Hil St Soul – born Hilary Mwelwa – does not receive her dues as a soul singer of gorgeous finesse and unpretentious ease. The Zambia-born artist first emerged in the late 1990s as the neo-soul genre was enjoying its mainstream recognition. While her rock solid debut Soul Organic may have been overshadowed by blockbuster neo-soul releases from across the pond, it marked the beginning of a consistent string of albums boasting a surfeit of subtle hooks and dreamy vocals. Just listen to the giddy funk of ‘Nostalgia’, the anguished storytelling of ‘Pieces’, and the layered swoon of ‘Hey Boy’.

Her latest release is a cover of the Ohio Players’ 1974 tune ‘Heaven Must Be Like This’ (later covered by D’Angelo).

Hil St Soul says: “I listened to the original version by the Ohio Players for inspiration. After hearing the producer Prince Damons’ version, I was hooked and just had to add my own twist and spin on it. I hope when people hear ‘Heaven Must Be Like This,’ it will allow them to go on a euphoric journey with me and switch off from the world’s troubles, even if it’s for a few minutes. To quote the lyrics of the first verse of the song, I hope the listener finds ‘a place of happiness’ and ‘somewhere to rest their aching mind.’”

Mining the low tones of her instrument, her delivery is packed with the subtle sensuality characteristic of her wider oeuvre. She nestles herself in the tune’s pocket, backed by a pure, no-frills arrangement. Her hums and inflections – often so slight – charge this rendition with a magnetic sultriness. A future summer jam, surely.