Kered:
All My Love To put it the simpliest way, Kered has a spoken voice for those chasing soul music with emotion. For an independent label, you can tell from the production of this release that L'Dar Records were in this for real. Its not normally heard of an independent artist let alone a debut having several tracks on display but, Kered drops 15 tracks (inc bonus) straight out from the L'Dar camp. Kered was L'dar Records main feature artist in 2004 and also the labels front man to showcase what the independent label have to offer to the r&b market. This release right here will get any lady singing for her man and not just on valentines day! Kered will dare any r&b fan out there to come out of their mainstream artist comfort zone to hear this release. A superb debut from Kered.
Must Listen to Trackz: 3.5.6.10.13
Listening Rate: 8/10
Vocalz: 8/10
Production: 8/10 Lori El: My Everything It's independent releases such as this that make nuflavamag.8m.com continue to do what it does. Expose those that need to be heard in this "slept on" industry. Just to waken ya'll up real quick his highlight moves include, being a former drummer for grammy award winner Hezekiah Walker and has worked with artist such as Timothy Wright, Faith Evans, to Fred Hammond, just to name a few this is his first solo project and sure to have the Gospel Industry alive & well. Open your heart & ears to the world according to Jason Hendrickson.
Must Listen to Trackz: 1.3.6
Listening Rate:7/10
Vocalz: 7/10
Production: 7/10
Four Kornerz: ClapClap With their ground-breaking performance @ The MTV Base Lounge Feb 2005, which by the way, was MTV's first ever Gospel group performance act, Four Kornerz delivered Inspirational Flavors to those that were there to receive it! In support of their single released back in "04" titled "ClapClap", it is complied with mixes that will have the listener instantly on their feet. Tracks 1-3 are up-tempo tracks while track 4 has that chill-out effect to it not that this can't be also played in the club. This single, is no doubt UK's finest in this genre by far and is a perfect key opener for future releases from the group.
Must Listen to Trackz: 2.3
Listening Rate:9/10
Vocalz: 8/10
Production: 8/10
Parkes Stewart: Heart & Soul This release, has to be one of the best Motown sound releases we have ever come across in the Independent Music Industry. Parkes Stewared, is indeed a true veteran in the music industry whom has a sounds-like of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Brian Mcknight just to name a few. "Heart & Soul" is for grown folks and not your ordinary bangin' R&B project! From tracks 1 to 15 (track 16 bonus), you will not be tempted to skip a single track because each has a "Love Trance" attached to it! With only two previous albums released, "Parkes" and "Another Chapter", this release will be on peoples mind for a very long time to come. A perfectly balanced combination of spiritual soul and R&B.
Must Listen to Trackz: 1.4.5.8.10.11.13
Listening Rate:10/10
Vocalz: 8/10
Production: 8/10
Avani: The Real Thing Another exciting artist representing from the UK has emerged and her package should indeed have a tag stating "Authentic". Avani, is a young beautiful soul sistah that has her vocal chords on point. You need to pay attention to this artist right here because, she is slick and extremely vocally creative. It should come to no surprise that Avani had Rahsaan Patterson appear on her first 2004 solo debut. The harmonious vocals from both Avani and Rahsaan on "Watching You" a track that also includes Carl Mcintosh is as sweet as the album gets. If your looking for a quality soul album that highlights the artists voice and not just the production, Avani's The Real Thing is the album to get.
Must Listen to Trackz: 1.2.4.5.6
Listening Rate: 8/10
Vocalz: 10/10
Production: 8/10
Bridgjette Taylor: Self-Titled Bridgjette Taylor clearly defines the word Diversity on this release that will have the listener falling in love with more than one genre. Although, well kept within the urban genre, the talent of this young beautiful lady does not seem to fade away on this release and she has demonstrated that she is point with her vision. While Bridgjette wants her audience on this release to remain joyous, she also takes the listener well beyond the cares of this world into the quite place where all envy, lust and disorder are not disarmed. Without the interludes on this project, every track will have you rearranging your CD collection!
Must Listen to Trackz: 3.5.6.9.11.13
Listening Rate: 9/10
Vocalz: 8/10
Production: 8/10
Shayna Stelle: Self-Titled She's sexy, slick, creative and a sistah with a voice that will have your head turning at a position not recommended by any qualified doctor! When you get to see the occasional r&b artist that performs from the soul, they get it right first time and this is what is shown on this release. Shayna, is no shy lady when it comes to expressing her funky side as she does on track 5 titled High Yella. If your a lady that has a difficulty of showing your God gifted beauty and afraid of what folk them might say, you need to holla at this project. This self release album deserves some serious rotation on major radio station because its a cry in the wilderness!!!
Must Listen to Trackz: 2.4.5
Listening Rate: 7/10
Vocalz: 9/10
Production: 7/10
daRome Bentley: Ever Endeavor This release by daRome for a debut, will surely have some listeners tuning more into Independent artist's more often. It's r&b with a professional and mature touch to it. If your serious about r&b but tend to sleep on it from the independent side of it, let us intro you to daRome who will take you to a tour of his own world. daRome, on this 2004 release, takes both the romantic and the one in a relationship storm to the edge with his tender vocals. The slow jams on this project especially Aboutchu, will have you re-arranging your already-owned-slow-jam projects aside for quite a while!
Must Listen to Trackz: 1.2.3.7.9.11
Listening Rate: 9/10
Vocalz: 9/10
Production: 8/10
Ian Martin:
The Way This 2005 release from multi-talented Ian Martin is a completely new package from his 2000 release titled One. And, with Andreas Hellingh jumping on board alongside Ian as Executive producer, the carefully selected groovy tunes show no sight on slowing down. The album kicks off with an in-the-way track titled welcome which we have no idea why is was there in the first place! Anyhow, Release, is the track that stands out heads above shoulder from the other tracks. SyberSpace Social star, SY Smith basically marries her vocals on this track. On hearing this track over 70 times in one day! it really got us to wonder why SY did not holla @ Ian to produce her entire SyberSpace Social album? Ian captures a heap of known and unknown vocalists on this release and instrumentally, Ian takes each smooth groove track to another level. Unlike One, which was more of a Jazz project, lead and background vocalist Jill Zadeh amongst others clearly let their vocals do the business. If your in search for smooth grooves with an All Star Vocal line-up, go pick up a copy of "the way" today.
Our favourite track(s): 2.5.6.8.9.11 Listening Rate: 8/10 Vocalz: 7/10 Production: 9/10 Jennifer Edison
: A Thousand Wings
With much over-hyped emphasis on artists within the
secular mainstream industry, the majority of music
luvers tend to forget those artists that are
homegrown. For instance, listen to the first three
tracks alone from Jennifer Edison and you will
find that many radio station are been lead by the
blind! The R&B ingredients, rich in vocals that are
normally sought after from major artists is a tale
from the past. A Thousand Wings is the debut
2005 project that holds its own rights even among the
majors. From the opening to the closing track,
Jennifer Edison's vocal, writing and production skills
are consistent.
Our favourite track(s): 2.5.8.9.11.12 Listening Rate: 8/10
Vocalz: 8/10
Production: 7/10 Jackie Rae:
Who I Am Set the fishing rods aside and do away with the bates cause Jackie Rae will not be found where other independent artist will be found swimming in. Her debut Who I Am will keep not only her sexy looks getting a few radio station on the lookout but her vocals. Easy Come Track 2, is no doubt a track with bags of encouragement for the faint hearted and has a fine upbeat tempo. Don't be fooled with Jackie's looks cause she is not your ordinary shy gyal as is proven on Track 4 Freaky. Other tracks to listen out for include; Let Me Know which is one of the finest produced tracks on the album. Maybe, Get On The Floor and So In Love. Jackie Rae is for sure a sexy young lady with lyrics and vocals to shake not stir, the indie music scene.
Our favourite track(s): 2.4.5.7.8.12 Listening Rate: 6/10 Vocalz: 7/10 Production: 5/10 Klientel:
Daily Trade Soul Linq Productions, the same folks that introduced us to Adrianne Archie are currently showing no sign of keeping silent with the talents they claim to have underground. Klientel is a two man band (Carlis Phillips & William Beason) that display a seriousness of homegrown R&B music. This release (2004) is their second but first for Soul Linq and had Independently sold over 1,000 units during a short period of time. That might not sound much (to the Major only listener) but they also decided to freely give away singles they produced at various concerts. It just goes to show that these folks are more than just mere sound machines looking for that one big PR agency! The Daily Trade project is for the listener in search for pure R&B homegrown music that can get you lost in pleasure. With vocals as smooth as silk on tracks such as; Jazzy, Get 2 Know U Better and Summertime" are the tracks to pay close attention to with Adrianne Archie handling her business on Brother/Sister.
