JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman’s 52nd birthday.
Tag: R&B
Throwback: Happy 94th Birthday, Ray Charles!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 94th anniversary of Ray Charles’ birth.
New Audio: deathybypeanuts Teams Up with J.A.D.E on a Sultry Ode to Black Hair
deathbypeanuts is a mysterious and rising Berlin-based producer, multi-instrumentalist and artist. As a classically trained pianist, the mysterious and rising German-based artist switched to contemporary jazz piano and bass guitar as a teen, before starting his music career at 17 as a touring musician.
During the pandemic, the rising German-based artist took his first steps as a producer and songwriter. And since then, he has collaborated with an eclectic array of acclaimed and rising artists including Kelvyn Colt, Chris James, Noah Slee, Beau Diako, JOVM mainstay Marie Dahlstrom, Sipprell, J. Lamotta, and a lengthy list of others while showcasing an ever-evolving sound and approach.
deathbypeanuts’ highly-anticipated debut EP is slated for a November release through Lekker Collective. The EP’s latest single “4 My 4Cs” features vocals from Amsterdam-based neo-soul/R&B artist J.A.D.E. The Dutch-based artist’s work delves deeply into her open-minded exploration of love experiences, featuring her captivating and soulful melodies. Anchored around a lush, Quiet Storm-like production with glistening synths, a strutting bass line, “4 My 4Cs” sees the Amsterdam-based artist singing about self-love — namely loving your coily, kinky Black hair — with a sultry vocal turn.
Throwback: Happy Belated 72nd Birthday, Nile Rodgers!
September is a busy month in music history. The legendary and iconic Nile Rodgers celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday. Rodgers has produced, written, played and/or performed some of the most beloved dance and pop songs of the […]
Throwback: Happy 99th Birthday, B.B. King!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 99th anniversary of B.B. King’s birth.
Throwback: Happy 83rd Birthday, Otis Redding!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 83rd anniversary of Otis Redding’s birth.
Throwback: Happy 60th Birthday, Pebbles!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Pebbles’ 60th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 71st Birthday, Marvin Isley!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 71st anniversary of the birth of The Isley Brothers’ Marvin Isley.
Throwback: Happy 61st Birthday, Whitney Houston!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 61st anniversary of Whitney Huoston’s birth.
Live Footage: Charlotte Day Wilson Performs Intimate and Soulful “My Way”
Toronto-based JOVM mainstay Charlotte Day Wilson exploded into the national and international scenes with her critically applauded debut 2016’s CDW EP and her critically applauded full-length full-length debut, 2021’s ALPHA, an effort that served as a metaphorical coming out — with the album’s material openly and honestly tapping into her queerness as a storyteller/songwriter.
Over the past decade, her work has been sampled by the likes of Drake, John Mayer and James Blake. Further cementing her reputation as an artist’s artist, she has collaborated with Kaytranada, BADBADNOTGOOD, Snoh Aalegra and SG Lewis, which has helped her become a musical chameleon. She also has received praise for the supergroup remix of “Take Care Of You” featuring Syd, King Princess, Amaarae and the legendary and incomparable Meshell Ndegeocello.
Earlier this year, the acclaimed Canadian artist released her highly-anticipated Leon Thomas and Jack Rochon co-produced sophomore album Cyan Blue to praise from Clash Magazine, Billboard and a lengthy list of others. Sonically, the album is a smoothly woven tapestry of her eternal influences — in particular, thumping gospel piano, warm soul baselines, atmospheric electronics and penetrating R&B melodies while also showcasing the evolution of her songwriting.
Throughout the course of this year, the Toronto-based Wilson has been busily touring to support the album across North America. During performances, she was moved by the audience’s reception to “My Way,” a soul-baring bit of old-school, singer/songwriter soul that feels effortless and timeless.
In response Wilson shared a live performance video of the song, shot by Josh Renaut that features accompaniment by Ryan Macdonald (drums), Ian Culley (guitar) and Ourielle Auvé (harp). The live footage should serve as an introduction to one of the best, young soul singer/songwriters in entire world to those who don’t know her — and a reminder of how supremely talented she is to those who are familiar with her work.
Throwback: Happy Belated 51st Birthday, Wanya Morris!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris’ 51st birthday.
Brazilian-born, Berlin-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Rafa Mura, initially relocated to Berlin when he was 18 years-old to study Computer Science. And while in school, he built a home studio in his dorm room. After dropping out of college to pursue a music degree, Mura started his own recording project Shimizu, which sees him blending both analog and electronic music, playing most of the instrumentation and then often resampling the material to craft a sound that has been described as a warm hug and as he puts it, “sad songs to dance to,” while being heavily influenced by Brazilian music.
With Shimizu, Mura has collaborated with different artists from across the Berlin scene, including A.K.A. Kelzz, Rosa Landers, Ish and more.
“MinuteSpent” sees the rising Brazilian-born, Berlin-based multi-instrumentalist and producer continuing to collaborate with an eclectic collection of artists in the local scene. In this case:
- Luminiah, a Santa Fe, NM-born, Berlin-based musician and singer/songwriter. A third generation musician and singer/songwriter, the Santa Fe-born, Berlin-based artist grew up singing folk sand the blues with both her father and grandfather. As a solo artist, Luminiah’s work is inspired by the likes of Erykah Badu and Cleo Sol and sees her blending elements of neo-soul, R&B and folk.
- Charlotte Colace, a Berlin-based Cuban-French neo-soul singer/songwriter, whose work possesses a distinctive rock ‘n’ roll edge. Colace is currently a backing vocalist and percussionist for local act Stella & The Longos and a member of the acclaimed singer/songwriter choir A Song For You. And as a solo artist, her brutally honest and emotionally charged lyrics provide a raw, sensitive and thoughtful perspective on the world.
Sonically “MinuteSpent” is a woozy blend of baile funk and footwork featuring glitchy and jazzy breakbeats paired with glistening Larry Levan-like arpeggiated synths serving as a lush and soulful bed for Luminiah’s and Colace’s yearning and soulful vocals and harmonies. The song manages to capture the blissful yet obsessive emotions of a budding romance, where the time you’ve spent with that special somehow never quite feels sufficient — and you long for them constantly.
Live Concert Photography: Elsewhere Festival: Day 2: 6/22/24 Feat. Vince Staples, BADBADNOTGOOD and Sudan Archives
Live concert photography of Elsewhere Festival’s second day feat. Vince Staples, BADBADNOTGOOD and Sudan Archives.
