It’s finally here, Seeing Her Naked, which is written, produced, and performed by Mar! Hauntingly delicious vocals, where Mar‘s range and falsettos give such emotion. Seeing Her Naked sounds like Mar actually bared all for us; a truly emotive strong collection of down- to mid-tempo songs, drawing on the styles that are current in sound, such as the opening track “Some to Remember” then to “Understand the Game” which brings in an 80s groove with a 2012 flare. What Seeing Her Naked illustrates is Mar‘s talent not only as a singer, but also a composer. We will definitely be hearing from from this artist as he spreads his wings wider in the field. 

You can stream the entire EP below or visit his website to download Seeing Her Naked. Also to learn more about Mar, read the Loop 21 interview where Muphoric Sounds‘ editorial director, Vanessa Warren talked with him about his work and creative process.

Detroit techno/house musician, Kenny Dixon Jr, better known by pseudonym Moodymann, never steers us wrong! Picture This, a release through Scion A/V — an initiative that supports the development of passionate artists as they explore infinite possibilities — is classic Moodymann! It’s soulful, funky, and best of all, moody — providing those continuous dance-laden beats, with a smoothness synonymous with jazz, Brazilian, funk, and soul. The standout on this 8-track album is “Pray for Love,” which has these incredible music changes in tempo, in feel, and in funk. To get you started, check out the video for the opening track, “9 Nites 2 Nowhere.” Again, another track with a ton of surprises. Then head over to Scion A/V to get your download of Picture This.

Now here’s a blast from the past – Neneh “Buffalo Stance” Cherry!  She’s been off the radar for a while, only lending her voice on a song here and there. Now, collaborating with Scanadavian jazz ensemble, the Thing on forthcoming album called The Cherry Thing.  

“Dream Baby Dream” is the first single from the album, and is a cover of 70s/80s punk rock band, Suicide‘s song of the same title. In its original construct, ”Dream Baby Dream“ has these church-like organs that hum along in the background, while Neneh Cherry & The Thing remove the keys altogether and add drums and wind instruments, as Cherry‘s words ‘dream baby dream,’ gently echo and massage to your temples. Great vibe and energy on this track. Check it out below.

The Cherry Thing is schedule to release June 19th on Smalltown Supersound. Looking forward to this!

If you’re not familiar with Jessica Lauren, you need to be! This multi-instrumentalist has been a staple in the UK’s alternative jazz scene for quite some time. From releasing her own recordings, gracing tracks with prominent soul/jazz funk artists, such as Jean Carne, Tom Browne, Dexter Wansel, and James Mason, and being a key member of Nick Woodmansey‘s spacey jazz group, Emanative, Lauren‘s work is pretty bad arse!!

Now with  Jessica Lauren Four, she blends her diverse musicals influences in blues, soul, Afro-Cuban rhythms, creating these incredibly relaxing tracks that soothe your soul but also make you want to dance. Using the help of bassist Andrew Kremer, percussionists David “Booie” Gallagher and  Paul Gunter, and power soul singer Jocelyn Brown on a couple of tracks, they all come together to create beauty.

Jessica Lauren Four is scheduled to release April 14 on Freestyle Records. Check out the snippets below!! It’s pure fire!

You know that excited feeling you get when you kiss someone for the first time? Or when you find a record that is just so unquestionably fresh? That is probably this whole LP by Shuggie Otis called Inspiration Information, and the specific track “Island Letter.“ Can’t remember for the life of me where I bought this record but I know it’s one of those records I was actively looking for. One of my most favorite groups Digable Planets sampled this track on “For Corners“ that is featured on their Blowout Comb album.

Shuggie Otis is an incredible multi-instrumentalist, who started playing at the young age of 12 in Los Angeles. Coming from a musical family, Shuggie started playing in his father’s band and began recording at the age of 16. He released three studio LPs on Epic Records, and played on several other artists’ albums such as Frank Zappa, Etta James, Billy Preston, BB King, Leon Haywood, and Bobby Blue Band – such a wide array of artists. A treasure in the hip hop community, his dreamy guitar riffs have been sampled by The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Madlib, and the legendary J Dilla. In 2009, it was mentioned on Jeff Duran‘s radio show (FM KLSX) that Shuggie Otis is still playing and is working on new music.

The chords on this song are so inviting; it feels like a welcome home engagement from a man to a woman. Romantic! The riffs and melodies are warm embraces on a cold rainy day. I love how the track is slow, steady, and momentous in the sense that it is very quiet and subtle, then all of a sudden blossoming and deliberate. It is said that Shuggie played all instruments on this LP; the direction and mood of the entire song is sure ’nuff funky. And the breakdown?! Whew! Can’t wait to hear what else this cat has in store for us.

Fresh Daily is a Brooklyn, New York MC, graphic designer whose style draws from the old school boom bap era, yet has distinct new school elements to keep contemporary listeners nodding their heads and paying attention.

No newcomer to the game, Fresh Daily has worked with producers such as Illmind, Oh No, and Exile to name a few.

Teaming up with Complex Magazine and Converse to present his latest offering The Brooklyn Good Guy, a free 12-track album featuring names like MURS, Black Spade, Melo-X, Mike Baker the Bike Maker and Om’mas Keith, among others.

Excellent sample based, synth heavy, and bouncy production provides the backdrop for his well crafted, precise, down to earth, cocky, and confident rhymes. Stand out tracks include the Sam Champ produced, “Don’t You Agree,” featuring Om’mas Keith; “Cool Thoughts” produced by Russian beatsmith, BMB Space Kid also featuring Om’mas Keith, and the bouncy, hard to keep still to “Laced Up” produced by fellow New Yorker, Jinesis.

On vocoder laced, “Cool Thoughts,” Fresh Daily gives advice on how to maintain “positive thoughts in a negative world….” On the chorus, Om’mas Keith lends his patent harmonies making this one of the album’s standout tracks.

“Laced Up” sees Fresh at his most braggadocios, reminding us on the DJ Screw-esque chorus, that we can find him “rolling through laced up, everything fitted…” . He sounds mature and self aware without sounded dated. Jinesis‘ production matches the rhymes perfectly making this either a zone out, lay back, chill track…or something one could put on to get their swag back.

Check out a couple of tunes below then head over to LiveMixtapes.com for this free download.

“Cool Thoughts”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“Laced Up”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

One thing that can be said about Georgia Anne Muldrow, is the velocity in which she releases music. From the start of her career has been a steady flow of music – highlighting her closeness to funk with heavy basslines and a grit that holds a certain level of masculinity, yet delicate enough in its femininity.

Seeds, set to release next week, March 27 on SomeOthaship Connection features a difference – this is the first time GAM has worked with another producer outside of partner, Dudley Perkins. GAM has joined forces with hip-hop heavy weight producer, Madlib. The musical union between GAM and Madlib, is somewhat of an extension of previous works, with more grit and experimentation while still having her unique ability to create that rugged old soul we’ve grown to love over the years.

In an exclusive arrangement with Canadian music mag’s web Exclaim!, you can hear Seeds in it’s fully entirety before it’s release next week. Go check it out.

We’ve been waiting for this moment to come for a while now, and it’s almost here. With full endorsement from Wonderful Ear Records, Mar will be releasing his self written and produced debut EP, Seeing Her Naked at the end of the month. Not sure of the details, or if there will be any collaborations but the strategy to keep things to a minimum, as not to lose the element of surprise and anticipation, is the best way to go. The Mar Variations definitely kept us eager to hear more.

The first taste from the EP is “Our Attempt,” a sexy arrangement of bare drums, keys, and a haunting guitar that enters with a yearning that is ever-present in Mar‘s music. The accented break in the track adds a breathtaking silence; you can only imagine what can be done to this!!

Check it out below and stay tuned for link nearing release.

Blaktroniks are interesting, to say the least. This Oakland, California group comprising of Edd Dee Pee and X-Ray are certainly doing things differently and Ready Set Blow is filled with production surprises, that are inventive.

Ready Set Blow is what they call an ‘electro-boogie-robot-soul-funk-hop’ journey through sounds. Tokyo Dawn Records, the label they have been touring with for the past 10 years says the album is “like a pendulum between tearful joy and laughter to keep from crying, between ugly beauty and beautiful funk, between inner peace and outward frustration.” It’s future music that is unafraid to explore new territories, whether it’s from the pulsating beats to the melodic vocals Edward Robinson on “Sky Scrapers,” which flows like a Nina Simone Verve Remix, to Alicia Renee (aka Blue Eyes) on the soulful “It’s All Right Now.” There is something on Ready Set Blow that will blow your mind.

Check out a couple of tracks below, then head over to Tokyo Dawn Records to hear full streaming of Ready Set Blow, which will be released March 28th.

“Sky Scrapers” feat. Edward Robinson

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“Computers Do It Better”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Evy Jane categorise themselves as experimental R&B, while others are deeming them as textured-pop. If we were to compare Evy Jane, they are what Little Dragon started with, minus the soulful vibe and heavy hitting bassline – which therefore makes them a unique listen. They’re more experimental, drawing sounds from UK’s drum and bass, and fusing electronica into it.

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Evy Jane are Evelyn Mason and Jeremiah Klein, who have been working together for the past two years, performing at festivals, with Klein DJing at some of Vancouver’s exclusive parties.

The EP features two original tracks, “SAYSO” and “OHSO” followed by remixes from Canadian producers Max Ulis, Taal Mala, and Andy Dixon Dutch producer Julien Mier, each spinning their own doses of future on the two songs.

Evy Jane are “definitely” artists Muphoric Sounds will keep an eye on. Check out their latest video and tunes below, then head over to their Bandcamp for purchase.

EVY JANE – Sayso from Evy Jane on Vimeo.

We’ve been talking about this for quite sometime, and it’s finally here, Black Radio by jazz extraordinaire, Robert Glasper. The album is outstanding, featuring fantastic covers from Coltrane‘s “Afro Blue” by Erykah Badu; the deliciously sexy version of Sade‘s “Cherish the Day” sung by Lalah Hathaway (never imagined this song getting anymore sexier!); even Nivana‘s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” gets turned into contemporary jazz. The originals tracks are pure treats from Mos Def on ”Black Radio,” which really is the essence of this entire album, taking from Public Enemy‘s lyric from “Rebel Without a Pause,” “Radio, suckers never play me.” If radio were to sound like this, I supposed we would listen more often. Bilal graces the album on two tracks, “Always Shine,” with Lupe Fiasco, and “Letter to Hermione” with the perfect line of, “I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to do, so I’ll just write some love to you.” I love the evolution and maturity of Bilal’s songwriting, and laid against Glasper, blends perfectly well.

With his main musicians in tow — drummer Chris Dave, electric bassist Derrick Hodge, and Casey Benjamin on saxes and vocoder, Black Radio gives us forward-thinking music, that is truly timeless. Other artists featured are  Stokely Williams (Mint Condition), Meshell Ndegeocello, Chrisette Michele, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Musiq Soulchild, and Ledisi. You need Black Radio in your life. Check out a couple of songs below, then head over to iTunes, and ride Black Radio to the top!

“Black Radio” feat. Mos Def

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

“Letter To Hermione” feat. Bilal

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Production duo, Tensei, comprising of two fellas Simple X and Midas Wells, met while studying at Southern Illinois University. The two soon realised their affinity to hip-hop (and music in general) and formed the group Tensei, meaning ‘heaven star’ in Japanese.

Now signed to Plug Research record label, home to the likes of Bilal and Quadron, they released One, an EP of nine tracks, mainly of instrumentals, with guest vocals from ADAD, Denmark of Crown Nation, and Scarlet Monk. They categorise their music as ‘modern fusion hip-hop’, which sums them perfectly, as their music covers much ground — alternative and cinematic where its essence is hip-hop. Their style defies the hip-hop standard of overt use of samples and lean more towards live instrumentation instead of the break beat and loops to fill their tunes.

Check out One below, which is also available at a largely discounted price on iTunes. You’re going to love this one! Tensei‘s upcoming full-length album will be released on Plug Research later this year. Stay tuned!

Guadeloupe born producer, singer, and songwriter, Cilla K released her self-produced album Fine Line, which featured a collaboration with Jneiro Jarel, “Evil Child” back in 2010 — a fusion of soul, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz. Now with her sophomore album New World Lullabies where she teams with Chicago based producers Tensei and Detroit producer, Tall Black Guy on songs.

The artwork for the album perfectly taps into your senses before even listening to it. New World Lullabies is just that —  a vocally rich journey where Cilla K describes it as journeying through, ”feelings like Love [and] joy… I also wanted to portray what we live nowadays… and the need to stay hopeful for a better life, a brighter future.” Blending hip-hop, soul, and alternative sounds to her production, this is a smooth downtempo collection of songs to warm your soul.

Check out the songs below, then head over to Cilla K‘s Bandcamp for purchase.

Monster Sneaker is a new production duo, who so happen to be label mates on Tru Thoughts — Xavier Jean a.k.a Azaxx and Jonathan Radford a.k.a Diesler. Blending their sounds on this 3-track EP, featuring the gorgeous vocals of Colonel Red on “Tainted Lovin’” on the opening track which builds from a minimal percussion arrangement to a full-on dirty bassline mid-tempo track. “Paintball” is a broken soulful house instrumental where the synths are fun and jovial, and “Chunky Walker” reminds me of what Winter Music Conference is all about — for me that is! Gosh, I’m going to miss it this year. *insert sad face*

Released yesterday on A Little Something Recording, and is available on the following sites for purchase. So BUY NOW – iTunes / Amazon / Juno

This month marks Wax Poetics magazine’s 10-year anniversary in which they pay homage to “one of the most iconic musicians in the history of African American music, the one and only Prince“! Did you catch that? A whole magazine centered around  His Royal Badness and a few other funketers from his camp. As always, there’s an audio element to their features, and this one comes in the form of funk master himself, DaM-FunK. Taking us through Prince B-Sides, unreleases, and 94 East (Prince’s early band with Pepe Willie and Andre Cymone), the fifty-odd minutes of synth-funk, DaM-FunK really goes in on this mix, sprinkling his own flavoured funk on tracks; it’s great! Check it out below, and get yourself a copy of Wax Poetics at your local news agent for a an education in Minneapolis Sounds!