7 days of discovering new jazzy tunes and R&B(ish) artists

In my early twenties, I lived in Berlin, always slightly hungover but full of big dreams that a decade of corporate would later kill. 🙃

I ran a music blog discovering unsigned artists on a great domain name that someone snatched up the day it expired, hoping I’d pay a few thousand to get it back. Jokes on them, I’m Dutch.

Without my side project, my SoundCloud sessions slowly faded. I exchanged music for podcasts. I climbed up the career ladder and decided 90s R&B gots to go. Writing web copy while karaoke-ing to SWV, yes. Planning international events, no. It was Ritalin and focus instead.

Fast-forward to today, my playlist is in a rut. It’s the same songs. The same artists. It needs a little oomph.

This week, I’m on a mission to find music that makes you feel things from artists I haven’t heard of.

Day 1: Sunday service ft. Hamzaa

I stumbled upon UK singer-songwriter Hamzaa through a random Spotify playlist, clicked play on Rush and my jaw dropped.

OH MY, THIS IS GOOORGEOUS. 😭

I put on my stank face—bopping my head from left to right, my fingers snapping and tapping. The buildup transition starting seconds before the two-minute mark is sublime. With my hands waving vivaciously, I listened to the rest of Hamzaa’s EP as if it were a Sunday church service.

Her voice is so heartfelt. And the live instruments, oh my. It’s like a warm bath on a cozy snowy afternoon. Or a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about all the loves that never were. Maybe skip when you’re on your period. ðŸ¤

Day 2: Arabic nights ft. Ferkat Al Ard

There’s something so soothing about foreign music, hearing artists (what I assume)cry out over lost loves in their own language. Or if they’re from the Netherlands, talk about absolutely nothing.

The 2019 album Oghneya from trio Ferkat Al Ard is particularly soothing. It’s Lebanese folk with sprinkles of Brazilian bossa nova. The beautifully arranged melodies with poetry-turned-lyrics transport you to a time when Beirut’s nightlife was a melting pot of worldly musicians.

It makes me imagine wandering narrow, golden-lit streets at night. Vague trumpet sounds are coming from behind a hardly noticeable wooden door. Inside, the air is slightly too humid and a little smokey. There are low seats, red lights, and carpets. A bustling energy of people captivated by the music, and each other. The musicians tightly assembled on a slightly elevated stage, most playing with their eyes shut.

It’s a home away from home, this hidden place. And it sounds like this:

Day 3: Shimmying sounds ft. 1000 Beasts

So, here’s a challenge: Listen to the Burning Flower and keep absolutely still.

Did you struggle to keep your shoulders from shimmying, or are you weird?

Honestly, you might be. There are a ridiculous number of humans who listen to funky tunes without moving a single limb. And they’re often at concerts. I find this one of life’s biggest mysteries.

Anyway, let’s talk 1000 Beasts, the collaborating producer from Minneapolis. SUCH a vibe! When I started this quest, I was hoping to find something refreshing, interesting, and diverse. And this album is exactly that. 🙌

It’s a mix of instrumentals and features, with influences from all corners of the world. Some feel like a Moroccan souk, others like a Spanish coastal town during golden hour. But every song (no exception) is a work of art. I’m so thrilled I found this album!

Day 4: Weeklong earworms ft. tendai

Sometimes you listen to a song once and your brain goes: “OH… we’ll be bringing that back all day, every day.” Which is what happened with My World. Its one-in-a-million hook happily latched onto my brain for days to come.

Tendai hails from East London, and his 2024 releases are all top-tier. The rain on the UK garage track Twin Flame comes from the echos of the warehouse sanctuary he isolated himself in to record his new project. In Scorpios kiss, you’ll hear similar squeaky rumblings that make the song homey and intimate. Like sitting on the floor of your parent’s attic sorting through pictures of young love.

Day 5: Surprise destination road trips ft. Summer Pearl

OH HELL YEAAAAH, I just yelled out loud while listening to Summer Pearl’s feel right. What a musical adventure. The start feels 90s Technotronic-y, then it transitions into a smoker’s anthem, and the surprise Spanish guitar towards the end suddenly has you dreaming of cold sangria. Also, come on with these lyrics. That STICKS! 🤯

Summer Pearl’s album is a feast, with lyrics and melodies that make you want to close your eyes to listen to the intricate layers. Each song feels so, precious. So creative and well-thought-out. You’re not sure which turn the next track will take, but with Summer Pearl in the driver’s seat, you’ll road trip to places that are sometimes jazzy, sometimes reggae, and sometimes spoken word—but always worth the visit.

Day 6: Slow sunny mornings ft. Nao Yoshioka

I’ve heard of (and love) NAO, but I’ve never heard of the Japanese singer Nao Yoshioka. But if your album features Dutch virtuosos like Jarreau Vandal and JAEL, as well as Really Love’s Khari Mateen, you’ve got my attention.

Her EP Flow is soft, summery, and soulful. Tracks like You Never Know, Feeling So Bright, Selfish, and Note to Self are the perfect soundtrack for a slow Sunday morning. These will be the jams as I ease into the day, journaling while my facial mask does its thing.

Day 7: Backyard linens ft. Rita Payés

I shazamed this young Catalan jazz and bossa nova trombonist-singer ages ago and never listened further. As it turns out, her album Como La Piel was exactly what I needed on this slightly Monday-Monday.

For reasons I can’t quite explain, my mind started envisioning fresh linens, gently swaying in the wind. And crisp apples next to fresh honeycomb on Gruyère. A serene world where time moves ever so slowly and midday picnics with wholesome conversations are a daily affair.

That’s what this sweet album sounds like to me. A perfect day in Spring.