The end of the year is peeking around the corner. Before the ball drops, many organizations took a moment to honor the contributions of R&B musicians. Last week, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bestowed the living legend Chaka Khan with their Musical Excellence Award. Pioneer group New Edition announced that in 2024, their limited-date Las Vegas residency will plant roots at The Wynn. On (November 8), back in Nashville, Tennessee, K. Michelle or Puddin’ brought the house down during the 2023 Country Music Awards. In tribute to the legendary group The Judds, Michelle and Jelly Roll performed “Love Can Build A Bridge.”
Meanwhile, Summer Walker was named one of the 2023 ASCAP Women Behind the Music honorees and Coco Jones, MTV’s Global PUSH Artist for November. SZA, on the other hand, is pushing all other artists out of the way. The “Snooze” singer is tied for the second most nominated act at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, up for 16 awards. So, what new R&B music hit streaming platforms this week?
This Fresh Finds Fridays column featuring releases from Samoht, Majid Jordan, Jon Vinyl, Luna Elle, Aretha Fontaine, Eric Bellinger, Ye Ali, and Marlaé has you covered with what you might’ve missed. Check out this week’s roundup below. Don’t forget to let us know who you’re listening to below in the comment section.
Samoht – Amor
From his deep voice to his glistening rich mocha skin and his sultry discography, Samoht can’t help but to be a musical symbol of sex appeal. On the singer’s new album, Amor, he demonstrates that perceived rumors are indeed true. The 13-track record is all about as the title indicates – love. Naturally, due to the nature of R&B music, the topic of desirability has been a running theme throughout the years. However, on the body of work, Samoht touches on the feelings in several different capacities.
On the album previously shared singles “Moonlight,” “Pool,” and “Sexy & You Know It,” Samoht asserts his love for sex. The same can be said for Amor’s standout records “Easy” “Emergency” “Sex In The Mornin’,” “Azz,” and “Traveling: Running” but there’s something deeper happening beneath the surface. Just as most of the songs on the project are split into two acts, the same can be said for the album’s meaning.
Sex isn’t just a physical exchange despite how many treat the act. When done right it requires an emotional, mental, and sometimes even spiritual tie to your partner. That is what Samoht’s Amor highlights. Each small intentional action snowballs into a larger package of earth-shaking connection with one special person. To enjoy their physical you must learn and appreciate everything else that comes with their outer shell.
Amor is Samoht’s most experimental body of work to date as he pulls in electronic, rap, and dance music elements to drive home its overall theme of how outside elements contribute to a much larger picture. Not only is it experimental, Amor manages to walk along the bounds of expression with intent which can be heard in how it is ultimately mixed. Amor is just as irresistible as Samoht is and that’s saying something.
Majid Jordan – Good People
Canadian R&B duo Majid Jordan (singer Majid Al Maskati and producer Jordan Ullman) have amassed an international audience while keeping a homely sound. The group’s latest album, Good People, is a 42-minute hug. Across the nine featured tracks, Majid Jordan bares it all, letting fans into their most intimate movements. Thematically, the body of work is about the emotional ebbs and flows of life, but somehow, it doesn’t fall into the trap of being solely somber. Good People is not about being bitter, jaded, guarded, or fearful but rather emotionally mature enough to love without restriction despite past hurt.
With one lone guest appearance by fellow OVO Sound signee Naomi Sharon via their previously released single, “Waiting For You,” Majid Jordan has the floor to examine their feelings in depth sonically and vocally. The other singles, “Hands Tied” and “Violet,” were great, but by far, the album’s standout tracks are “Tears In Your Eyes,” “Eyes Closed,” “The Message,” and “Cyanide.”
Although the fluidity of this project is the most striking part of it all, in a post uploaded to their official Instagram page, Majid Jordan revealed that they had no intentions of recording a new project so quickly after the release of their 2021 album Wildest Dreams. However, their joint vacation fostered the ideal creative environment.
“[Good People] feels and sounds like the music that started our career for us, and the real reason why it feels full circle is because the intention behind it is to give music to the world selflessly without any expectation. From a studio in Bahrain, we finished this album without any limitations. If it felt right to us and our loved ones, then that was all we wanted,” wrote the group.
Good People is essentially neo-soul cadences, clinical song structuring, and alternative R&B production.
Jon Vinyl – Heartbreak Hill
Toronto native Jon Vinyl has become the go-to crooner for the new class of R&B singers. His delicate approach to men’s outlook on romantic relationships has hooked lovers of the genre. He sticks to what he knows best on his highly anticipated sophomore album, Heartbreak Hill – emotional flux, turmoil, and hope.
Jon’s past singles “Wasted” and “Let This Go” charted the path of the remaining six tracks on the project. Each emphasizes a different mental state of being caused by the rocky status of his described relationship. However, Heartbreak Hill’s standout records “Numb,” “Changing,” and “Broken Hearts” do a better job of lyrically articulating Jon’s emotional fragility.
During an interview with Now Toronto, he spoke about the inspiration behind the album. “We wanted to have fun while we were in the studio, so we weren’t necessarily dwelling on these [sad] moments. It’s not that serious. It’s about being at the top of the hill, looking down, and understanding why this went wrong here or that went wrong there,” said Vinyl.
Heartbreak Hill is a glimpse into the purgatory space that exists between lover boy and full-on red pill manisphere crusader.
Luna Elle – Ms. Elle
It’s best to strike while the iron is hot. That’s exactly what Mississauga, Ontario singer Luna Elle is doing. Following a successful run as IDK’s special guest on tour, she has dropped her debut album, Ms. Elle. The seven songs selected for the body of work speak to Luna’s artistic ethos.
Ms. Elle is soft, gentle, poignant, and vulnerable all of which are common thread in her discography. Luna’s 2022 EP Loss Of Valuable Energy was her first step up to the plate. With Ms. Elle she takes that emotional insight to the next level. Her past singles include “Taking Control” and one of the project’s standout tracks, “Pick Up I’m Alone.” Previous records “Tempo” and “Coping Mechanisms” did not make the final tracklist. Additional standout songs are “Souls Align” and “Can’t Take It.”
Two projects in two years is ambitious for anything artist let alone a newbie. On Ms. Elle proved that she is more than capable of delivering not only the same but heightened levels of artistic fullness.
Aretha Fontaine – Therapy Notes
If you’ve watched a YouTube video in the past three years, you’ve likely come across a commercial for virtual counseling. While some people skip over the ad, singer Aretha Fontaine must’ve taken it to heart. The West London native’s new EP Therapy Notes is the by-product of doing that shadow work. Although the project only features four tracks in total each record is jammed packed with invaluable lessons on healing that she’s learned in her intimate one-on-one professional guide sessions.
From unexpected grief, and feelings of inadequacy to dealing with stigma, Aretha addresses it all while encouraging others to do the same. The project’s past singles “Bad Habits” is rounded out by additional tracks “Flowing,” “Restore My Mind,” and “Reassurance.” Aretha’s past record “Soul Ties” did not make the project. The standout of the lot being “Flowing.”
Aretha took to her official Instagram page to discuss how much the project means to her followers. “I see ‘Therapy Notes’ as my baby, like my firstborn. Every song has come from my heart – it’s honest, it’s pure. The songs you will hear in this project are my personal notes that I wrote in a journal from my therapy sessions, hence the title. Some were even written straight after a therapy session. Therapy and God have saved me, and I want to return the time, love, and advice that was poured into me to my listeners. To say I put my all into this project is an understatement. I have gone through every emotion possible. So much has happened in my life whilst recording this project,” wrote Aretha.
Therapy Notes is a harsh yet absolutely necessary deep dive into self for which Aretha Fontaine emerges as a better person.
Eric Bellinger – “All For Me”
Eric Bellinger doesn’t understand what taking a break is. When the Los Angeles, California native isn’t on the road (The Rebirth Tour is kicking off in 2024) or writing tracks for other musicians, he’s putting out new work of his own. His latest creation is the Hitmaka-produced single “All For Me.”
On the record, Bellinger serenades a special lady (which is undoubtedly his lovely wife, La’Myia Good) to show that his sexual desire and emotional connection run deep for her. Bellinger is locked in and nothing and no one can break that bound. He’s all for her and in turn she’s all for him.
“You know I’m serious ’bout you / Look at the time I spent on you / Can we rewind, get on the same page / I’m trying to make you believe / Know that you’re supposed to be under me / Running it back, doing a repeat / Know you miss laying up in these sheets / ‘Cause I need you right here with me / Seeing you naked, girl, is it all for me / For me, baby,” sings Bellinger.
“All For Me” is the follow-up to Eric Bellinger’s latest album, 1(800) Hit-Eazy: Line 2.
Ye Ali – “Zodiac Freak”
In today’s dating market, astrological signs and chart placement play a significant role in intimate connections. Some attribute a person’s zodiac sign to potential capability, financial earning potential, but most commonly, personality traits. For Ye Ali, the star’s alignment is all about sexual connection.
On his new single, Everette Saint and Bizness Boi-produced single “Zodiac Freak,” he stresses that element. Ye Ali brings in fellow musicians DCMBR and RyFy to add their contributions to the conversation.
“Fell in love with a sag, on a Friday after dark / Gemini girl in New York broke my heart / Aries got me weak, but her friend a Pisces / Every damn day I need a zodiac freak / Virgos in LA, Capricorn’s make me stay / Leo’s can’t be tamed, but I like it that way / Taurus what I want, Scorpio’s what I need / Every damn day I need a zodiac freak,” sings Ye Ali.
“Zodiac Freak” is Ye Ali’s follow-up to past solo singles ”Good Girls,” ”FYD,” and “Cam Girl.”
Marlaé – “Feel To Heal”
South Florida singer Marlaé wants to love her partner back to life. Well, that’s the message behind her latest single, “Feel To Heal.”
On the sultry track, Marlaé acknowledges that trust in a relationship is earned, and she’s willing to help her beaux overcome any past mistreatment by the folks before her to ensure their bond won’t be broken. In the current dating pool, where everyone is focused solely on themselves, “Feel To Heal” is refreshing to hear.
“I wanna touch you where no one has touched you / I just wanna feel, feel to heal / I just wanna feel / And I think I misjudged you / Since the day that I met you / I just wanna feel, feel to heal / I just wanna feel, feel healed / See if we just take it slow we’ll make it easier / Man, I don’t really know when I’d get control of this,” sings Marlaé.
“Feel To Heal” is the latest track in Marlaé’s string of singles, including “Have You,” “Touch,” “Never See Me Again.”
*Cover photo credit: Kwabena Boateng
