The past week has really brought home the re-emergence of Soul music that we keep going on about. Soul never went away, but the millenial generation appeared to have fallen out of love with it. It seemed to be perceived of as being out of touch with the ‘modern’ sound.
But the tide seems to be turning in Soul music’s favour, as a new school of young, boundary-pushing singers has reminded us of Soul’s timelessness and knack for assimilating the different sounds and influences of whatever day. Singers like Jhene Aiko, Adrian Daniel, FKA Twigs, Sza and Kelela flex the genre’s changeability and multiplicity. From Jhene Aiko’s increasingly mainstream profile, to Kelela being featured on Beyonce’s ‘Hot Sauce’ Tidal playlist, not to mention Adele breaking all kinds of records with a surprise comeback, signs are that Soul is making its way back to prominence on the music scene.
Ultimately, Soul music is about raw expression, the quality that really connects music to its audience. This past week, releases from Gallant, Kendra Foster and the mainstream coverage that they, as well as others in this new generation of avant-gardes have received is a reminder that Soul still connects in a unique way.
You may not know many of the names of the artists on this week’s playlist, but the signs are that they will be making big moves soon. But really, that’s besides the point. They make great music and are all worth a good listen.
