Seba Kaapstad - "Africa"

Seba Kaapstad is the latest signing to the always reliable (and frequent RR subject) Mello Music Group, and is made up of vocalists Ndumiso Manana and Zoe Modiga as well as multi-instrumentalist Sebastian Schuster and percussionist Philip Scheibel. While rooted in South Africa - I mean, the track is called "Africa" -  you definitely get a sense of Schuster and Scheibel's Germanic influences with a crispness to the swing that recalls Jazzanova when the track cuts loose at 0:56.

There's only this cut and "Breathe" currently streaming, but based on the MMG pedigree and what's on offer here, Thina is a must-listen when it drops May 17th.

narou & James Chatburn - "Oblivious"

Vienna / Berlin producer narou wasn't on my radar before this morning, but I'm about to follow him like a hawk because his collaborator James Chatburn just shared this impeccable slice of neo-soul. The piano line leading into the finger-snap percussion, the bass kick beneath the smooth vocals. THIS IS MY TYPE OF JAM.

Cannot wait to hear more of what these two come up with.

Jordan Rakei - "Wildfire"

Apparently it debuted on BBC (yesterday? I can never tell with time-zones), but Rakei's latest neo-soul nugget is out today, May 10th.
 

Birthday Boy & Trish - "Just One Kiss"

Toronto duo Birthday Boy & Trish just dropped the Joseph EP on January 15th and while it took a week to cross my radar, I'm glad it did because I am always down for some tasty future soul music, particularly when it's got the MAPL wheel! Add this to your Chris LaRocca, Precious Lo's, Pomo et al. playlists.

This Flame I Carry - "Dustbowls"

 These are the tags Noah Cebuliak - aka This Flame I Carry - lists at the bottom of the Bandcamp page for new album Taboos: folk r&b jazz lofi neo-soul prog folk

If you're not intrigued by a fairly disparate group of genres, then I doubt you're following RR on the regular. The spooky bells, Cebuliak's wispy vocals and haunting violin on "Dustbowls" are all underpinned by Patrick Latreille's phenomenal acoustic bass.

Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.

Chris LaRocca - "Closer"

Somehow I missed the boat on LaRocca's Sextape work, but this track under his own name is completely in my wheelhouse. Downtempo neo-soul with falsetto? SIGN ME UP.

I actually just became his 91st follower on Soundcloud and this number needs to blow up. Get on it.