The moment those drums come in. Don’t be thrown by the song’s fragile and vulnerable start, “Call Me (a) (B)” by the London artist Anaiis, packs a powerful emotional… Continue reading
Sampling James Blake’s “Limit to Your Love.” An inspired rework of one of 2010’s best tracks, itself a cover of a Feist original, “Limit” by the Brixton, London artist… Continue reading
A slo-mo samba from Saint Augustine. Breathy and beachy, “Magnolias” is the first song, a chilled MPB-bossa nova creation, from Ímã, a Florida-based duo made up of producer Evan… Continue reading
An otherworldly London soul-jazz dream. By teaming up with the prolific UK soul singer Tawiah for his latest single “All Time,” the London-based songwriter, pianist, MC, and producer Alfa… Continue reading
Some UK jazz-infused R&B for the summertime. London-via-Nottingham singer-songwriter Yazmin Lacey‘s latest is a breezy yet confident, percussive modern soul number. Yazmin Lacey – “Ain’t I Good… Continue reading
Just like they said during their debut US radio interview on my weekly show for WNXP last year, MRCY are now readying the release of their new album VOLUME 2. … Continue reading
New from the Chicago-via-Wisconsin artist. Led by a jazz piano hook that instantly draws you in, “L-Train” by Silas Short is an ode to the Windy City’s signature mode… Continue reading
From the Los Angeles artist‘s new album produced by Nick Hakim. “Empire” pairs melancholy lyrics with sunny instrumentation on this alt-R&B strut that features the Solange and Frank Ocean… Continue reading
A tribute to the Nigerian immigrant experience in London. “Three Piece Suit” is a steady, jazz-infused Afrobeat groove by Kokoroko (a word meaning “be strong” in the language of… Continue reading
The London collective‘s track “24/7” with Ego Ella May featured in my Top 100 Tracks of 2020 list. “Breeze,” the latest track from Nubiyan Twist, is a vigorous and… Continue reading
A delightfully glitchy and unvarnished beat. “Go There” is a late-night and lo-fi soulful R&B meditation from London, UK artist Barnabas. Barnabas – “Go There” … Continue reading
From the UK musician and producer‘s new album, Small Changes, which features Danger Mouse, SAULT’s Inflo, Pino Palladino, Jimmy Jam, and more. “Lowdown,” the latest from Michael Kiwanuka, is… Continue reading
“Beat driven art-pop; love songs on a loop…” Having previously worked with modern UK soul and hip-hop luminaries such as Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz, Ghostpoet, Mr. Jukes, Cleo Sol,… Continue reading
A psyche-indie journey to Bristol, UK and back. I’ve previously likened the five-piece Pocket Sun to DanDigs.com favorites Melody’s Echo Chamber, Little Dragon, and Men I Trust. Their… Continue reading
The London-based, New Zealand-born musician’s fifth album. The Loop feels considered, cohesive, and personal. Here’s my favorite song from it. Jordan Rakei – “Trust” … Continue reading
The duo who first met while playing in Charles Bradley’s touring band. Max Shrager (The Shacks) and Paul Schalda (The Sha La Das) are Las Los. The… Continue reading
Scandinavian soul. Comprised of musicians from Norway’s Bård Berg Electric Band and Fieh, Sūn Byrd’s new self-titled album is a vivacious and carefully crafted modern soul workout. … Continue reading
Ad astra. “Qui Sait” is the latest song from the Toulouse, France cosmic indie-psyche-soul outfit Ceylon, comprised of Louise Holt and Tristan Chevalier (who both feature in the whimsical… Continue reading
Meows from the Juno synth. Amber Navran from Moonchild, keyboardist and clarinet player Jacob Mann, and singer and trumpet player Phil Beaudreau are Catpack. “What I’ve Found”… Continue reading
Exactly what I need to start 2024. Can’t stop listening to this new one from Bryony Jarman-Pinto. Brimming with optimism, “Moving Forward” is a ray of piano-led… Continue reading
The best song yet from the rising UK artist. Having featured on songs by SBTRKT and written with Nao, emerging musician LEILAH is definitely one to watch. … Continue reading
Sounding like a lost Shalamar B-side. “Don’t Waste My Time” by New Jersey’s Miguel Santiago aka LVUSM is a masterful homage to 80s boogie, funk, and R&B. … Continue reading
Psychedelic indie-soul-jazz from Beijing. Into this freeform journey from the wonderfully named 表情银行 (Mimik Banka), which is translated as “Facial Expression Bank.” 表情银行 (Mimik Banka) – “阻击手与陨石… Continue reading
I first got switched on to the sound of London’s Ego Ella May back in 2015 when I heard “How Far” on her Zero EP. Her latest track, “Undone,”… Continue reading
Forever thankful for a new Cleo Sol album. I really liked the direction in which Cleo Sol and Inflo were heading with their SAULT song, “Love Will Free Your… Continue reading
A breezy acoustic soul rendition. “Far Too Much” is an easygoing jam from the London soul and jazz artist, Oscar Jerome, that wouldn’t feel out of place on the… Continue reading
The first new single from Sampha in six years. Can’t believe it’s been that long. His debut album Process came out in 2017, which was my number 1 album of… Continue reading
A decidedly raw yet gentle soul-R&B-jazz concoction. Love the collision of peace and purpose on “Did You Know,” the new single from Manchester, UK musician and spoken word poet… Continue reading
“You know that I try, I’m gonna be right on time…” With bass meanderings from beatmaker Moo Latte and soulful vocals meeting jazz keys over a stuttering beat, the… Continue reading
The newest signing to the Big Crown roster. Surabaya, Indonesia trio Thee Marloes are singer Natassya Sianturi, guitarist Sinatrya Dharaka, and drummer Tommy Satwick. Translated as “Give… Continue reading
Featuring Malcolm Catto of the Heliocentrics on drums. “Oh, Silly George,” the latest single from Donny-via-Joburg artist and Brownswood Future Bubblers alum Skinny Pelembe, is a wistful and nostalgic… Continue reading
If Minnie Ripperton and Erykah Badu co-wrote an ode to self-care, it would sound a lot like this. “Take Care” is a mellow and soulful jazz cut that features… Continue reading
A disco-soul-funk rarity. Thrilled to hear the celebratory and party-starting groove of “IgG Theme” by the IgG Band, who formed in March 1979 while they were students at Meharry… Continue reading
Modern UK soul at its finest. Containing shades of Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, and Pharrell, “You Were Wrong” by Brighton, UK’s Steven Bamidele is some mellow yet vulnerable sonic excellence.… Continue reading
Los Angeles artist Lady Blackbird turns in a stunning, stunning cover of the Irma Thomas classic. Also of note on Lady Blackbird‘s new album is “Fix It,” an impressive… Continue reading
Spare, soulful R&B from the Chicago-via-Milwaukee artist Silas Short. It’s all about those airy harmonies, those subaqueous guitar notes, and that barely-there beat. Silas Short – “Queen… Continue reading
If we could be still… just for a minute. “Super Soft” is my favorite track from the brand new album, In Praise of Shadows, by South London’s Puma Blue. … Continue reading
London-via-Porto, Portugal singer-songwriter Raquel Martins emailed me with “I sell nu-jazz burritos” in the subject line and as such, dear reader, I opened that email faster than a hummingbird beats its wings.… Continue reading
Soulful jazz from Tel Aviv’s KerenDun, one third of Buttering Trio. KerenDun – “Afternoon” “Afternoon” is out now via Raw Tapes Records. … Continue reading
Impossible not to groove to this. Toronto’s Chris A. Cummings is Marker Starling. His latest single, “Silk Rock,” is a winding and casually circular whirl of retro-indie-boogie,… Continue reading
Ain’t this great. On her latest song “Ain’t So,” London’s JGrrey fuses 00s R&B beat patterns with 60s Motown soul melodies diced with 90s vinyl scratches and laced with a… Continue reading
My very first LP. Glow is a lo-fi Losangelican love letter to record stores, 90s UK indie, the beach, Toro y Moi, Primal Scream, Jai Paul, the Beta Band,… Continue reading
Orion Sun is shining. “Birds Gave Up” is the final track on Orion Sun‘s new album, Hold Space for Me. It’s an elegant and elevated love song, solely comprised… Continue reading
Pain does not exist in this dojo. Sydney’s Dojo Cuts aka Nathan Aust has teamed up with Melbourne future soul singer Natalie Slade to create “If My Love Was… Continue reading
Very much into this new single from LA vocalist and producer Genevieve Artadi. “Hot Mess” is a happily melancholic, lighter-than-air, Stereolab-ish experimental pop composition that fuses jazz electronics with… Continue reading
Welsh psychedelia par excellence. Carwyn Ellis, the man behind Colorama, has teamed up with Shawn Lee, the man behind his very own Ping Pong Orchestra and collaborations with AM,… Continue reading
“Things may come and things may go… but not my love for you…” Buoyed by a machine-like, churning beat that is occasionally substituted with a steady rimshot, “Moonshine” by… Continue reading
Show number 20! For LOOPS + DOTS this month I had a chat with Brooklyn-via-Seattle experimental jazz musician Kassa Overall over Zoom outside a Starbucks in Queen Anne, Seattle. … Continue reading
Extremely heartened to hear this new batch of songs from one of the best duos in experimental indie-pop-soul. Now based in Bristol (and no longer wearing facial coverings that… Continue reading
Mood-infused UK soul. London singer-songwriter Tora combines synth keys, raw horns, and impassioned vocals to create “Call Your Name,” a yearning yet confident R&B cut. Track of… Continue reading
