JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 83rd anniversary of Sly Stone’s birth.
Tag: psych soul
Throwback: Happy 74th Birthday, Ernie Isley!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Ernie Isley’s 74th birthday.
New Audio: Sunnan Shares Mind-Bending and Hypnotic “Sail (Lady in Waiting)”
Swedish outfit Sunnan can trace their origins through a series of unlikely encounters, including pandemic-era change, a barn with panoramic windows in Sunnanhed and a meeting with a Stockholm rave legend. In many ways the band embodies creative serendipity — and unsurprisingly, their origin story, which feels both inevitable and improbable, echoes through their work.
The band quickly built a reputation with the release of a series of standout singles including “My Love For You,” “Wild Horses,” and “The Sound (Make It Come Back),” their collaboration with Titiyo. 2024’s debut studio album Cinema was released to widespread praise across the Nordics and earned two Swedish Grammy nominations.
Last year’s Cinema Sound System helped propel the Swedish outfit onto the global stage with its three singles receiving heavy radio rotation on Nordic radio stations, received strong DSP support and organic crossover into North American and European markets. The band supported their debut and EP with 20 sold-out dates across the Nordics and the European Union.
Building upon a growing profile, the Swedish outfit’s highly-anticipated sophomore album Spaghetti Soul is slated for release this year. Spaghetti Soul reportedly will see the band further cementing their critically applauded cinematic sound while further expanding their sonic palette with the album’s material being bold fusion of Italian Spaghetti Western grandeur and classic soul, filtered through a modern lens.
Spaghetti Soul‘s latest single, “Sail (Lady In Waiting)” is a mind-bending blend of 60s-styled psych rock, Morricone-inspired soundscapes and blue-eyed/Northern soul that showcases a band that effortlessly pairs old fashion craftsmanship with vibey atmospherics, deft musicianship and incredibly catchy hooks. “Sail (Lady In Waiting)” captures what the band describes as “the manifestation of a new genre.”
“‘Sail’ is the bridge from Cinema Sound System to our sophomore album Spaghetti Soul,” the band explains. “Leaning into our cinematic roots and timeless soundtracks like ‘Hurricane’ and ‘All Along the Watchtower’, the song portrays the legend of a life well lived — beauty preserved in memory, and hope for one last ride.”
Throwback: Happy 72nd Birthday, Shuggie Otis!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Shuggie Otis’ 72nd birthday.
New Audio: JOVM Mainstay SHOLTO Returns with Dreamy “Tied to the Mast”
Initially known as being one-half of indie outfit Sunglasses for Jaws, the rising London-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Oscar “Sholto” Robertson grew up with with a deep and abiding love of jazz, soul, krautrock and soundtracks from the 60s and 70s. As a producer, Robertson honed his production skills under the guidance and tutelage of Allah-Las‘ Nick Waterhouse and Inflo.
A handful of years ago, Roberston stepped out into the spotlight as a solo artist with his recording project, SHOLTO. And with SHOLTO, the rising London-based multi-instrumentalist has firmly cemented a cinematic take on instrumental, psychedelic soul.
Robertson’s highly-anticipated sophomore SHOLTO album, The Sirens is slated for a November 21, 2025 release through DeepMatter Records. Recorded at the London-based composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist’s Hackney-based SJF Studio, the 12-song album sees Robertson continuing an ongoing collaboration with a familiar cast of musicians, who have helped flesh out the gorgeous, string section accentuated, groove-driven soundscapes he’s developed, including Syd Kemp (bass), Clementine Brown (strings) and Rachel Horton Kitchlew (harp).
The album will see Roberson and his collaborators crafting an album of material that’s emotionally unflinching and explores themes of duality, temptation and emotional dislocation, in Robertson’s words “blurring grief wit groove, seduction and surrender.” Sonically, the album’s material sees Robertson building upon the groove-driven, strings-soaked soundscapes and ethereal textures that has won him attention in the UK and elsewhere but inverting that beauty into a haunting fever dream.
Using the world of myth and the carnivalesque as a vehicle for exploring the intricacies of the human condition, The Sirens emerged from a period of uncertainty and spiritual fatigue. Drawing from ancient allegory to navigate through the inner turbulence he experienced, the album’s material is rooted in quiet defiance and tension that sometimes never quite resolves. While being deeply cinematic, the album’s material is anchored by Robertson’s rhythmic sensibility and dramatic vocal cues that drift in and out, evoking the ancient tale of the Sirens calling out to sailors while evoking dream sequences seemingly caught mid-thought. “The Sirens trades the ethereal shimmer of my earlier records with something a little more nuanced and emotionally unflinching, slightly darker. It doesn’t really resolve, just resonates – a love letter to the parts of ourselves we usually avoid.”
The Sirens‘ third and last pre-release single “Tied to the Mast” opens with a bursts of glitchy vocals being swallowed by breathtakingly gorgeous, twinkling strings before morphing into a swaggering, Motown/Daptone/Big Crown-like soul groove with an ethereal cacophony of vocals calling out from the swelling storm of sound. The song evokes a small boat out at sea that gets caught and pulled into — and then under — a swelling storm, before breaking apart and tossing its sailors into the sea.
“’Tied to the Mast’ is a stormy, myth-soaked odyssey. It opens with distant, glitchy siren-esque vocals – spectral and seductive, like ancient voices cutting through static,” Robertson says. “Then comes the drop – Odysseus lashed to the mast, as the storm climaxes the track unravels into a slow more haunting coda, melodies scattered like the wreckage. You’re left drifting and floating in the aftermath, unsure if you have survived or where always meant to crash.”
Throwback: R.I.P. Sly Stone!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the live and music of Sylvester Stewart, a.k. Sly Stone.
Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, Sly Stone!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the legendary Sly Stone’s 82nd birthday.
New Video: Night Beats Shares Slinky “Behind The Green Door”
As the creative mastermind of Night Beats, Texas-born Danny Lee Blackwell has spent the past 15 years exploring a nexus of vintage rhythm and blues, after-midnight soul and sun-scorched psychedelia.
Slated for an April 11, 2025 release through Suicide Squeeze, the “Behind The Green Door”/”Behind The Green Door (Rah John Version)” 7″ sees Blackwell presenting two markedly different renditions of “Behind The Green Door.” The A-side single “Behind The Green Door” is a slinky, late night psych soul/psych blues number that sounds like the soundtrack to dimly lit, smokey bars and dance halls filled with drunken revelers swaying to the beat in unison; sultry, late night drives in which you’re hypnotized by brush and trees and white lines on hot blacktop, lost in thought or memory.
“This song started as a lone star instrumental, something I pieced together in my studio in 2024,” Blackwell explains. “I imagined dusty roads and dimly lit dance halls. I wanted the guitars to shimmer like heat waves on an openroad. The rhythm to pull like footsteps across a wooden floor, soaked in smoke and neon. The lyrics followed, drawn from past and present—unwavering love, transcendence. The ‘green door’ is that threshold between devotion and disillusionment. The story lives not just in the words, but in the tones and textures, if uncovered.”
Directed by Blackwell, the moody and hallucinatory accompanying video for “Behind The Green Door” is heavily inspired by giallo films.
Throwback: Happy 71st Birthday, Shuggie Otis!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Shuggie Otis’ 71st birthday.
Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, Isaac Hayes!
JOVM’s WIlliam Ruben Helms celebrates Isaac Hayes’ 82nd birthday.
New Audio: Homer and Hether Team Up on Woozy and Meditative “Deep Sea”
Acclaimed New York-born and-based drummer, songwriter and producer Homer Steinweiss has a storied career that started when he was just a teenager. He has been instrumental in helping bring the raw-but-receptive soul sound back into the mainstream through his work with Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley. Steinwess has also been behind the kit for nearly every soul outfit that has mattered.
The New York-born and-based musician is now one of the most in demand drummers in the world, playing with the likes of Clairo, Solange, Adele, Silk Sonic and Bruno Mars, among a lengthy list of others. And much like his longtime bandmate Dave Guy, Steinweiss is stepping into the spotlight as a both a musician and producer with Ensatina, his first solo album released under the moniker Homer.
Slated for a November 15, 2024 release through Big Crown Records, Ensatina is reflection of who Steinweiss is now and a testament of how struggle often brings about much-needed changes. He was dealing with considerable emotional turbulence; at the same time that his band Holy Hive broke up, a long-personal relationship fell apart, putting him in an uncertain place mentally. The fallout was significant enough for him to seek professional help. “I was going through these super manic highs and then very depressive lows,” Steinweiss explains. “And being in all that, it’s just so tough to imagine that the other side is there, that it’ll be ok.” But, with time, professional help, and support from friends and family, Homer made it through and has been forever changed. This album is a product of that period of his life.
For Steinweiss, creating the album was a refuge, and it put him back on track. Creatives across the world have an innate understanding of that. But the album is also a glimpse into the different energies that influences that make the man and the artist tick. And fittingly, the album is the beginning of a new, interesting chapter of Steinweiss’ life and career.
Ensatina‘s first single “Deep Sea feat. Hether” is a slow-burning and woozy love song set over a hypnotic back beat, a gorgeous and dreamy trumpet line and a strummed acoustic guitar line. The lush and meditative arrangement compliments Hether’s dreamily romantic delivery and lyrics, which includes a sweet nod to Steinwess now wife. The song seems to suggest that when we’re struggling in life’s deep sea, love — in all of its forms — can be the lifeline.
The track between the two friends came together quickly, with Steinweiss remarking, “It’s my favorite song on the album. Hether, as a friend, saw me through my highs and lows, and this track captures the full energy of what was happening during the time we were recording.”
London-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Oscar “Sholto” Robertson grew up with a deep and abiding love of jazz, soul, krautrock and 60s and 70s soundtracks. Initially known as being one-half of indie outfit Sunglasses for Jaws, Robertson honed his production skills under the guidance and tutelage of Allah-Las‘ Nick Waterhouse and Inflo.
Four years ago, Robertson stepped out into the spotlight as a solo artist with his latest project SHOLTO, which sees him crafting a unique take on instrumental, psychedelic soul. Last year was a big year for the rising London-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer: He signed to Deep Matter imprint Root Records, who released his SHOTOL debut, The Changing Tides of Dreams EP.
The rising British artist’s work has received airplay from Jazz FM‘s Tony Minvielle and BBC Radio 6‘s Huey Morgan, Deb Grant and Gilles Peterson. Building upon a rapidly growing national profile, Robertson’s latest track “Ligurian Storm” continues a run of gorgeous and mischievously anachronistic material that seemingly channels The Ironsides, Mildlife, Adrian Younge/The Midnight Hour, David Axelrod and Quincy Jones — but with a cinematic quality.
Conceived on a stormy train ride from Milan to Liguria, the compositions blend of swelling and building harp, strings, vibraphone and synths evoke the build up on a growing storm swallowing and overwhelming a beautiful landscape.
Throwback: Happy 82nd Birthday, Curtis Mayfield!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 82nd anniversary of Curtis Mayfield’s birth.
New Video: Brainstory Shares a Woozy 70s-Inspired Visual for “XFaded,” an Ode To Getting Fucked Up
Brainstory‘s Leon Michels-produced sophomore album Sounds Good was released last month through renowned purveyors of soul, Big Crown Records.
The album features the previously released:
- “Gift of Life,” a lush, old-school, Quiet Storm-like, show-topping ballad built around a shimmering and vibey arrangement featuring fluttering, ethereal flute paired with Kevin Martin’s emotive, falsetto croon and some incredibly catch hooks. While the song see the band pulling from classic soul, psych soul and dub in a way that sounds like it could been released sometime between 1968-1974, “Gift of Life,” manages to feel remarkably modern.
- “Listen,” a classic, two-step inducing groove-driven song with shimmering analog synths, an overdrive-fueled guitar solo paired with some dreamy falsetto melodies and harmonies that sounds — to me, at least — as though it could have been been a Mandrill or Isley Brothers B side. The song sees the band’s Kevin Martin encouraging the listener to spend some time enjoying the present moment, because life’s all too short and remarkably fleeting
- “Peach Optimo,” a slow-burning and summery bit of psych soul anchored around a strutting and wobbling bass line, glistening keys, some funky drum rhythm patterns and an expressive guitar solo paired with some retro-futuristic synths. Seemingly channelling JOVM mainstays Mildlife and L’Eclair, sees the trio diving into the banality and simple pleasures of teenaged suburban life — full of the nostalgia of cul-de-sac hangs and bullshit sessions with the homies.
And Sounds Good‘s fifth and latest single “XFaded,” a strutting, hook-driven and funky psych soul jam anchored around an arrangement featuring skittering boom bap, a sinuous bass line and squiggling bursts of guitar. According to the trio, the song’s sound was partially inspired by what theft thought a modern day George Clinton/Parliament funk jam would sound like — and by small town life, where getting fucked up is an unofficial/official pastime because there isn’t much else to really do. The slick Leon Michels production paired with the band’s razor sharp yet seemingly effortless performance ironically contrasts the notion of getting sloppy and fucked up but reveals the easy-going chemistry between the trio and producer.
Directed and animated by J. Bonne, the animated video for “XFaded” is visually indebted to The Beatles‘ Yellow Submarine, Fat Albert and Scooby Doo and follows the trio getting absolutely fucked up at a house party to wildly different results, including passing out with lit joint and drool rolling out of the corner of your mouth and almost starting a fire, desperately needing the wall to hold you up, but somehow failing and throwing up — or even hooking up with that pretty young thing that caught your eye. The video captures the wooziness of getting sloppily fucked up in a way that feels familiar to anyone who’s ever been sloppily fucked up at a party or in public.
Rialto, CA-based soul outfit Brainstory will be releasing their Leon Michels-produced sophomore album Sounds Good on Friday through renowned purveyors of soul, Big Crown Records.
The album will feature:
- “Gift of Life,” a lush, old-school, Quiet Storm-like, show-topping ballad built around a shimmering and vibey arrangement featuring fluttering, ethereal flute paired with Kevin Martin’s emotive, falsetto croon and some incredibly catch hooks. While the song see the band pulling from classic soul, psych soul and dub in a way that sounds like it could been released sometime between 1968-1974, “Gift of Life,” manages to feel remarkably modern.
- “Listen,” a classic, two-step inducing groove-driven song with shimmering analog synths, an overdrive-fueled guitar solo paired with some dreamy falsetto melodies and harmonies that sounds — to me, at least — as though it could have been been a Mandrill or Isley Brothers B side. The song sees the band’s Kevin Martin encouraging the listener to spend some time enjoying the present moment, because life’s all too short and remarkably fleeting
- “Peach Optimo,” a slow-burning and summery bit of psych soul anchored around a strutting and wobbling bass line, glistening keys, some funky drum rhythm patterns and an expressive guitar solo paired with some retro-futuristic synths. Seemingly channelling JOVM mainstays Mildlife and L’Eclair, sees the trio diving into the banality and simple pleasures of teenaged suburban life — full of the nostalgia of cul-de-sac hangs and bullshit sessions with the homies.
Sounds Good‘s fifth and latest single “XFaded” is a strutting, hook-driven and funky psych soul jam anchored around an arrangement featuring skittering boom bap, a sinuous bass line and squiggling bursts of guitar. According to the trio, the song’s sound was partially inspired by what theft thought a modern day George Clinton/Parliament funk jam would sound like — and by small town life, where getting fucked up is an unofficial/official pastime because there isn’t much else to really do. The slick Leon Michels production paired with the band’s razor sharp yet seemingly effortless performance ironically contrasts the notion of getting sloppy and fucked up but reveals the easy-going chemistry between the trio and producer.
The trio are about to embark on a run of headlining Stateside dates and a couple of stops on the global festival circuit, before joining Lady Wray in May for a run of UK and European Union dates. Tour dates are below.
BRAINSTORY TOUR DATES
Apr 18 Lodge Room – Los Angeles, CA **SOLD OUT
Apl 19 The Independent- San Francisco, CA
Apr 20 Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
Apr 21 Pappy & Harriets – Pioneertown, CA
Apr 22 Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ
Apr 23 Love Buzz – El Paso, TX
Apr 25 Tandem – San Antonio, TX
Apr 26 Psych Fest – Austin, TX
Apr 27 Norman Music Festival – Norman, OK
Apr 29 Sister Bar – Albuquerque, NM
May 01 Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
May 02 The Atrium – Fort Collins, CO
May 03 DLC – Salt Lake City, UT
May 04 Neurolux – Boise, ID
May 07 High DIve – Seattle, WA
May 08 Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
May 14 Bird, Rotterdam, Netherlands +
May 15 Bitterzoet, Amsterdam, Netherland +
May 16 Knust – Hamburg, Germany +
May 17 Franz Mhelhose – Enfurt, Germany +
May 18 Lido – Berlin, Germany +
May 20 La Maroquinerie – Paris, France +
May 23 Belgrave Music Hall – Leeds, UK +
May 24 Lost Horizon – Bristol, UK +
May 26 Cross The Tracks Festival – Brockwell Park, UK
May 27 Jazz Cafe – London, UK +
May 28 The Blues Kitchen – Manchester, UK +
May 29 St. Luke’s – Glasgow, Scotland +
Jun 08 The Rockaway Hotel – Rockaway, NY +
Jul 08 FEQ Festival D’ete De Quebec – Quebec, Canada
+ notes dates with Lady Wray