JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Al Green’s 77th birthday.
Tag: soul
Throwback: Happy 79th Birthday, Diana Ross!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Diana Ross’ 79th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 70th Birthday, Chaka Khan!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Chaka Khan’s 70th birthday.
Throwback: Black History Month: James Brown
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms closes out Black History Month by paying tribute to the legendary Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
New Audio: Jonas Shares Slow-Burning and Yearning “Too Much To Mention”
Primarily Copenhagen-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jonas (born Jonas Rendbo) has been hailed by the international music press as the Godfather of Scandinavian soul. Throughout the course of his 20+ year career, the Danish artist has developed and maintained a reputation for being remarkably prolific, releasing copious amounts of original material, which he has supported touring with Omar, John Legend, Joss Stone, Lynden David Hall and Bilal among a lengthy and growing list of others. Adding to his accolades, Rendbo won Artist of the Year and Best Video at the 2016 Scandinavian Soul Music Awards.
Since 2004, Rendbo has split time between Copenhagen and London, where he met his wife and started a family. And while in London, he started collaborating with London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer The Scratch Professer, who coincidentally is Omar’s brother. Rendbo and The Scratch Professor had an instant musical simpatico and a couple of songs they wrote together wound up on Jonas’ sophomore album 2009’s W.A.I.T.T.
That collaboration also managed to produce a handful of songs that Rendbo kept in the vault for the better part of a decade or os — until the four-song EP, 4ward Fast To Future, which was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in April 2020. The EP, which featured “Pick Me Up” and “What’s Cooking” was a return to the warm, vibey neo-soul sound of his earliest work paired with Rendbo’s sultry and yearning falsetto and his uncanny knack for infectious hooks.
The EP was released to widespread praise across the blogosphere including SoulBounce.com, ScandinavianSoul.com and was a featured album on SoulTracks.com. Adding to a growing profile nationally and internationally, 4ward Fast To Future‘s material received airplay on soul music radio stations across the globe.
Building upon that momentum, the Danish singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released the 4ward Fast to Future (Remixes) EP, an effort that features remixes of the EP’s material by friends and musical collaborators done in completely different styles.
“Too Much To Mention” is the first single from a forthcoming full-length album from the acclaimed Scandinavian soul artist. Featuring twinkling synths, a wobbling bass line, skittering beats and Rondo’s yearning delivery, the slow-burning “Too Much To Mention” is rooted in earnest, lived-in lyricism and Rendbo’s unerring knack for razor sharp hooks.
Throwback: Black History Month: Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings.
Throwback: Black History Month: The Supremes
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to The Supremes.
New Audio: Kay Young Shares Coquettish and Funky “The Way You Look At Me”
Kay Young is a rising London-based singer/songwriter, emcee, and producer. Back in 2019, Young caught the attention of Jay Electronica on Instagram. Jay Electronica passed some of her short beat videos to friend and collaborator Jay-Z. Before she knew it, she’d been flown out to Los Angeles and signed to Jay-Z’s management company Roc Nation. She has complete creative control of her work from songwriting to production while effortlessly moving between spitting fiery bars and soulful vocals. And throughout, her work is thoughtful, uplifting and playful while drawing from and exploring dance, jazz and soul.
Young’s debut EP, 2021’s This Here Feels Good was written during pandemic-related lockdown and features material that thematically explores familial legacy and cultural relations. The EP was released to critical applause and was supported with opening slots for Jay Electronica, Masgeo and Corrine Bailey Rae, as well as festival sets at The Great Escape and We Out Here. The rising London-based artist was featured on Blue Note’s compilation album Re:Imagined II, breathing new life into Marlena Shaw‘s “Feel Like Making Love.”
In her native UK, she has received airplay from BBC 6 Music personalities Chris Hawkins and BBC Radio 1‘s Huw Stephens, as well as BBC 1Xtra’s Jamz Supernova, recording a live session at Maida Vale. She also performed a star-studded performance of “White Teeth on BBC 4’s Other Voices 20th Anniversary show.
The rising London-based artist starts off the year with “The Way You Look At Me,” the first bit of new material since the release of This Here Feels Good. Rooted in a Motown-era soul-inspired groove with a big brass section paired with Young’s coquettish and self-assured delivery (which sees her alternate between crooning and spitting bars) and an infectious hook, “The Way You Look At Me” tells a classic tale of falling in love with that pretty young thing on the dance floor — but with a modern twist. The song is just a fun, carefree and coquettish bop that captures exactly what young love feels like — new, exciting, hopeful and a little crazy.
Directed by Dylan Hayes, the accompanying video features the rising London-based artist and her backing band performing the song in late 60s-early 70s-styled garb and in front of psychedelic-tinged backgrounds. They all look like they’re about to perform on Soul Train back in about 1972 or so.
Young’s forthcoming, sophomore EP is slated for release later this year. Be on the lookout for more news.
Throwback: Black History Month: Marvin Gaye
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Marvin Gaye.
Throwback: Black History Month: Nina Simone
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to Nina Simone.
Throwback: Black History Month/Happy 80th Birthday, Maceo Parker!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and Maceo Parker’s 80th birthday.
New Audio: Monophonics’ Kelly Finnigan Shares Gorgeous Acoustic Version of “Impressions Of You”
Kelly Finnigan is an acclaimed singer/songwriter, keyboardist and producer. Perhaps best known as the frontman of the equally acclaimed West Coast-based JOVM mainstays Monophonics, an act that continues the sonic and production traditions of early Motown Records, Stax Records, Muscle Shoals, Daptone Records and Dunham Records. Finnigan has also stepped out in the spotlight as a solo artist, releasing two albums — 2019’s full-length debut, The Tales People Tell and 2020’s Christmas album, A Joyful Sound.
Interestingly, The Tales People Tell track “Impressions Of You” has been embraced by the West Coast lowrider scene. But for Valentine’s Day, Finnigan shares an acoustic version of “Impressions Of You” that turns the song into a lush, soulful piano-driven ballad centered around Finnigan’s soulful delivery.
The stripped down approach helps the listener focus on what may arguably be one of Finnigan’s most earnest, heart-worn-proudly-on-sleeve long songs. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you lovers out there.
Throwback: Black History Month: Curtis Mayfield
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month — and pays tribute to the legendary and incomparable Curtis Mayfield.