Category archive: Soul

So lately I’ve been discovering a lot of new artists from all over the globe. The duo Penthouse Penthouse from Los Angeles is one of them.

The name Mike Parvizi has been poppin’ up a lot lately and so I started connecting the dots, when it comes to who’s friends with who. And which people collaborate with one and other. Together with Preston James from TeamSupreme, Mike is Penthouse Penthouse. Mike is a bass player and allround music head, while Preston is a trained keyboardist/vocalist and playback engineer who graduated from Chapman University’s Conservatory of Music.

Last week they released their new EP entitled “Besides“, which was written and recorded in Downtown Los Angeles. Our favorite Penthouse Penthouse track is “Last Stop” featuring JNTHN STEIN, but to be honest the entire release is straight fire! Oh and that joint with Stwo is a good runner up if you ask us.

Diggs Duke is getting ready to release “The Upper Hand & Other Grand Illusions“. An EP that follows up his “Offering For Anxious” album that came out on Brownswood last year.

We’ve had the pleasure of seeing Diggs Duke perform a few years ago and it became very clear he’s a true musician. He hails from Washington, where he intimately crafted a small collection of tracks, which tell stories about courtship and intimate interactions. On the EP tracks such as “Forever Love Is Tainted” (produced by Jelani Brooks) sound both rough, yet very heartfelt. Definitely one of the best songs on here together with “The Pinnacle“. A song that brings about happiness with ever note.

Duke is a star at blending Hip Hop and Soul rhythms with jazzy grooves and he is a master at keeping it simple. It’s almost like your reading some of his personal notes. Lyrics are very recognizable and simple plus most songs are short and straight to the point. The EP will be out September 1st and look for the 12” vinyl at all quality records shops around the world.

Submotion Orchestra is a 7 piece band from the United Kingdom. For those that don’t know, they play a fusion of bass heavy Electronica, Jazz and Soul music and a whole lot more. And they play it quite well.

They’ve received worldwide recognition and have played festivals around the world. Following their previous two albums, Finest Hour and Fragments, Submotion Orchestra return with “Alium“, which will be released on Counter Records on November 3rd.

The album was written over two years in the remote Welsh countryside and miss Ruby Wood’s vocals sound nothing short from angelic. On the song “2L84U” she simply sounds amazing and more good news. It’s a free download! Pre-orders are available (2xLP vinyl, CD & MP3) via Ninja Tune for you early birds.

Jordan Rakei‘s long-awaited sophomore “Groove Curse” EP has released today on Soul Has No Tempo and what a wonderful piece of work this is.

His modern take on Soul music (with a dash of Reggae) makes this multi-instrumentalist one of kind. Simply put, that Groove Curse EP sounds super refreshing. I mean who doesn’t love that raw, warm sounding Fender-infused vibe? The first single “Street Light” was off the hook, but ‘She told me add the bassline’…are you kidding me? Man what a freakin’ tune right there! And “A Tribe Called Government” with those drums? Let it be know that this fellow from Brisbane has made it to the top Soul artists in our lil’ book. Right up there with D’Angelo, Bilal and Musiq.

We urge you to purchase Jordan Rakei’s Groove Curse EP, for the simple fact that we think it’s well worth buying.

The homey Bilal has returned, this time with the help of Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest).

Mr. Oliver’s new song “Sirens II” sounds majesticly marvelous and might just be his best work we’ve ever heard. So much emotion was poured into this track that my goosebumps are getting the shivers. Must have heard this little slice of heaven at least 10 times by now and still this gets better and better! Let Bilal take you away on what might just be one of the most exciting new musical adventures you’ll experience this year.

Not much is known about future projects, but perhaps next week on his birthday Bilal will share some insight.

Galimatias from Denmark has been one of those producers, who I’ve actually stalked to see what’s up with his upcoming project.

He told me quite recently that he is working on finishing a new EP with a female vocalist. And most likely “Ocean Floor Kisses” is the first track of this soon to be released EP. Wonderland chords on some Final Fantasy ish and Alina Baraz‘s vocals chopped to bits. Marvelous groove and just imagine how incredible the rest of this EP is going to sound.

More info soon, but for now just follow Galimatias on Soundcloud and share with your friends.

Something we at Moovmnt headquarters have been waiting for for a while is Jordan Rakei‘s new “Groove Curse” EP.

The first single featuring Gwen Bunn is entitled “Street Light” and gives you an impression on how wonderful this project is going to sound. We were fortunate to get a full listen and let me tell you this is some next level S O U L music. Other tracks such as “A Tribe Called Government” and “Add The Bassline” are so good that I just had to take a deep breath and sigh. Thank you Jordan for being one of the few to keep Soul music fresh and organic. And yes I will go as far as to call you the future of Soul. Goodbye D’Angelo, hello Jordan Rakei. All we need now is Jordan to strip naked and do a video for the ladies.

Pre-order the vinyl 12-inch on the Soul Has No Tempo Bandcamp page. Incredible first release on this new label out of Brisbane.

Tours City born producer FKJ (French Kiwi Juice) released his third EP called “Take Off” earlier this week on French label Roche Musique.

There elements of Disco, Soul and Funk in his sound, but even though it’s a little smooth at times it sounds quite refreshing and melodic. It’s real feel good music! FKJ claimed some serious fame with his previous “Time For A Change” EP and is now well on his way to makin’ it big.

The first single featured Madelyn Grant (who we are sure you will hear more from in years to come) and the second song with Damon Trueitt sounds a bit like an Electric Wire Hustle cut. Since I’ve been in a Jordan Rakei mood these past 24 hours, it seems only natural to stream “Learn To Fly” featuring this super talented Australian guy on vocals. Last but not least let’s end with the fourth and final track “Open The Door”. Now enough with the reading and streaming already…purchase on iTunes if you like really what you’re hearing.

With music as his liberator Wayne Snow can now look back at his tough past and use it to draw strength from. The Nigerian born vocalist and songwriter resides in Berlin at the moment where he recently created his debut “Red Runner” EP. This is a collaborative project between Tartelet and Comet Records.

The EP contains two original tracks plus two insane remixes. The title track is an uptempo funky jam that will make you boogie on the dancefloor, while “Under The Blue Moon” takes a more hip hop approach. At first you might some doubts about Wayne’s quirky vocals, but it doesn’t take more than a few listens to get past those. That remix by Glenn Astro & IMYRMIND…seriously?! Bomb diggity synth synthesis right thur. And man that Session Victim remix is on point too.

So now you have four reasons to pick up the 12-inch vinyl at your local record shop or at Oye Records.