Artis Boris [2023] - Easy Living [Funk Embassy Records] (Full EP)

Artis Boris is from the same stable as Rita Ray i.e. Funk Embassy Records therefore, it is no big surprise that she crops up on the standout track on his new EP "Easy Living", "Can You Dance?". From the title you can guess that it's not her usual retro sweet soul, rather an uptempo number, although still has a throwback 80s feel.

Boris is a virtuoso jazz pianist from Latvia and a new signee to the label and this track was released (and posted) as the first single from the EP on 10 Mar '23 with "Scream" following on 31 Mar. The EP is predominantly instrumental except for "Can You Dance?"

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Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Instrumental
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/04/2023
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Artis Boris Feat. Rita Ray [2023] - Can You Dance? [Funk Embassy Records]

A new dance oriented single out of the Funk Embassy camp.  You will recall Rita Ray recently released her sophomore album "Life Of Its Own". She shows us a different side, which shouldn't come as a big surprise as her debut album contained one or two dance oriented disco tracks.

She features on this single "Can You Dance?" with a new name to us Artis Boris. who is a new signee to the label and is a virtuoso jazz pianist from Latvia. This is the first song from an upcoming debut album "Easy Living".

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Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/03/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/109
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Rita Ray [2023] - Ms. Steal-Your-Man (Robbie's Radio Edit) [Self Released]

A Robbie Vincent re-edit of "Ms. Steal-Your-Man" from Rita Ray's sophomore album "A Life Of It's Own". The album contained part 1 (which was predominantly instrumental) and part 2 which together gave a running time of 12:53 (7:31 + 5:22) which Robbie has condensed to 5:41.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Re-Edit
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	03/02/2023
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£unavailable

Copyright © 2009-2023 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Rita Ray [2022] - A Life of Its Own [Funk Embassy Records] (Full Album)

I make no apology for loving this young lady's voice. Ever since her debut album "Old Love Will Rust" in 2019 (which sold out of two vinyl pressings), Rita Ray has enjoyed a steady rise on the contemporary soul scene. Her songwriting, voice and grand productions in studio as well as live settings are a thing of beauty. Her talent has been recognised in her home country by being awarded Estonian Jazz Awards, "Young Jazz Talent of the Year" 2021.

With style and grace, after pre-releasing three singles from the album, "Love Ain't The Same" (Mar '21), "No Greater Love", (Aug '21), "Please Wait For Me" (Nov '22), Rita invites you into her personal space once again with her sophomore album "A Life Of Its Own" which was released yesterday (28 Nov 2022). With lush cinematic string arrangements and vintage instrumentation the album is the lovechild of a lifelong affair with music by Miss Ray and her first-class band.

The album opens with the beautiful lead single "Love Ain't The Same" followed by the second single from the album, the retro, "No Greater Love". Then comes four southern soul style tracks in the Bill Withers vein, "So Sweet" and "Ms. Steal-Your-Man" parts 1 & 2 (on the latter getting down and funky) and "Sing It With Love". The penultimate track "Needless To Say" is a more sultry and soulful bluesy/jazz affair with the album closing with a soulful ballad "Please Wait For Me" which her latest single (released 18 Nov).

If you're looking for dance tracks then you will be disappointed as this is authentic, honest, soul music, albeit of the blue-eyed variety, played by real musicians with no electronic gimmickry or computer wizardry to be heard.

Please note that the album is also available via Bandcamp, so if you're planning on buying then this Friday is Bandcamp Friday where Bandcamp waives it's normal fees meaning that the music creators receive more of the proceeds. 

Many thanks to Henrik Ehte at Funk Embassy Records for servicing the album.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/11/2022
Price:	£5.49

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Rita Ray [2022] - Please Wait For Me [Funk Embassy Records]

Estonian blue-eyed soul singer Rita Ray released her sophomore album "A Life Of Its Own" yesterday (28 Nov '22) but just over a week ago (18 Nov) also released the third single from it "Please Wait For Me".

The album will be posted later with more details about Rita, but to give you a flavour here's the latest single "Please Wait For Me" which is a dreamy soulful ballad. It follows "Love Ain't The Same" (12 Mar '21) and "No Greater Love" (13 Aug '21).

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	18/11/2022
Key/BPM:	8B/65
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Rita Ray [2021] - No Greater Love [Funk Embassy Records]

On Wednesday I posted a 'teaser' for Rita Ray's new single "No Greater Love" by posting her last single "Love Ain't The Same" and her2019 debut album "Old Love Will Rust". Well the new single "No Greater Love" is released today (13 Aug 2021).

Both recent singles will appear on a forthcoming sophomore (as yet untitled but I'm informed likely to be self-titled) album due for release in Nov 2021.

The new single is in a similar vein to "Love Ain't The Same" i.e. a retro 60s/70s sweet soul with a melodic vibe. Real musicians are used in the shape of the Pärnu City Orchestra who perform Rita's own string arrangements on the song which she also composed and produced.

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Details

Rating:	8.8
Genre/Style:	Retro Soul / Blue-Eyed
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Funk Embassy
Cat No:	None
Date:	13/08/2021
Key/BPM	4A/102
Value:	£1