackson Boardman (keys), Elijah Paul (sax) and Sam Moore (drums) with occasional appearances from Emmie Spence (lead / background vocals) and Ollie Lavery (percussion).

Will Evans and Jackson Boardman met by chance and began jamming in an empty music shop in Kent and realised that their joint love of old soul and funk music and chemistry was unlocked and they knew they had something special. Wanting to take it to the next level, Will called on talented friends Kojo, Chin and Sam (from his time studying music at Canterbury Christchurch University) to complete the line up and together they wrote their debut single "Sequoia" which they released in Feb 2019.

Inspired by their love of jazz-funk, neo soul and rare groove greats such as The Crusaders, George Benson and D’Angelo, Mad Yella have defined a sound of their own and have, to date, released five singles: "Sequoia" (Feb '19), "Lovin'" (Mar '19), "Being With You" (Dec '19), "Blue" (May '20)’, and "With Your Love" (Nov '21).

They are currently working on their debut album which is scheduled for release towards the end of 2023.

The group has made many recent live appearances sharing the line-up with world class artists such as Soweto Kinch, Ben L’Oncle Soul, Omar, Children of Zeus, Etta Bond, Soul II Soul, Melonyx, Blue Lab Beats and Tony Momrelle and were chosen to support Maze feat Frankie Beverly, Cameo and De La Soul in the summer of 2022.

They have played at events such as Love Supreme Festival, London’s Hideaway, the Margate Soul Festival, Rye Jazz Festival, Islington Assembly Hall, Olby’s Soul Cafe supporting Tony Momrelle, EFG London Jazz Festival, Boisdale, Pizza Express and Rochester Castle Concerts supporting Omar, The Brand New Heavies and Soul II Soul.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	OVN
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/08/2023
Key/BPM:	9B/86
Price:	£1

V the Vocalist feat. UHMEER [2023] - We Rollin [PLAYLIST]

A new single "We Rollin'" by V the Vocalist (aka Valvin Roane) from Philadelphia which features UHMEER (aka Amir Mitchell-Townes who is the 23 year old son of Jeffrey Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff)) and may be known for his role as Zay Babineaux in 'Girl Meets World' on the Disney channel which ran for three seasons between 2014-17.

The song was written by V the vocalist, Uhmee and produced by Kaidi Tatham & DJ Jazzy Jeff.

V the Vocalist seems to have released a debut(?) album "The Revelation is Now Televised" in Jan 2006 which is still available on Bandcamp along with several other releases.

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Details

Rating:	7.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	PLAYLIST
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/08/2023
Key/BPM:	6A/96
Price:	£1

Soul Associates Top 30 - 2023 Week 31 (w/e 6 Aug 2023)

		Top 30 Wk 31 (w/e 6 Aug 2023)
Pos	Last	Artist - Title/Artist - Album
1	2	Output / Input - Forward Motion LP
2	1	Joe Leavy - Soul On Fire LP
3	B1	Paulette McWilliams - These Are The Sweet Things LP
4	3	Theo Forsett - Love At Your Fingatips LP
5	14	Sound Of SuperBad feat. Joyce San Mateo - Into You
6	10	Erica Falls - Up
7	4	Zaimie - Fortuitous LP
8	9	The Paradise Projex feat. Charlotte Kelly - Here & Now
9	7	Chris Ballin - Shining
10	11	Bléz - Certified Luva The Virgo Lounge Mellifluous Vibe LP
11	6	Reuben James - Champagne Kisses LP
12	27	Gary B. Poole - Revival (The Soul Talk Sessions) LP
13	5	R. Cory Johnson - Collages Of Music And Love, Vol. 1 LP
14	13	Cynthia Jones - Lifeline
15	21	Felece Tillman - Brighter Love
16	B4	Brian Power & Cornell C.C. Carter - Sometimes
17	25	Em-Cee - Comfortable
18	16	Shaila Prospere - Dance All Night
19	8	Jalen Ngonda - Come Around And Love Me LP
20	17	Marlon Robinson - When It Comes To You
21	12	Don-E - 30 LP
22	30	Andy Stokes - Turn Back Now
23	24	Mariama Whyte - What If I Fall In Love Witchu
24	23	Leela James - Right Back In It
25	B3	Papik & The Soultrend Orchestra feat. Nadyne Rush - Let's Fall in Love
26	B6	Robert IMtume Owens - Elementary
27	B2	B. Golden - You
28	19	robstocks feat. Chris X - a.k.a. snuhgie EP
29	NE	Regi Myrix feat. Lina - Let It Go
30	NE	Dawn Joseph - Imitation Love (Georgie B Remix)
		BREAKERS
B1	NE	Michelle Tabot - Vibez EP
B1	NE	KingDrive - Finally Free
B1	NE	Club des Belugas & Lene Riebau - A Quiet Moment
B4	NE	Ernie & The Family McKone feat. Lex Cameron - Feels Like I'm in Love
B5	NE	Band Of Pockets - Feel Me
B6	NE	The Society Hill Orchestra feat. Kat Fontaine & Benny Barksdale, Jr. - I Am Your Melody

Whittington Still [2023] - You Make Me Sing [Self Released] PROMO SAMPLE

We first came across the voice of Whittington Still in April '21 when she released her fifth single "Why Are You Here". So impressed were we that we then posted her full discography.

Since then she released a shorter version of "Why Are You Here" in Jan this year followed by "I.C.U." feat. Demetrius Richardson on 1 Feb '23.

She has announced that her next single, "You Make Me Sing", will be released 'soon' on Bandcamp. We have contacted her requesting further details which we will share when received.

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

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	TBC
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1