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Column aiming to present 6 glowing with quality tracks, under the “future soul” genus; An amalgam of soul, contemporary R&B and even hip-hop and electronic elements.

-not to be confused with Daley’s “Future Throwback Soul” term-

ECHLO – ‘Head High’

Quick pitch:

A fine blend of neo-soul/pop with a stunning performance by Trini-Canadian ECHLO.

dynamic: ★★★★/5

style★★★/5

performance:   ★★★★★/5

Trivia:

ECHLO is the echo of Chloe Charles’ past, looking to start over only keeping the echoes of the lessons learned and leaving the pain and mistakes behind. The uncompromising tenacity of her work is informed by her Trini-Canadian background, being a black female in Toronto’s music scene which is essentially a boy’s club, fighting to be heard. “Head High” is the latest track from the upcoming LP Echolocation, set for an October 26th release date on Kowloon Records. The new video is out today.

She takes more liberties in its unflinching storytelling and sidestepping sonic signifiers tying it to any particular genre. Reflecting the concerns of her generation, there is a defiant rejection society’s systematic conventions, offering a sharp critique of the accepted political, social, and economic principles that hold us captive. Departing from the autobiographical songwriting approach, ECHLO is determined to push back against the expectations of an all-too-often inhumane society; with stories of her experimentation with polyamory, anti-establishment tales that some might consider conspiracy, the inability to commit to one love, the rejection of modern media and propaganda, and the belief that mental illness is a sane response to a sick society.

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Link Lewis – ‘Foundation’

Quick pitch:

Link Lewis setting “the foundation” of a great chill soul/contemporary RnB debut.

dynamic: ★★★/5

style★★★★/5

performance:   ★★★/5

Trivia:

Following performances at Ibiza Rocks, Kendal Calling, Bestival and Beatherder Festivals, UK RnB/Soul singer-songwriter Link Lewis has dropped his smooth debut single Foundation. The silky slow-jam is available on all streaming platforms now and offers up soulful vocals alongside atmospheric electronica and mellow beats.

Taking inspiration from all branches of the tree, the Link Lewis sound blends the buttery tones of jazzy RnB with the slick hooks and pounding grooves of hip-hop and modern pop. With a wealth of experience both writing and producing music in multiple genres, Foundation is his debut single as a solo artist.

“My writing process always starts at the piano. Sometimes, I’ve written every element of a song before I even start recording, whether that be a lyric, melody line, harmony or vocal hook” explains Lewis about the track. “In the first few hours it’s just myself, my piano, sheets of A4 and a pencil. I think Foundation introduces my sound well – I don’t want to be defined by one genre. I love the fatness and rawness of Hip-Hop beats, the melody and harmonies of RnB and the tones and grooves of Jazz music, so you can expect to hear all of this in my music. Lyrically, this track is pretty classic and relatable – the scenario of a man being there for a woman during difficult times and allowing someone to be that stability and structure in your life.”

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Lo Artiz- ‘Wild Woman’

Quick pitch:

An upbeat soulful ride that takes you through the uphill climb of reclaiming what is yours and refusing to look back, by ‘wild woman’ Lo Artiz.

dynamic: ★★★★★/5

style★★★/5

performance:   ★★★★/5

Trivia:

Lo Artiz is an independent artist born & raised in Miami, FL. She is currently based in Boston, MA where she is completing her degree in music at Berklee College of Music. Rooted in Soul, her music seeks to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. With early influences like Aretha Franklin and Etta James, Lo desires to break through her audience’s surface and reach them at a place deeper than most modern music allows today. “I want to shake the foundation upon which my audience stands. I want them to know they’re not alone. I want to be a voice for those who feel voiceless. I want to make people feel something they’ve never allowed themselves to feel before.” As a songwriter and performer, she is Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse rapped in a cosmic bow.

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The Rooks – ‘Waiting’

Quick pitch:

A smooth and sultry R&B jam that gives nods to Maxwell, Childish Gambino, and Leon Bridges by The Rooks.

dynamic: ★★★/5

style★★★★★/5

performance:   ★★★★/5

Trivia:

If you happen to ask The Rooks about their sound, chances are they’ll mutter some blurry portrait of Frank Ocean, J Dilla, and the Talking Heads getting drunk at a dive bar in the year 2023, while Justin Vernon waits in the car to drive everyone home. Push them to be a little more specific (and a little less confusing), and they’ll tell you that The Rooks are equal parts kick-back, head-knock, and get-down; the music you rock to at the party, and the perfect soundtrack for the ride home.

A transplant from the Wesleyan University music scene, The Rooks have spent the last five years making noise across New York City and across North America, gaining substantial recognition for their debut EP, Something You Can Take (2013), follow-up single, Twister (2014) and their second EP, Wires, which debuted on Afropunk in June 2015.

Hard-hitting performances at Irving Plaza, Mercury Lounge and Brooklyn Bowl, as well as highly successful residencies at Arlene’s Grocery and Pianos NYC (second highest-grossing in venue history) have earned them further acclaim, including Deli Magazine’s Artist of the Month award (2014), and winners of the 14th Annual Independent Music Awards in the R&B/Soul category.

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Tommy Limit – ‘405’

Quick pitch:

A stylish & slick track by Tommy Limit.

dynamic: ★★★/5

style★★★★/5

performance:   ★★★/5

Trivia:

Whether it is being compared to notable acts, such as, “Bryson Tiller”, “6lack” or “Daniel Caesar”, Independent artist/producer/ multi-instrumentalist, Tommy Limit, is on the road to stardom. From releasing his R&B/Soul infused EP, “Landstar” to producing successful singles “Thrive” and “Ain’t The Same” for L.A duo THEY.

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Namarah – ‘IDC’

Quick pitch:

Quite possibly the track that defines our Future Soul column. Enjoy the future of soul now by Philly-based doc-soul mistress Namarah.

dynamic: ★★★★★/5

style★★★★★/5

performance:   ★★★★/5

Trivia:

Namarah McCall is a Philadelphia-born artist exploring the connections of social exchange through performance and art. She is a singer-songwriter and gamer enthusiast who enjoys spontaneity and adventure. Namarah shares her interpretation of universal ideas in her music and examines its intersections with society.

From an early age, Namarah found tremendous interest in the metaphorical and creative approaches to the art of storytelling. Theatre, poetry, dance and visual media impacted her in such a way that she desired to find a way to thread these influences together. Embracing the challenge and freedom of creating without limits and writing her own rules, Namarah named her art form Doc-Soul in which she allows and encourages the use of any medium possible to document the inner workings of our heart, mind, and experiences.

Namarah infuses various influences to create her message. Her soulful voice and intricate melodies are like a breath of fresh air, producing a musical brew of rhythms and tunes that take you on a transformational journey. She is an activist and community change-maker, believing that anyone can impact the world if they are willing to make unique partnerships to reimagine the world through music, the arts and any other medium – in Namarah’s world, it’s about the human connections we form that make life worth living.

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“Soul Professor”: Christos Doukakis