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In the age of massive music consumption, it can be hard to branch out of the comfortable music taste status quo. Perhaps you meticulously follow the new music drops of pop artists like Ariana Grande or Justin Bieber. Maybe you self-identify as an old soul and can’t seem to take Louis Armstrong or Ella Fitzgerald off your queue. Or maybe you’re like me, endlessly ping-ponging between pop chart-toppers and oldies rooted in rhythmic soul and Northern blues, always searching for the best combination of the two. If you’re like me, you’re in luck because the soul-pop revival is in full swing.
Soul-pop music combines the best elements of pop-music and the origins of soul. Typically, soul-pop features an upbeat tempo, a brass section, and lyrics about love. Something about listening to soul always seems to throw listeners into another time zone, and something about pop seems to take listeners to a modern and upbeat play place. Combine the two, and you are left with a hodgepodge of head-bobbing tunes that make you want to stand up and dance, aptly named soul-pop music.
The best part about the soul-pop revival in modern times is the individuality of every act. No two acts sound the same; each vocalist brings a completely different style to the forefront, making each group eclectic in their own respect. Ranging from chart-topping to on the rise, these bands rooted in soul-pop revival are worth the attention, even if you don’t listen to soul or pop music.
Lawrence
Influenced heavily by acts like Aretha Franklin and Randy Newman, the siblings behind Lawrence come from an upbringing drenched in soul. New York-Native Clyde and Gracie Lawrence are a brother and sister duo who comprise and vocalize for the band Lawrence, backed up by a group of brass, percussion, and guitar. They rose to prominence in 2015 and signed with Beautiful Mind Records a few years later in 2019.
Both siblings are multi-talented; Clyde is accomplished in scoring popular movies like Christmas movie Noelle starring Bill Hader and Anna Kendrick, while Gracie is an accomplished actress who has been in movies like Noelle and Did You Hear About The Morgans. With so many talents, it’s no surprise the duo contributes soul-pop hits boosting the revival. In the age of a pandemic, the duo released “Quarantined With You,” a song romanticizing being quarantined with a love interest. You can also listen to some of their earlier works, which dive into love in the modern age like “Probably Up” or “Do You Want To Do Nothing With Me?” They can be found on most streaming platforms; they also produce fun music videos featured on their YouTube page.
Ripe
The Boston-native band Ripe brings a new age of swing music into the soul-pop revival. Established in 2011, the group of artists identifies as a musical group worth dancing around to. They don’t believe in identifying in a single genre; however, the roots of their music are mainly in love songs featuring big brass components.
Lead-singer Robbie Wulfsohn’s melodic voice accompanied with smooth brass components and percussion make Ripe the perfect band to dance in a kitchen on a Sunday morning with someone you love. Sometimes, lyrics in love songs can heavily focus on a pining nature of heartache or wanting, but that component isn’t seen in Ripe’s lyrics. Their music brings forth a relaxed approach to love, and listeners can expect an easy-going vibe about the songs.
An example of this easy-going love can be heard in “Pretty Dirty In A Fading Light“. The song discusses the impermanence of love, but how it can still be enjoyed and beautiful even if it only lasts a little while. Their song “First Time Feeling” is similarly laid-back, and any of the live performances featured on their YouTube channel will bring you out of the quarantine blues, even if just for a little while.
Sammy Rae
This artist is a perfect example of a talented and young vocalist who can bring a lot to the table of soul-pop. Connecticut-native Sammy Rae started writing music young; her first LP, “Hopeless,” was released in 2010 when she was only 15. She went on to produce and write various jazz-inspired tracks, all of which can strum the heartstrings of any northern blues and jazz lover.
Sammy Rae’s music is similarly as upbeat like the other two acts mentioned in this article, but her vocal range is unmatched. She has a talent for throwing her voice quickly and melodically, tying in heavy influences from American jazz-singer Ella Fitzgerald’s singing style. Uplifting and fun are two words that can describe listening to her music, and Sammy Rae’s vocal harmonies are just an added treat to the talented band.
Some of her most fun tracks are featured on her “The Good Life” album, like the single “Kick It To Me” or “The Feeling“. In addition to her jazz-inspired singles, Sammy Rae also released a Christmas single this year, presumably to lift the spirits of swing-lovers everywhere in quarantine. The single covers the popular Christmas classic “Last Christmas,” but in an exclusively Sammy Rae style. As many artists are doing, Sammy Rae and her band produced a fun, at-home quarantine-styled music video for this single, so give it a watch and a listen if you are interested.
Genre Bending With Soul-Pop
Soul-pop is not as mainstream as it should be, and unfortunately, that means chart-topping artists overlook many talented acts. The three acts mentioned in this article are a strong foundation for exploring the world of soul-pop.
Still, in addition to the soul-pop genre, there is so much to be heard in the various genre-bending niches of groove inspired acts like The Main Squeeze, the big band acts like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and soul-rock band acts like The Murlocs. These acts should get you started on exploring and breaking the status quo of your music taste, and hopefully, you find an under-appreciated act worth dancing in the kitchen to.
