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SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE

~ Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE

Tag Archives: hil st soul

Top Ten Songs of 2008 You’ve Probably Never Heard

15 Monday Dec 2008

Posted by Vivrant Thang in Best Of Lists

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

angela johnson, brittany bosco, eric lau, esperanza spalding, hil st soul, roots picnic, santogold, serena leah, sy smith, taiwah, top songs of 2008, tortured soul, zaki ibrahim

It’s that time of the year! Everybody and their play cousin is counting down the best of 2008 – including yours truly. Last year, I counted down my Top 10 songs and concerts of the year. Those are still coming your way so stay tuned.

However, since this site’s mission is to shine the spotlight on underrated artists that you’ll likely never hear on your local fm radio station I decided to kick things off with a list of songs I’ve been grooving to throughout the year that you may have never heard before.

You’ll notice that on this particular list, the ladies are running this mutha. A lot of the  male artists I recently discovered didn’t release new music this year. Or I was on the late bandwagon and don’t have their music in constant rotation (looking at you Kameron Corvet, Darien, Heston, Cornielle, and Colby Odonis – to name a few).

Here is my hard-wrought, hard-fought Top 10 in no particular order. Get into these artists.

ericlau1

1. Eric Lau f/ Serena, “Time Will Tell”

I believe it was my good friend Soul UK who introduced me to London-based producer Eric Lau. I have mentioned by love for producers like J Dilla, Nicolay and 9th Wonder before so  I was all too happy to take a listen to Eric Lau’s beats. It was love at first listen, especially since it led me to the discovery of female UK soul artists like Rahel, Taiwah and Serena Leah who appears on this track. This was one of the songs that stayed on repeat from Lau’s New Territories. Time will tell indeed what’s in store for this producer and the artists whose voices flow so effortlessly over these head nodding beats.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/06%20-%20time%20will%20tell.mp3

santogold

2. Santogold, “You’ll Find A Way”

Actually, Santogold is probably no stranger to most of you. You’ve likely heard her music, maybe just not this song if you didn’t buy her album or see her in concert. I was fairly unfamiliar with Santi until I saw her perform at the Roots Pre-Picnic Jam session back in June. It’s definitely a departure from the type of music I typically like but there’s something about this song. It energizes me, makes me want to rock out. No, I really do start headbanging every time I listen to it.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/Santogold%20-%20youfindaway.mp3

zaki

3. Zaki Ibrahim, “Connected”

I discovered this Toronto-based artist by accident while digging through the crates for something else. Sometimes the best things happen accidentally. It was hard to pick my favorite off of this EP but this particular song about feeling so connected to her man that she wants to breathe him in so she can see what he’s made of really got under my skin. It made me want to be bunned up posthaste. Very Sade-esque.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/07%20Money%20%28King%20Britt%20Mix%29.mp3

torturedsoul

 

4. Tortured Soul, “Home To You”

Months later, I am still reminiscing about my first Tortured Soul Experience. As much as I consider myself to be a soulful house fan, I am very ‘shamed to say I wasn’t up on them before the show. Let’s just say after seeing them live just once, they have a fan for life. After seeing the live performance of  Home To You , from their EP, In Transit, it stayed in constant rotation. A second full-length effort cannot come quick enough.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/Tortured%20Soul%20-%20Home%20To%20You.mp3

sysmith

5. Sy Smith, Fly Away With Me

After seeing DC native Sy Smith perform live for the first time earlier this year (notice a trend here?), and being thorough entertained and impressed by her stage show, I was checking hard for her albums. I started out with her latest, Conflict. Don’t tell anyone but Viv made a playlist for a “friend” earlier this year and this track was on it. “Lose yourself in my love without trying.” Sy said it better than I could ever say it – and sounded MUCH better than I would have!

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/02-sy_smith-fly_away_with_me.mp3

spectrum

6. Brittany Bosco, “8 Trak”

Yet another discovery I owe to Soul UK. I am looking forward to what 2009 has in store for Brittanybecause if this EP was any indication, the future is indeed bright. The title of this track was what intrigued me at first. From the moment, I pressed play, I fell in love with the old soul feel to it, which is of course very apropos. I picture her opening for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Raphael Saadiq with a song like this. And of course Viv loves the sentiment 😉

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/03%208-Trak%201.mp3

tawiah-1-1-1-11

7. Taiwah, “Watch Out”

You already know how I feel about Taiwah. If you didn’t listen to me the first time, I’m really going to need you to get on that. This is the first song on the EP and the opening chords drew me in immediately. Hauntingly beautiful. And I have so been here. This song takes me back there but it isn’t an entirely unpleasant visit.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/01%20Watch%20Out.mp3

esperanza2

8. Esperanza Spalding “I Know You Know”

I admit to being late to the party once again in discovering this jazz phenom. But that’s why I make it my business to attend as many live shows as I can. Once I saw her at the Roots Picnic that miserably hot June day singing and handling that bass like it wasn’t twice her size, I knew I had to learn more. I don’t talk much about my love for jazz here but Esperanza’s album makes me want to make that a priority in 2009. Although she didn’t perform this song at the picnic, it was one I kept coming back to.  I know you know that you should put her on your playlist whether you’re a jazz lover or not. It’s simply good music.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/02%20-I%20Know%20You%20Know%20-Esperanza.mp3

angelaj

9. Angela Johnson f/Julie Dexter “How Sweet Life Is”

I put this song on when I need to be reminded that regardless of what I’m going through, how sweet life is. I’m alive and have all my limbs and mental faculties (most days). Julie Dexter’s melodic voice immediately pulls me into a serious groove. I start to rocking and want to jump up and testify! If I could actually carry a tune, I would want to sing this in church. How grateful indeed. I am so glad that Angela Johnson “presented” us with this one. Take notes, you’ll see this album again.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/12-angela_johnson-how_sweet_life_is_%28feat._julie_dexter%29_%28www.mp3pages.net%29.mp3

hil

10. Hil St Soul, The Sweetest Days

I have been all about the UK Soul this year haven’t I? I have been a Hil fan since her debut album. I was so excited to see her perform at the Capital Jazz Festival last year. I was on pins and needles waiting for her latest release and she did not disappoint. She is on my short list of truly underrated female artists.  I can totally related to that yearning for “yester-me, yester-you, yesterday” as she sang, “In the words of Stevie, what happened to the world we knew?” This song also reminded me of how I felt the first time I heard Jilly from Philly’s “Do You Remember?”

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/510642/03-hil_st._soul-sweetest_days.mp3

Your turn, my dear readers. Let me know some of your favorite tracks of the year that you’re sure nobody but you has on constant rotation.

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My Favorite Things: UK Soul Artists

06 Wednesday Aug 2008

Posted by Vivrant Thang in Feeding The Music Jones

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

artists from the uk, artists from the uk that sing soul music, beverly knight, british artists, carleen anderson, Geoffrey Williams, good soul music, hil st soul, list of favorite british artists, list of favorite soul artists from the uk, omar, shaun escoffery, soul artists from the uk, terri walker, uk soul artists

by vivrant thang on uk soul and my favorite things

As we know, not all good soul music comes from artists here in the States. 

The success of artists like Corrine Bailey Rae,  Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse have certainly put the UK on the map in recent years. Duffy and Adele are getting there as well. However, there are so many other artists across the water who have been making music for years and haven’t gotten the same recognition.

Omar, Incognito, Brand New Heavies are just a few of the British artists that have been in constant rotation on my ‘pod for years now. If not on yours as well, shame on you! 🙂 While grooving with Omar recently and reminiscing on the last time I saw him in concert,  I started on a little journey to discover just what other flava the UK could put in my ear.

As with all of my “favorite things” list, this one is not comprehensive by any means. Please hip me to any others I should be checking out in the comments. Also be sure to visit the UK Soul site which definitely helped me discover a lot of the artists featured here.

Beverly Knight “The Queen of UK Soul”
official | myspace

Hil St. Soul
myspace

I had the pleasure of seeing Hil in concert last summer and she is amazing live – even better than the album if that’s possible.

Shaun Escoffery
official | myspace

Terri Walker
official | myspace

Geoffrey Williams
myspace

Carleen Anderson
official | myspace

Natalie Williams
official | myspace

Ola Onabule
official | myspace

Bryn Christopher
official | myspace

Alice Russell
official | myspace

Don-E
official | myspace

Aaron James Cashell
official | myspace

Vivienne Woo
 myspace

Adelaide McKenzie
official | myspace

Steph Newton
 myspace

Rasiyah
myspace

Bembe Segue
 myspace

Eska
myspace

Rahel
official | myspace

Sarina Leah
myspace

Lemar
official | myspace

Nate James
official | myspace

Taiwah
myspace

Alyson Joyce
myspace |

Kyra Simone
official | myspace

Get into these artists! You won’t be disappointed.

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My Favorite Things: Underrated Female Soul Singers

25 Tuesday Mar 2008

Posted by Vivrant Thang in Underrated Artist Spotlights

≈ 40 Comments

Tags

algebra blessett, brown baby girl, carol riddick, choklate, conya doss, d'nell, deborah bond, female neo soul artists, goapele, hil st soul, jaguar wright, joi, joy denalane, ledisi, leela james, lina, liv warfield, lizz fields, lizz wright, marie tweek, n'dambi, sharon jones and the dap kings, stephanie mckay, sy smith, teedra moses, trina broussard, underrated artists, underrated female soul singers, vivian green, yazarah

ndambi.jpg

 

Once again, this is not the post I planned for today.  However, this is probably a good way to round out Women’s History Month. Normally, I would give ya’ll some rudimentary collage of pictures and some videos. I just don’t have it in me today.

I am coming down with a case of the nasties and I can tell it’s going to be a bad one if I don’t nip it in the bud. I don’t even know if getting that ‘Tussin down in it is going to work. Ya’ll pray that it does. A sista is on the move. I got a date with Sy Smith tomorrow night and will be up in NYC this weekend enjoying Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The show has got to go on.

I came up with the idea for this post while riding home today, berating myself for the fleeting thought I had last week that it would be “nice” if I got sick again like I did a couple of years ago when I lost 12lbs in three days.  I couldn’t hold anythingon my stomach, not even water. Folks, be very careful what you let enter your mind.  Lizz Fields’ excellent album, By Day, By Nightwas caressing my ears and I got to thinking about how I wish I could hear more of the soul sistas (and brothers) with true talent on the radio instead of the bs they play fifty eleven times a day.

I don’t have the energy for that rant.

Anyhow, here’s a list of female soul singers that I enjoy. Not an exhaustive list BY ANY MEANS. It’s just what I captured from the ‘pod and my Myspace friends list. I didn’t even go through my cd’s. We would have been here all night!

  • Alison Carney
    myspace
  • Algebra Blessett
    myspace | ‘Behind the Groove’ interview
  • Angela Johnson
    myspace
  • Ashley Phillips
    website | myspace
  • Brown Baby Girl (female member)
    website | myspace
  • Carol Riddick
    website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
  • Choklate
    website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
  • Conya Doss
    website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
  • Deborah Bond
    website | myspace
  • D’Nell (female member)
    website | myspace
  • Goapele
    website | myspace | interview with Honeysoul | “Closer” post
  • Hil St Soul (new album hit stores 4/29!!!)
    myspace
  • Jaguar Wright
    website | myspace
  • Jean Baylor
    website | myspace
  • Joy Denalane
    website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
  • Joi
    website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
  • Ledisi
    website | myspace |interview on Soul Bounce | “Take Time” post
  • Leela James
    website | myspace
  • Leigh Jones
    website | myspace
  • Lina
    website | myspace
  • Lizz Fields
    website | myspace
  • Lizz Wright
    website | myspace
  • Liv Warfield
    website | myspace
  • Marie Tweek
    myspace
  • N’Dambi (the beautiful inspiration for my profile pic)
    website | myspace
  • Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
    website | myspace | concert review
  • Stephanie McKay
    website | myspace
  • Sy Smith
    website | myspace | interview on honeysoul
  • Teedra Moses
    website | myspace | concert review | “Cut Buddy” or “Celibacy Blues” post
  • Trina Broussard
    website | myspace
  • Wayna
    website | myspace
  • Vivian Green
    website | myspace | “Affected” post 
  • Yazarah 
    myspace | concert review

If you haven’t already, get into these artists. Purchase their albums. Support real music.

Again, this is not the list. It’s my list and it’s not exhaustive, by any means. Please feel free to add your favorite underrated female soul singers in the comments. I am always looking for new inspiration. Look out for more posts using songs from artists like these.

If you want to gain a deeper appreciation for these and other non-mainstream artists, check are some of the sites on my blogroll. They help me stay “woke.”

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