Read our latest round-up of new material from Cindy Latin, JNR Williams, Kyla Jade, and Tyrone Hendrix!
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Cindy Latin – ‘Get Gone’ (Advance Review)
Hailing from New York City, Cindy Latin is a budding soul/R&B artist and music student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Her latest song ‘Get Gone’ demonstrates her mature writing style. With nonchalant frankness, she tells a current love interest that his aloof attitude towards her only serves to make her disinterested with him, rather than eager for affection. It is a comedic refutation of the patriarchal ‘treat them mean…’ philosophy. She shrugs: ‘You don’t like me? Well that’s fucking fine / Who said your approval was the gift of God?’ The song’s melody is jazzy with soul undertones, and Latin’s phrasing is playful and spiky.
JNR Williams – ‘What a Difference’
Hackney-based singer-songwriter JNR Williams has recorded a modernised version of the jazz standard ‘What a Diff’rence A Day Made’, popularised by the iconic Dinah Washington. With minimalist soul-tinged production, the song sets up a tranquil groove with cooing backing vocals. Singing in an effortless low register, Williams lightly brushes the lyrics – making ever so slight alterations to the original melody. It is an inward, introspective reading of the song; Williams seems to be in quiet shock about the romantic chemistry he has stumbled upon, in contrast to the overt joy in Dinah Washington’s reading.
Kyla Jade – ‘Day Dreaming’
Former backing vocalist to Jennifer Hudson and finalist on NBC’s The Voice, Kyla Jade recorded ‘Day Dreaming’ two months before the passing of the Queen of Soul. The second track from the Young Gifted and Black (1972) album, ‘Day Dreaming’ is a much loved Aretha Franklin cut. Jade gives the song a measured, sensitive treatment, beginning in a velvety lower range before rising into a bright, open head voice. It is a great example of giving a classic song a fresh and worthwhile take through a vocal performance alone.
Tyrone Hendrix ft. Ronnie Wright & Ashley Jayy – ‘Start All Over’
‘Start All Over’ is the latest single from drummer/producer Tyrone Hendrix, who is gearing to release his sophomore album Rhythm on Life Vol.2 in May 2019. The track features vocalists Ronnie Wright (aka ‘BeSpeak’) and Ashley Jayy, a YouTube sensation and backing vocalist for Prince and Judith Hill. Wright sings with breathy warmth, sliding down the song’s groove. The song picks up with Jayy’s introduction who provides vocal spice and sass (‘I’m not a replication of your past situation / And that’s the truth‘).
(Image copyright: Cindy Latin, Insanity Records Limited, LoveJade Inc, Tyrone Hendrix)
