“Soul music touches people. We got back to just wanting to be ourselves, and I think once we stopped trying to compete, we eclipsed pop music.”
If you’ve been following this blog then you know that my favorite genre of music happens to be R&B (Rhythm and Blues). And for the past few years, I’ve noticed a shift in the genre—it’s returned.
Seriously. Have you not noticed?
No, I’m not saying that the 90s have resurfaced (that time period can never be duplicated). But there is a new millennial sound out right now and it’s quite refreshing, to say the least; primarily because it’s a mix between the past and the future. This includes artists from the past as well as newer ones.
According to Salon.com, 2017 was a breakout year for R&B music. Solange’s 2016 A Seat At the Table was the precursor to the wave of success that artists like SZA, Daniel Caesar, and Kelela received that year. And all of these artists are anchoring in a unique sound for the genre. They’ve advised that “artists, producers, media, fans and industry execs have stopped trying to confine R&B to its past. By letting go of their old R&B, they’ve allowed the form to survive, evolve and, it seems, flourish.”
I won’t say that I’m not apprehensive about how long this wave will last, but I will enjoy it for the time being. If you have a favorite artist in this new era that has caught your attention, feel free to comment below. But for now, let’s vibe to a few of mine…old and new.
Until Next Time…
(Sources)
Leah, R. (2017, December 15). Why 2017 was R&B’s return to glory. Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.salon.com/2017/12/15/rb-2017/
