Read our round-up of October soul music releases!
‘Rosetta Tharpe’ – Kimberly Nichole
Kimberly Nichole – rock ballerina and MC at exclusive cabaret nightclub The Box – is gearing up to release new music. Her crowdfunded project, THE WEST COAST SEATTLE GIRL, comes out at the end of November. A few months ago, she delivered an acoustic rendering of a self-penned song at an intimate Sofar Sounds gig (released on YouTube two weeks ago). Speaking directly to The House That Soul Built, she described ‘Rosetta Tharpe’ as a love song at its core. Named after the Godmother of Rock and Roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the song borrows a line from one of Tharpe’s most famous songs ‘Didn’t It Rain’. Though known for her electrifying, explosive performances, Nichole displays tenderness here. She glides nimbly over this folksy tune with that thoroughly distinct tone of hers.
Kimberly Nichole will be performing at Red Rooster , Shoreditch on alternating Mondays.
‘Honey’ – Brother Zulu
Brother Zulu – an emerging collective of five musicians – have been recognised as a BBC Artist of the Week for their ‘Future Soul’ sound. Their debut release ‘Honey’ is a summery, hazy funk-soul jam. The track was mixed by Steve Honest (Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson) and mastered by John Webber (David Bowie, Ray Charles). With low-slung beats and thick, layered production (almost evoking gloopy drops of honey), the song has quite the vibe. ‘How you gonna make me love the most / When you don’t even want my honey.‘
Retroflection – Reel People
Retroflection, the latest album by Reel People, provides faithful modernisations of twelve R&B/soul cuts from the 1980s. The album benefits from selecting fairly obscure cuts and is eminently listenable. But the arrangements are largely carbon-copies (albeit well performed ones), occasionally lifted by the vocal performances. Indeed, there is roster of fantastic talent on the album. Mica Paris adds delicious rasp to Alicia Myers ‘I Want to Thank You’, Tony Momrelle’s buttery voice melts over Bill Withers’ ‘Can We Pretend’, and LuSharVu (the vocal trio of Ladonna Harley Peters, Sharlene Hector, and Vula Malinga) blend nicely on Teena Marie’s ‘I Need Your Lovin”. Ultimately, with such talent (also including Omar, Angie Stone, and Navasha Daya), the album feels like a missed opportunity to do something more creative and subversive. However, it will surely make an exciting live set. On that note, Tony Momrelle and Reel People will be performing at Hideaway next January (tickets here).
‘Truth Is’ – Stealth
UK singer/songwriter Stealth performs pop/rock infused with a blues streak. His breakout song, ‘Judgement Day’, featured on an episode of the US drama Suits. His latest single, ‘Truth Is’, features on the FIFA 19 soundtrack. Beginning in falsetto, he switches to his moody lower range on this co-written track where he spills his romantic affections. In the artist’s own words: “This single is one I’ve been excited about since I wrote it with Michael Angelo and Ali Tennant! Personally it feels like a real step up from some of the other things I’ve released. It’s the first time I’ve really pushed myself as an artist. Writing a song that is happy for once. Also it’s an area of my voice not many people have heard – it adds to the vulnerability of the song which is about a man confessing his true feelings to someone.” If the below appeals to you, Stealth will be performing at St Pancras Old Church on 7th November. Tickets are available here.
(Image copyright: Kimberly Nichole, Brother Zulu, Reel People Music, Stealth).
