Soul Strutter: 05/11/24

Saturday, 11 May 2024

Michael Wycoff [2024] - Looking Up to You (Mike Maurro Mix / Original) [RCA]

Originally released digitally in Dec. last year on a compilation "The Mike Maurro Remix Vault" (consisting of Maurros remixes of 17 classic dance songs) was one for Michael Wycoff's modern soul gem "Looking Up To You".

It is now getting pressed on 12" vinyl along with the original 1982 album version from "Love Conquers All". It will be available on 7 Jun but can be pre-ordered now from vinyl dealers.

The song, written by Leon Ware and Zane Hanks (Grey & Hanks) and produced by Webster Lewis, has been sampled multiple times, first by Dodge City Productions "Ain't Going for That" in 1991 but most famously by Zhane on "Hey Mr DJ" in 1993.

Wycoff sang backing vocals on Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" (as well as for Natalie Cole, DJ Rogers, Gwen McCrae and others and played keyboards on Bobby Womack's The Poet II). He embarked on a solo career in the late 70s releasing three albums for RCA Victor in the early 80s. Sadly, he succumbed to alcohol and drug addiction which terminated his music career and he later found faith and became a minister. He died from pancreatic cancer in March 2019 aged 63.

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Details

Rating:	9
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	12" Vinyl
Label:	RCA
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/06/2024
Key/BPM:	6A/106 / 6A/104
Price:	£14

The Alxandr [2024] - So Good [A Beautiful Venture]

A new single, "So Good", from The Alxandr who, from song writing credits, we believe to be John Kenneth Williams. It's only his third single, releasing a cover of The Isley's "Sensuality" ("The Heat Is On" (1975)) in Apr '23 and an original song "UNPACK" featuring Club Nouveau's Valerie Watson in Aug '23.

He's the son of a preacher and a classical pianist from Texas and no secular music was permitted in his household growing up.

At high school he was told that he would never make it in the music business which was like a red rag to a bull. In the 90s he was signed to both Elektra/Warner brothers and EMI/Capital but as his break came he had to make a decision to raise his new born daughter or pursue a career in music and he walked away.

He now returns to music and is working on an album "Redemption Road".

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	A Beautiful Venture
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	10B/100
Price:	£1

King Sis feat. R.A.D. [2024] - Come Gimme Love (/.Rad Go-Go Remix) [Epidemic Sound]

King Sis (Sis Mills from DMV) was prolific in 2023 committing in April to release new music every two weeks for six months which she sustained until August.

In April '21 she released her debut album "Ascension" and last week released a Deluxe edition of it which added seven tracks. Two of those seven are remixes of tracks on the original album.

Perhaps she would have done better by packaging up many of the singles released last year as the only new track of interest, for us, is the R.A.D. go-go remix of "Come Give Me Love"?

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Epidemic Sound
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/04/2024
Key/BPM:	3A/88
Price:	£1

Félix Bu & Maë Defays [2024] - Once In A While [Self Released]

Paris based, singer, songwriter, guitarist, Maë Defays made waves with "Diamonds In The Rough" from her "A Deeper Ocean" album in Feb. She's back on a collaborative single with fellow Parisian Félix Bu.

The song, "Once In A While", is only Bu's second single and is from a debut EP "Analog Memories" due later this year which will consists of other collaborations with Jüde, Emcee Agora, Sôra, and Kasual Tee.

A medley of four songs from it are performed live in the video below, starting with "Once In A While".

0:00 Once in a While (feat. Maë Defays)

2:04 Peaceful (feat. Jüde & Emcee Agora)

4:07 Stayin (feat. Sôra)

5:43 45 Minutes (feat. Kasual Tee)

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Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	2A/80
Price:	£1

Talisa [2024] - Hey Girl [Smoov Criminal Entertainment]

Talisa (Sauleau) is from Nice and was a contestant on The Voice Kids France in 2018. She's now lives in Paris and has been releasing her music since 2020.

Her latest offering is "Hey Girl".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Smoov Criminal Entertainment
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/05/2024
Key/BPM:	11B/92
Price:	£1

Naima Adams [2024] - Fragile [Self Released]

Washington D.C. raised Naima Adams now lives in South London having spent many years in Rome.

She's been involved in the London jazz community organising events and performing alongside artists and has now embarked on a solo career and releases her debut solo single "Fragile".

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/05/2024
Key/BPM:	11A/85
Price:	£1

Sedric Perry & K.Zia [2024] - IN THE NAME [Relativ Records]

It's three years since we last posted music from Sedric Perry & K.Zia when they both featured on Yuphoric's "Meant To Be" in April 2021.

They collaborate once again for the first time since on a new single today, "IN THE NAME", a smooth soul ballad with a few broken beats thrown in for good measure.

They are both based in Berlin, Perry originally from Philadelphia and K.Zia born in Brussels with roots in The Congo and Martinique.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Relativ Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Key/BPM:	6A/99
Price:	£1

Ruby Shabazz [2024] - Loss [Self Released]

Since we first featured Ruby (Rabihah) Shabazz with her first single of the year "Lite Something" (which we believe was only her second official release) in Jan she has released a Jeff Mosquera remix of it in Feb and another single, "Thank You" in March. The last single is about consumerism and, as we didn't post it then, we've included the music video for it below.

Her latest single, "Loss" is released this week.

Ruby is originally from Roxbury, MA, but now lives in New Hampshire. Whilst her first official release appears to be in 2021, she has videos on her YouTube dating back to 2018.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/05/2024
Key/BPM:	3B/78
Price:	£1

John Runefelt [2024] - How Can I Get Through to You? [Epidemic Sound] (Full EP)

Swedish producer John Runfelt has a knack of recreating a vintage sound. We've featured a couple of his releases previously that have all been instrumentals.

He has a new four track EP "How Can I Get Through to You?" featuring two vocals this time attributed to Luv Child. We're not sure if it's a group or soloist but sounds like a solo male vocal. A search on Luv Child only returns a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, FL!

Whilst we're tempted to call the vocals blue-eyed, we're not so sure and won't commit ourselves as they could well be black? Our pick, which we've had on repeat, is "What's On Your Mind" that has a smooth mid/late 70s feel.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	£3.96

Lalah Hathaway [2024] - So In Love [SoNo Recording Group] MUSIC VIDEO

One of the most anticipated releases last week was the lead single, "So In Love", from an upcoming 18 track album "VANTABLACK" (due on 14 June) from Lalah Hathaway.

A music video for the song was uploaded to YouTube yesterday.

It will be Ms Hathaway's eighth album and features seven guest artists including Michael McDonald and Gerald Albright. Her first, self-titled, one arrived in 1990

It's the first new material from Ms Hathaway for some time, apart from a sped up version of "Coastin'" by Boney James, on which she featured last July and her duet with her father on his Christmas classic "This Christmas" in Dec '22.

Whilst she has featured on several recordings in recent years, we have to go back to 2017 and her three times Grammy nominated "honestly" album for her last solo release and album. A deluxe edition of which was released in 2018 with six additional tracks.

For more information on her, we did a Lalah Hathaway Profile on her 53rd birthday in Dec 2021.

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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:	03/05/2024
Key/BPM:	7B/92
Price:	£1