Your list of the R&B / Soul artists to watch in 2019 (and a playlist of their top tracks to start you off) is down below.
Joy Crookes
Daughter of a Bengali mother and Irish father, born and raised in Elephant & Castle, Joy Crookes’ sound is the musical melting pot you might expect. Often described as some kind of musical love-child between Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, the 20 year old’s musical palette blends shades of the blues with influences as wide ranging as Kendrick Lamar and Gregory Isaac.
With a voice that betrays vulnerability but is rooted in strength, Joy’s music and covers are lyrical and often topical, taking on Trump headlines, mental health and more. She’s started 2019 off strong with a new EP Reminiscence. As the title denotes, Reminiscence looks back on her roots, history and relationships, inspired by a January 2018 first-time visit to Bangladesh. It harks back to the days of the blues and psychedelic soul, but is fresh and current with R&B / Hip Hop edges. It’s a strong entry to a year in which Crookes will make her mark.
Shae Universe
A songbird with versatility for days and a voice that’s the ear milk you’re missing in your life. Shae Universe’s covers have been floating around Twitter for a few years now. For the past year, the supremely talented vocalist has been blessing us with original music and with a new single, Tell Me The Truth, out last week, it looks like 2019 will bring more new music from this gem.
Shae’s covers of artists ranging from Cardi B, Drake, Rihanna and The Fugees have caught the eyes of many, including the acts themselves. Now the Watford-bred singer is set to take the world in her own right. She’s started 2019 off with two features on one of the year’s most anticipated Hip Hop albums, Boogie’s Everythings for Sale, an album that features Eminem, 6LACK, Snoh Aalegra and more. In 2018, she opened for Eminem on a UK tour stop.
But beyond getting endorsements from some of the biggest names in music, Shae Universe is one to watch in 2019 because she’s got some of the best vocals known to UK R&B with a sound that’s true to contemporary R&B but is fresh and unrivalled. Infusing rap into R&B and delivering with an empowering, invigorating flourish. Shae has an unmatched ability to make you feel her emotions and passions like Soul music is supposed to.
Tiana Major9
A gift to modern jazz, Tiana Major9 is yet another gem from the UK R&B scene. A true lover of Jazz music, the East Londoner, describes it as “free and uncompromising”. The phrase is also a great descriptor of Major9’s music.
Tiana Major9 is an East-Londoner who grew up with Gospel, Garage, R&B and Hip Hop but discovered Jazz later on and developed an obsession we can only be grateful for. Tiana Major9’s sound is proof of the magic that happens when musical influences collide. Discovering her love for performance in the church, Tiana nurtured her rich, alto tones, the perfect backdrop for her sonic palette.
Tiana Major9 has kicked off 2019 with Rehearsal @ NINE, her long-anticipated debut EP. Rehearsal @ NINE is a banging and true homage to Jazz that remains relevant to the sound of today. It’s quite simply just the stuff good music is made of – incredibly lush production, thoughtful lyrics with the richest of voices. Many more big things are sure to come off the back of this one for this rising star.
James Vickery
One of UK R&B’s most promising up and comers, this singer-songwriter is armed with a dazzling falsetto. James Vickery has cited vocal influences including Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder. “I’ve always loved hearing big and powerful voices and tried to emulate [them] that as I grew up”. And the man does quite the job emulating.
The South Londoner has been slowly bubbling up around the UK music scene since collaborating with Disclosure in 2015. His 2018 EP, Until Morning, is a dreamy appetite-wetter for more great things to come in 2019.
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