When I first started listening to this type of music last year, I was finding it so difficult to describe it to people. It seemed to be a mix of classic soul and jazz but with a modern RnB twist. I later came to realise there is an official term for it and that is 'Neo-soul'. The name was coined during the late 1990s to describe a new style that seemed to merge soul and contemporary RnB; some of the earliest artists that are considered 'Neo-soul' singers are Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.
I thought I would share some of these amazing artists with you that I have been loving lately and that have become a part of this new genre. They have all emerged within the music industry most significantly within the past 18 months.
Also, if you are getting bored of listening to the same music I would definitely recommend the YouTube channel COLORS. If you haven't heard of it, they feature new artists from all over the world and record live sessions with them, some of which are posted on Spotify. It is where I found most of these ladies and many of them describe COLORS as the turning point which kick-started their careers.
Gaidaa
One of the newest artists in this list, Gaidaa released her Debut EP 'Overture' in August 2019. She is a Sudanese singer from the Netherlands who occasionally includes some Arabic in her songs, like in the beautiful single 'Morning Blue' that got her recognised by COLORS. The song highlights the current political and social climate in Sudan.
I would describe Gaidaa's music as ethereal and dreamy with gorgeous layered harmonies. Her soft singing voice dominates over the electronic beats in 'Morning Blue' and 'Stranger' and listening to her music feels like floating on a calm lake. Another track, 'I Like Trouble', is slightly different. Its stripped-down vibe adorns an acoustic guitar which accompanies Gaidaa's dreamy voice perfectly and the harmonies are so layered it sounds like a choir singing. I love Gaidaa and can't wait to hear what she releases next.
Biig Piig
Biig Piig (real name Jessica Smyth) is an Irish singer/rapper who grew up in Spain. Her single 'Vete' caught my attention last year because of how unusual it is. The backing tracks that she uses are so abstract, they seem to be a random mix of strange sounds. If you listen carefully there is something that sounds like jangling keys. The saxophone in this song, and when she switches to singing in Spanish, make it so sexy. Her other single 'Perdida' is also very chilled, like 'Vete', and speaks about how paralysing depression is, also featuring both English and Spanish. These songs that she released earlier in her career are so smooth and chilled, it sounds like she's singing you to sleep.
However, Biig Piig's latest releases are more upbeat and groovy; they're hard not to dance to. I challenge you to listen to 'Don't Turn Around' or 'Sunny' without moving. I heard 'Don't Turn Around' for the first time on Radio One about a month ago as Biig Piig gains a wider following and instantly recognised her unique voice.
Pip Millett
Manchester-born Pip Millett has a slightly different sound to the artists previously mentioned. While she still classes her sound as 'somewhere under the umbrella of neo-soul', she appears to harbour more of a dominant classic soul sound to her music. Her emotional and heartfelt lyrics hold the weight of her songs, and there is a slight twang in her voice that reminds me a little of Amy Winehouse. She has that sort of classic jazz sound which, when paired with the richness of her voice, leaves you imagining her singing her chilled songs in a bar at the end of the night with only the stragglers left.
This jazz sound dominates songs such as 'Love The Things You Do' and her cover of Otis Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness'.
I couldn't talk about Pip Millett and not mention her song 'Deeper Dark'... it hits differently! A recording of her Mum's voice at the beginning and an old polaroid picture of her parents for the artwork give it that personal touch which makes it seem even more emotional. An acoustic guitar frames her layered harmonies that seem to slide over one another and echo slightly in the background which give the illusion that she is singing into an empty theatre. Definitely check her out! You won't regret it.
JGrrey
The first thing I have to talk about when discussing JGrrey is her song 'Pretty Insane'. Hands down, it is one of my favourite songs ever written. It appears simple but it has so much depth, from its lyrics to its backing track. The drums frame the song around the mystical sound of a harp while JGrrey (real name Jennifer Clarke) sings and raps over the top. The layers of this song are perfectly synced together and at times are stripped away, leaving just JGrrey's voice at one point and then are built back up again. I also love how this song includes her commentary from the recording studio, it makes the song so fun, like we're listening to it being produced.
At moments JGrrey gives me Lily Allen vibes, it might be her South London accent seeping through the lyrics (which I love). It's beautiful how diverse her songs can be, 'For Keeps' sounding like a retro, 1950s song at the beginning and then breaks into rap; then her song 'Notice' has an undertone of jazz with the prominent drum and piano duo. You never know what you're going to get with JGrrey, you just know it'll be good.
Mahalia
Many of you may already have heard of Mahalia; even though her debut album 'Love and Compromise' was only released in September 2019, she is already so widely recognised. I first came across her live version of 'Sober' on COLORS and ever since have loved listening to her. Mahalia's lyrics have such powerful and empowering messages: her song 'Hide Out' includes a snippet at the start from Eartha Kitt speaking in an interview about her refusal to compromise with men.
Mahalia's voice is enchanting and fits into any genre of music. She switches up her sound with pop and dance vibes in her popular single 'Simmer' and then a more chilled sound in the beautiful 'Surprise Me', all with her Jamaican accent seeping through. Mahalia appears to pair her jazzy vocals with soul-beats along with her relatable lyrics that convey her frustration with the complications of love.
Greentea Peng
Greentea Peng (Aria Wells) has a style that is grittier than the light and dreamy harmonies of the other ladies that I have already touched on. Still classed as ‘neo-soul’ but crossing the border into rap music, Aria has a heavier sound that you will either love or hate. Her songs ‘Downers’ and ‘Used To’ appear to put a modern twist on remixing more classical sounds of a piano and bass drum whereas 'Mind' uses soft, twinkling sounds, paired beautifully with electric beats and Aria's lyrics about dealing with a mental illness whilst in a relationship.
Greentea Peng (so named because of her love of green tea), describes her own music as ‘psychedelic RnB’ with a twist of reggae. She featured in The Observer 2020 list of rising stars in music, media and culture and featured on The Streets track ‘I Wish You Loved You As Much As You Love Him’. If you prefer rap to soul music, Greentea Peng will definitely become one of your new favourites.
Cleo Sol
This 20-year-old neo-soul singer brings a raw and stripped back perspective to the genre, pairing her soft voice with simple percussion instruments; because of this her sound reflects classical jazz. Her voice sounds timeless in slowed-down tracks such as 'Still Cold'. This perhaps reflects her heritage, her parents meeting each other in a jazz band (its in her blood) and Cleo describing her most prominent influences as artists such as Stevie Wonder, as well as genres such as Motown and reggae. This mixture of sounds is really reflected in songs such as 'Why Don't You'.
I can't believe that Cleo Sol isn't more popular than she is. She has previously collaborated with artists such as Wretch 32, Tinie Tempah and Davinche on tracks. Although these collaborations showed Cleo's diversity of sound, her solo sound is so recognisable and unique. I can understand why the magazine Voir Fashion named their article on her 'A Different Kind of Sound' and compared her 'gospel-style voice' to 'drinking a warm cup of tea'. You'll love Cleo Sol if you have a soft spot for classical jazz and soul.
All of these wonderful artists have the most beautiful voices and unique sounds. I want to thank COLORS for introducing me to them and bringing them into the spotlight. I would definitely suggest diving into the world of Neo-soul, starting with this bunch, no matter what your usual music taste. Let me know what you think!
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