2021 is promising to be a replay of 2020 where music is the one thing we have to be thankful for. And grateful we are. January has already delivered a number of banging EPs and projects. Our no-skip, ever fresh On the Wave playlist is updated with our favourites.
Enjoy the playlist and our picks of 7 new albums and EPs you need in your life below.
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan has never been shy to showcase all sides of love through her music. Ever since her breakout album ‘Fearless’ in 2008, the highs and lows of romance have shined through her projects.
6 years on from Reality Show (2015), she releases her new album Heaux Tales. Jazmine’s been keen to stress this is not a full-length album but a primer for the real thing as she re-introduces herself. And we’re ever grateful. As expected, it does not disappoint. Heaux Tales runs just over 30 minutes and oozes the elite levels of Soul and vocal excellence we have come to expect from Jazmine Sullivan.
Big-hitting features on the album from Ari Lennox, Anderson .Paak and H.E.R., add their much-loved excellence to proceedings. That said, Heaux Tales is so much more than just a regular R&B project. It’s a peek into the real on women’s lives and conversations. Throughout, we are treated to interludes of women telling their different truths and stories. The stories bring the narrative in the songs and project as a whole to life. Speaking to Pitchfork, Jazmine explained: “Heaux Tales is about my observation of today’s women standing in their power and owning who they are”.
This observation is a theme that ties into the interludes and the concept of the project. Heaux Tales touches an array of female-related topics such as unity, division, romance, empowerment to say a few. Jazmine soulfully packages this into a 14-track project which is unskippable from beginning to end, reminding us with each riff and run that she is contemporary R&B’s vocal queen.
Mac Ayres – Magic 8Ball
One of the most consistent R&B artists in recent years, Mac Ayres is back with his 4th album, Magic 8Ball. Since his first release Drive Slow (2017), it has been a steady progressive rise for the soulful New Yorker.
One of the key elements to Mac is his ability to mesh an array of R&B sounds throughout his music effortlessly. Something which is on show in abundance throughout Magic 8Ball. From the up-tempo sound of ‘Where U Goin’ Tonight’ to the moody sultry flow on ‘Every Time’ Mac brings consistent vibes throughout.
With the album’s 8ball pool theme, the album presents tracks. But that is where the predictability stops. Magic 8Ball is another prime example of why exactly Mac Ayres desperately deserves more recognition than he’s given. The fact that such consistency has been delivered across 4 different albums at this point needs to be celebrated.
Ragz Originale – WOAH
Producer and singer, Ragz Originale dropped his 7 track ‘WOAH’ mixtape this month. The talented North Londoner has been making waves in recent years with his Hip-Hop infused, alternative R&B.
Ragz on WOAH delivers eclectic vibes that you simply can’t box into one specific genre. But it’ll capture you regardless. For example, on “Brush U“, co-produced alongside E-Whizz, Ragz showcases his ability to melodically weave his way around a track. Ragz’s all round aesthetic on the project is best be described as melodically hypnotic.
Tracks like the intro “The Mirror” & “OG lullaby” again illustrate the essence of his sound. Vibrant melodies, with hypnotic vocals / bars that just make you move.
At this point there are not many better artists able to effortlessly fuse elements of rap, R&B and alternative electronic music. WOAH has this in abundance and the 15 minute projects packs a mean punch.
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Celeste’s debut album has been long awaited. This modern-Jazz strummer has made huge strides in recent years with a unique voice that has seen her often compared to Adele and Amy Winehouse.
Whilst Celeste’s earlier music was more strictly Jazz and Soul based, ‘Not Your Muse’ delves more into a pop-inspired lane. However this shift only adds to the project, as the sound and the production on the album remains flawless. Sonically, the comparison is truly stark when compared to the grittier sound of her earlier work, such as her ‘Lately’ EP. Progressing your sound is the stuff that makes great artists.
Celeste is an artist that truly channels her emotions through her vocals. This is evident on the album on tracks like “Strange”, “Not Your Muse” and “A Kiss”. But this is not all Celeste offers on the album. The production whilst thematic throughout is not all mellow toned. Up-tempo tones are evenly spread throughout, none more so than on “The Promise” and “Love Is Back”.
Critics could suggest that Celeste could have been more experimental and chose a safe lane on the album. However, staying true to a sound throughout a project was not a bad move in this instance. This decision to stay true to her strengths will no doubt add to her early music success thus far. Many of the tracks have strong radio appeal with tracks ‘A Little Love’ and ‘Stop This Flame’ having already found TV advertising success. ‘Not Your Muse’ may not shake tables, but every track pieced together makes for a very enjoyable listen.
Kemi Ade – DRIVE (Dusk Edition) EP
Kemi Ade is back at her empowering and seductive best on her new EP DRIVE (Dusk Edition). The soulful singer / songwriter from South London, dropped part one to her DRIVE series last October with DRIVE (Dawn Edition) and part two only further cements her vibe.
The 14 minute EP is flawlessly smooth and is a wonderful illustration of Kemi’s talents. Lyrically, the tracks are diary-like. Ranging from the highs and lows of love, life and relationships, Kemi musically weaves her way through, painting vivid pictures throughout.
As mentioned earlier, Ade within the past 6 months dropped 2 parts to the DRIVE EP series. Part 1 in Oct 2020 (Dawn Edition) & this month (Dusk Edition). Speaking on the method behind this process, Kemi explains, “The Dawn title came from the energy the first three songs gave me. Daytime fun, playfulness & confident energy. Dusk came from the vulnerability you feel at night when everything you’ve been wanting to say finally comes free.”
This sentiment definitely pulls through on DRIVE (Dusk Edition) EP with its sunshine like and warm feel to the tracks. Such as on the track ‘Promise’. The song personifies the perfect blend of Neo-Soul and modern R&B making for a track you simply cannot play once. Kemi is simply spellbinding here with a golden warm vocal performance to match.
On the whole, DRIVE (Dusk Edition) illustrates just why Kemi Ade is on the lips of many within the UK R&B and Neo-Soul scene as one to watch. We are very much looking forward to what her artistry blesses us with next.
Jordan Mackampa – Come Around EP
As Soul and R&B continues to evolve as does its lanes. A very dope example of this being Jordan Mackampa who this month released his new EP Come Around, a shining example of where Soul meets Pop.
The 4-track project showcases Jordan’s soothing vocals alongside lively, uplifting instrumentation. In addition to this, lyrically Jordan has a great knack of delivering tracks that just resonate due to their simplicity. The final track on the project ‘Piece by Piece’ really highlights this. The song touches on self-reflection and how important it is to simply take it one thing at a time. Something we can all agree is hugely vital during the current global pandemic.
On the whole, the heartwarming tones of Jordan Mackampa alongside the intimate, yet eclectic vibe throughout the EP make Come Around a very enjoyable listen. We are feeling this one and be sure to check it out too if you haven’t already!
DEJA – Intro EP
The rising star that is Deja this month dropped her debut EP ‘Intro’. The 6 track project takes an eclectic route with no song sounding the same. This approach works well throughout and helps to deliver a whirlwind of an 18 minute listen.
Sonically, Deja meshes pop inspiration with a modern R&B vibe to illustrate her playful and versatile ability.
Tracks like ‘Losing Game’ and ‘Sit Down’ are straight-up anthems that would go off in any settings. Deja’s complete confidence throughout the EP cuts through effortlessly well and something she mentions when speaking on the project: “I’m very much in an unapologetic place right now so most of the tracks affirm my assertion of power; “ted talk”, “Sit Down”, “Control”, all came from an IDGAF kinda energy. Yes, I class myself as a baddie and yes, I’m a gemini – we multifaceted honey!”
And it’s this energy that makes the listen ever so enjoyable. However, do not get it twisted. DEJA is not only just bringing confidence and big energy on ‘Intro’. Vocally she is angelic and has a tone that floats across the varied production on show throughout the EP.
