The Beat Surrender

We have over the years been blessed by some of the great soul voices, Billie Holliday, Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige and Alicia Keyes have all spanned the decades of music to keep the soul firmly in Soul and more importantly to keep it an ongoing musical genre that is as popular as ever.

Hopefully over the next few years you’ll be adding to that list with Joy Denalane. Her recent single with Lupe Fiasco was a sweet introduction for me to her music, the album though is even better. Born & Raised is an album that you just completely lose yourself in, you get wrapped up in Denalane’s almost spiritual vocals and the music sweeps silkily around her.

Be it the emotional wrangler of Caught Up, the collaboration Heaven Or Hell with Raekwon or the Mary J Blige honouring 7 Year Itch this is a beautifully crafted album from start to finish and is out now through Nesola. Make her the star she deserves to be as this is quite possibly the best album i’ve heard this year.