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Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Zay’Marie Shares Lush “Open”

Zay’Marie is a Virginia Beach-born, Washington, DC-based artist, who has quickly established a sound that seamlessly fuses soul, R&B and pop rooted in raw emotion and undeniable energy.

The Virginia Beach-born, DC-based artist’s debut EP Natural was released earlier this month. Thematically, the EP’s material is a raw, authentic journey through love, embracing the highs, navigating the uncertainties while standing firm in self-worth and resilience.

EP single “Open” is a slickly produced track that strikes me as being a sleek mix of elements of Afrobeats, contemporary pop and R&B featuring skittering polyrhythm, atmospheric synths and a supple, sinuous bass line serving as an ethereal yet lush bed for Zay’Marie’s soulful, self-assured yet longing delivery. The result is a song that showcases a burgeoning talent, who can craft a hook-driven yet soulful tune.

singer/songwriters by William Ruben Helms

Throwback: Happy 113th Birthday, Lightnin’ Hopkins!

JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 113th anniversary of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ birth.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Single: coiro and ALSO ASTIR Team Up on Lush “Don’t Let Go”

coiro is a São Paulo-born and-based electronic music artist, who’s dreamy deep house-meets-techno sound creates a calming ambiance that simultaneously engages and mobilizes listeners by stirring up emotions in a similar fashion to that of nature. For the Brazilian electronic music producer, he uses his music to escape the tumult and density of his homeland’s largest city.

ASTIR is an evocative artist who specializes in a sound that’s ethereal, raw and envelope the listener in a world of introspection and atmospheric beauty, one that seems him thriving on the delicate balance between minimalism and emotional intensity. Thematically, his work focuses on inner turmoil, personal growth and the search for connection in an often-fragmented world. ALSO ASTIR is a sort of side project that sees the artist creating a more expansive and experimental approach to electronic music that sees him exploring broader, more dynamic soundscapes, characterized by intricate synth layers. bold production choices and delicate melodies. The result is a sound that feels deeply personal and cinematic.

Since its inception ALSO ASTIR has collaborated with a collection of acclaimed artists including Adriatique, Yotto, AVIRA, Nuage and BAILE and has released material through Armada Music, Anjuna, Enhanced Music, Get The Sound and X Recordings that have amassed over 16 million streams across DSPs. Adding to a growing profile, “Forget,” a collaboration with Yotto and AVIRA has reached Shazam charts globally, resonating with audiences at festivals and elsewhere. Additionally, he was named Shazam’s Breakthrough Electronic Artist of 2025.

The two rising electronic music producers and artists recently teamed up on “Don’t Let Go” a woozily lush and percussive banger featuring glistening synth oscillations, chiming percussion and skittering beats paired with vocals that are delicate and yearning. The result is a track that’s sensual and cinematic while reminding me a bit of Octo Octa‘s Between Two Selves.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Philly’s Jaco Jaco Shares Vibey “I Won’t Bother”

Tulsa-born, Philadelphia-based musician and visual artist Jacob Theriot’s career began in earnest when he began writing and recording music in grade school with his brother and childhood friend. Those early efforts led to the acclaimed indie outfit Sports. 

After three albums and several international tours, Theriot decided to step out into the spotlight as as solo artist and relocated to Philadelphia, where he began to explore and meld a variety of different genres and visual mediums with his current creative project Jaco Jaco.

Theriot’s Jaco Jaco sophomore album Gremlin is slated for a March 21, 2025 release. Gremlin is a reportedly playful album that isn’t directly inspired by 1984’s Joe Dante-directed Gremlins but manages to honor the movie’s use of kitsch and camp to explore a prevailing mood of irreverence and introspection. “This record came from a somewhat confused and lonely state of mind,” Theriot explains. “It’s a journey through reflection and longing for something real—an inner dialogue giving me advice on navigating life when it feels like it’s working against you.”

So far I’ve written about two album singles:

  • “Favorite Kind of People,” a seamless synthesis of Thundercat and 70s jazz fusion/jazz funk with the breeziness of Bossa Nova anchored around a strutting bass line, rapid-fire four-on-the-floor, twinkling bursts of Rhodes and shimmering guitar.  “‘Favorite Kind of People’ came out of a phase where I was into some classic Brazilian jazz-funk,” Theriot explained. “I can’t remember which song it was exactly, but I translated the lyrics and loved how simple and earnest they felt. The translation was probably off, but it inspired me to write something direct and real—about just being present with people and not overthinking everything.” 

  • “Woman” a slow-burning and meditative synthesis of Quiet Storm-like R&B/funk and Steely Dan-like AM rock anchored around a slippery, a slick bass line, bursts of glistening synths paired with Theriot’s plaintive delivery. The song’s lyrics are abstract, but behind that abstraction, Theriot tackles something deeper: The song explores the complexities and nuances of human relationships. According to the Tulsa-born, Philadelphia-based artist, it’s a meditation on honesty and acceptance, being real with yourself, and being real with your partner. “‘Woman’ was one of those rare, serendipitous type songs that just kinda happened,” Theriot says. “Everything fell into place pretty quick, lyrics and all. I played guitar along to some random breakbeat and out came the guitar riff(s). I was big into Black Messiah (D’Angelo) at the time, so that influence may have seeped in a bit, maybe? No comparison though, of course. I just wanna be like Pino Palladino when I grow up.”

Gremlin‘s third and latest single “I Won’t Bother” is a vibey Tame Impala-meets-Bobby Oroza-like Quiet Storm like number featuring shimmering Rhodes, skittering boom-bap-like rhythms paired with Theriot’s dreamy falsetto.

“I Won’t Bother” is a warm track about coming to terms with life’s impermanence, learning to accept what you can’t control, and taking care of your inner child,” the Tulsa-born, Philadelphia-based artist explains.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Norwegian-born, Los Angeles-Based Alma Owren Shares Cinematic “Outcast”

Alma Owren is a 19 year-old Norwegian-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and actor, whose musical work is shaped by her synesthesia. Her music combines vivid soundscapes with powerful, emotion-driven storytelling rooted with vulnerable, relatable lyrics that will deeply resonate with listeners.

The Norwegian-born, Los Angeles-based artist’s debut EP Under the Surface will be released through AWAL. The EP’s first single “Outcast,” is a gorgeous folk pop tune that pairs an arrangement of strummed acoustic guitar, bursts of cinematic strings anchored by Owren’s gorgeous and emotive delivery.

The young artist explains that the song explores themes of isolation and identity through a cinematic soundscape.

Simply put, this young artist reveals a self-assuredness and emotional depth well beyond her relative young. I fully expect that she will have a big, bright future ahead of her.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Gabriella Lima Shares a Quiet Storm-like Bit of Samba

São Paulo-born, Paris-based singer/songwriter Gabriella Lima relocated to Paris back in 2014. And since locating to The City of Light, Lima has been busy crafting material that pushes genre and cultural boundaries. 

Lima’s 2021 full-length debut, the nine-song Bálsamo found the Brazilian-born, French-based artist writing material that drew from soul, pop, samba, chanson and several other styles. Back in 2022, I wrote about album closing track, “Samba de l’amour,” a breezy song featuring twinkling keys, fluttering synths, strummed acoustic guitar and gently swaying samba rhythms paired with Lima’s gorgeous vocal singing bittersweet lyrics in French and Brazilian Portuguese detailing love gained and quickly lost. 

Lima’s latest single “Meu Lugar” is a Sade/Quiet Storm-like touch on samba and Bossa nova featuring an atmospheric yet percussive arrangement with strummed acoustic guitar that serves as a lush bed for the Brazilian-French artist’s achingly tender delivery.

She explains that the song’s lyrics talk about a deep emotional delivery and the transformation of an intense and true relationship.

singer/songwriters by William Ruben Helms
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Live Concert Photography: Winter Jazzfest 2025: Lion Babe at Baby’s All Right 1/11/25

Live concert photography of Lion Babe performing at Baby’s All Right during Winter Jazzfest.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Yul Shares Subtle Yet Brooding Remix of Sylvain Hellio’s “Nous étions heureux”

Sylvan Hellio is a Rennes, France-based artist, who released his debut EP, L’homme du bois through Résiste Records back in 2023. The EP featured “Nous étion heuruex,” a broodingly atmospheric trip hop-like lullaby anchored around twinkling guitar and skittering beats and Hellio’s dreamy delivery.

Yul recently remixed “Nous étions heureux,” but his remix manages to be subtle: Yul retains Hellio’s dreamy delivery and much of the original production but the brooding air is emphasized through the addition of a supple bass line, and bit of 808 kick. The result is a remix that feels a bit murkier and eerier.

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Homer Teams Up with girl named GOLDEN on Mischievous, Wes Anderson-Styled Visual for “Wishing Well”

Acclaimed New York-born and-based drummer, songwriter and producer Homer Steinweiss has a storied career that started in earnest 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 contemporary 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. 

Released last month 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. 

In the lead up to the album’s release I wrote about three of it’s released singles:

  • “Deep Sea,” feat. Hether, a slow-burning and woozy love song set over a hypnotic back beat, a gorgeous, 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. 

  • “Rollin‘” a lush and swaggering Quiet Storm-like soundscape with skittering and plinking 808s, broodingly regal horns, bursts of strummed guitar and KIRBY’s ethereal delivery, which alternates between scatting and cooing lyrics over the lush production. 

  • “So Get Up!,” a strutting and swaggering bit of hook-driven genre-blurring funk anchored around dusty and skittering boom bap, twinkling synth oscillations and glistening and arpeggiated synth melodies serving as a lush and euphoric bed for MINOVA’s and Michael Rault‘s ethereal and expressive deliveries. Sonically resembling a slick synthesis of 80s synth funk, Rush Midnight and Tame Impala, “So Get Up!” reveals an artist with an adept production style. 

Ensatina‘s fourth and latest single “Wishing Well” featuring girl named GOLDEN is a brooding track anchored around a trippy yet soulful groove that’s influenced by late Miles Davis-like jazz, electronic music, soul and trip-hop paired with skittering and chugging drums and glistening synths serving as a woozily lush soundscape for girl named GOLDEN’s sultry cooing. Much like its immediate predecessor, “Wishing Well” reveals an artist with a unique, playfully genre agnostic sound.

Directed by Ben Steiger Levine and Jordan Fein, the accompanying video is a Wes Anderson-inspired romp shot in and around one of the most gorgeous buildings in NYC, the New York Public Library, that captures the pair’s mischievous misfit-like energy.

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

New Audio: Larmes Noires Shares Shoegazey “L’aurore”

Mathieu Schreyer is a French singer/songwriter and musician, best known for his synth wave project MPKS. His side, solo recording project Larmes Noires is a decided departure from his best known work: Larmes Noires sees Schreyer exploring darker thoughts, much more honest feelings paired with soundscapes inspired by Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure and the like, and dreamily delivered vocals.

Since starting Larmes Noires, Schreyer has released a handful of singles, last year’s full-length debut, Les ombres dérangées and the recently released self-produced sophomore album Stigmate. Sonically blending elements of post-rock, shoegaze and darkwave to create an atmospheric and immersive soundscape, the album’s material was crafted as an intimate journey, where each track serves as a raw expression of vulnerability and resilience. And fittingly, the album’s material touches upon themes of melancholy, social isolation, inner strength and resolve — in a deeply personal fashion.

Stigmate‘s latest single “L’aurore,” is a brooding and cinematic track that pairs elements of Souvlaki and A Storm in Heaven-era shoegaze with Collapse Under the Empire-like post-rock paired with Schreyer’s plaintive and ethereal delivery and enormous hooks. At its core, there is a sense of resilience and hope.