This Is NeoSoul

This Is . . . NeoSoul

Did it begin in 1995 when a young, smooth, thugged out reincarnation of Marvin Gaye, Donnie Hathaway, and Prince all rolled up into one, released his soulful interpretation of what, how, and where the soul music, and rhythm & blues (not to be confused with r n’b) of the past should be moving today?

Regardless, yet due in part to a few early, pioneering “entrants” into a genre that has and will prove to act as the proverbial “watch dog” for the quality, content, artistry, and growth of what “good music” was, is, can, should, and will be; love it or leave it, the age old war still ensues. And the NeoSoul name is the only badge, or plausible “seal of approval” available in this day and age of lack luster talent, synthesized, soulless sounds, questionable content, and uninspired creative direction.

Like any war, various battles are waged, both won & lost, and there are always those casualties & unsung heroes who offered up themselves so that the “named & proclaimed heroes” could live to fight another day. With that analogous statement, I pay homage to those individuals (too many to mention) who were and are as much a part of this genre/movement, but due to time, space, and circumstance, they were not included on this volume. (An “Unsung Pioneers of NeoSoul” is sure to come out soon.).

So, what is NeoSoul, some may still be asking? It is a working tribute in progress to “old soul”. Sometimes referred to as rhythm & blues or simply soul music. Reminiscent of such greats as: Aretha, Donnie, Gladys, Marvin, Stevie, Smokey, Diana, Sam, Al, and a list of many others far too numerous to name.

NeoSoul - n. A musical genre which surfaced circa 1995, comprised of singing, instrumentation, and a consciousness reminiscent of the old soul and rhythm & blues sound of the 60's & 70's.
n. The artistic movement, or effort put forth by present day singers & musicians (circa 1995) to express, and in some cases recapture the spirit, style, message, and delivery of past soul and rhythm & blues greats.

It, like the phoenix, is the reincarnation (burning brightly from the ashes) of what was, in a time that now is. It is the voice of a people (not just black) trying to get out of a classification/situation created and dictated by a society that has lost its general way, and doesn’t care to understand, cater to, or respect it, or its power, purpose, gravity and influence. It is music that comes from where the heart, mind, & soul connect, done the way it was done in the past, but shaped and enhanced by what would have/should have been its natural evolutionary progression. It is love, pain, gain, loss, knowledge, thought, contemplation, recollection, anger, and joy. It is fun, serious, smooth, energetic, brash, coy, wistful, aggressive, colorful, dark, flexible, familiar, and brand new.

NeoSoul is so broad, it can’t be contained, or directly labeled, yet, it’s so pure and connected to life, that once you know what it is, you also know what it is not.

This is just a taste of the artists that have been so instrumental (literally & figuratively) in the genesis and continuation of this style of music, art form, and movement. So until we are able to safely and accurately reclaim the title of “Soul” again,
THIS IS . . . NEOSOUL .

CDs can be purchased at...