In his interview with The House That Soul Built earlier this year, Joel Culpepper spoke of the need for experimentation and evolution within the soul genre.

Indeed, his latest release ‘Sheriff’ – a collaboration with producer Redinho – marries classic with contemporary. Redinho’s production is delicate and slick with downtempo cadences, combined with live instrumentation that breathes a vintage aesthetic into the track. The trombone is a particularly nice touch. The key pull, however, is Culpepper’s chill-inducing falsetto. His voice cuts through, with just a hint of fragility around the edges.

The lyrics strike as a slightly menacing metaphor for seizing the opportunity by whatever means necessary, perhaps in a romantic context given the music video. By the end of the song, Culpepper sings: ‘Now I am the sheriff baby.’  With the tables now turned, is he now the vulnerable one? Perhaps there will be a Part II later down the line…

(Image copyright: Roya)