r&b/soul | Musicosity

Mufaro

Mufaro is an R&B/Soul, Jazz & Hip Hop award-winning artist, specialising in blending genres to create unique experiences for his listeners. Having captivated the R&B/Soul scene in Brisbane, Mufaro is a QUBE Effect People’s Choice winner and has made appearances at Jungle Love Festival, Yonder Festival and the EKKA, as well as earning support slots for both local, national and international artists. His EP Closer was releases in January 2018 and displays his ability to blend the worlds of R&B And Jazz in this powerful storytelling medium. Since then, Mufaro has shown his versatility as an artists with tracks such as Samba, Show Me and, most recently, Late Night.

With obvious influence from heavyweights such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, Mufaro has been described as “one of the strongest Soul/R&B and Hip Hop acts” by The Music (2017), and the Zimbabwean native is only just getting started.

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Ruby Jackson

Described as “the little black dress in your wardrobe, an instant classic” (FBi Radio), Sydney-based songwriter, producer and performer Ruby Jackson has positioned herself at the heart of the Australian R&B scene.

During her high school years, Ruby fell in love with jazz music when she discovered the magic of Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and Julie London. This sudden passion inspired her to study composition at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she honed in on her writing skills.

Since completing her studies, Ruby has been quickly flourishing into one of Sydney’s most authentic, world-class creators of music with songs that continuously strike a chord with her audience. This can be traced back to November 2022 when Jackson was selected as FBi Radio’s Independent Artist of the Week for her release ‘Get Around To It’, which quickly became a crowd pleaser for its smooth & classy alternative R&B touch.

In 2023, Ruby's singles 'Out Of Fashion', 'Guilty Pleasure', and 'You’ve Changed' dominated the airwaves, earning Double J rotation, triple j Unearthed rotation, alongside radio-play support from triple j, iHeartRadio and community radios nationwide.

Off the back of her impressive performances at BIGSOUND and SXSW Sydney in September 2023, Ruby released her much-anticipated debut EP Sweeter For Me in November, co-produced with one of Sydney’s renowned creators Finbar Stuart.

Fuelled by 2000s R&B Pop nostalgia, the timeless 5-track record tells a series of sincere stories with a beautiful, honest delivery - everything a debut should do. Sweeter For Me has recently been nominated for the 2024 AIR Awards (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) for Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or Ep.

Ruby has kicked off 2024 with a sold-out performance at Cockatoo Island’s Sunset Sessions, Hot Jazz Picnic, and has just recently sold out the Lansdowne with a headline show. February saw Ruby open for Ball Park Music as part of Sydney’s Twilight At Taronga, then up to Brisbane to warm the stage for International sensation Morcheeba (UK) at The Tivoli.

Following on from her standout shows at Blues On Broadbeach, Ruby will soon be announcing her much-anticipated East Coast tour. Don’t miss the chance to experience this soulful sophistication!

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r&b/soul

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The Hornstars

There are many words that could be used to describe Melbourne band The Hornstars. Funky. Danceable. Loud. Quirky (have you seen that video?). But above all else, the Hornstars are all about fun, and their primary mission is to show their audience a funky good time.

The Hornstars sound is big, brassy and hard to pigeonhole. The lineup featuring Clancy Cullen (vocals), Daniel Bardan (trumpet), Bruce Cousins (trombone), Russell B Myers (tenor sax), Joey Mount (drums), Mike Holloway (bass), Peter Bonett (keys), Gareth Durant (guitar) and Eric Morand (alto sax and percussion) bring a wide range of influences to the mix. Jazz, soul reggae - it may not all be funk as we know it, but it is definitely funky.

The Hornstars formed in 2016, legend has it, after founding members were kicked out of their ska band for allegedly being “too funky”. What came next was inevitable. The band quickly recruited their 9-piece lineup and confected a set of catchy and danceable songs, which they took to the pubs and bars of Melbourne and beyond, and eventually released as their debut album in March 2020.

During the COVID-enforced hiatus, band members continued to write, getting together when restrictions allowed. The band’s song writing continued to evolve, sometimes reflecting what was going on in the world outside (witness the hard funk grooves of "No Gigs" and "Half Way There"), and at others expressing aspirations for brighter post-pandemic future ("Touch", "Say Goodbye"). Occasionally emerging between lockdowns in 2021, the Hornstars were greeted with an enthusiastic reception and sold out shows.

With their second album Half Way There released in August this year, the Hornstars are looking forward to playing more live shows in 2022 and beyond. And while we are still living in uncertain times, here is one thing to be sure of - The Hornstars are still having fun in 2022, and so should you.

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Yazmin Lacey

Yazmin Lacey (born in east London) is a British singer based in Nottingham.

Having written in her bedroom for her whole life, Lacey began to play acoustic shows in 2014. As her reputation grew locally in Nottingham, she came to meet the diverse group of musicians who would form her band The Running Circle. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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Acoustic

r&b/soul

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Emma Donovan

Emma Donovan (born 1981) is an Aboriginal Australian singer and songwriter. She is a member of the renowned musical Donovan family. She started her singing career at age seven with her uncle's band, the Donovans. In 2000, she became a founding member of Stiff Gins, leaving the band three years later to release the solo album Changes in 2004. She performs with the Black Arm Band and released a solo EP, Ngaaraanga, in 2009.

She has been nominated for multiple Deadly Awards including Female Artist of the Year, and performed at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She won Best Female Artist at the 2009 BUMP Awards. Donovan appeared in the ABC series Dynasties in 2004,and was the subject of the 2005 SBS TV documentary Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady.

Donovan has sung with and performed with Indigenous Australian musicians such as Frank Yamma, her cousin Casey Donovan, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, Kerriane Cox, Christine Anu, Tiddas, Yothu Yindi and Jimmy Little.She has also performed with Paul Kelly, Ursula Yovich, and Shellie Morris.

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Sugar Fed Leopards

Sugar Fed Leopards (SFL) are a blazing septet conceived at the nexus of classic pop and disco. With smoking hot costumes, sweet harmonies, tight dance routines and a cranking rhythm section, SFL have been breaking hearts and starting dance floor fires since 2013.

Described as "...Saturday Night Fever meets Kath & Kim on acid", the band has toured in Europe and across Australia, including festival spots at Boogie, Woodford and Falls.

In January 2015, SFL launched their debut album ‘Sweet Spots’ followed up by 'Take You Out Tonight' (April 2017) which was selected as 'Album of the Week' on both PBS FM and 3RRR FM.

The release of Double A-Side single ‘Rose’ and ‘Sugar In Her Pocket’ in February 2018 signalled a short break for the band as they took some time off to recoup and regroup following a hectic few years of peak fitness.

During the pandemic, the band recorded and released single and film clip ode to spring, 'Flowers in the Falling Rain' (September 2021).

SFL are currently working hard on their core strength to emerge early in 2023 with new moves, new fashions and a new full length album.
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Sugar Breath (Steph Brett) – lead vox
Lemona Squeeze (Louise Terry) – back-up vox
Coco Caramelle (Carrie Webster) – back-up vox
Chocolate Marshmallow (Justin Marshall) – drums
Davide Dolce (David Bramble) – guitar
Kitty Katerini (Kat Karvess) – bass
Candy Lion (Dandelion Jackson) – saxophone

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JALEN NGONDA

Truly life-enriching soul music is an indomitable force of nature. No matter what sub-genre our current crop of musicologists may cite in the very near future to describe Jalen Ngonda’s riveting approach, he’s unequivocally a gifted songwriter and artist, blending classic and contemporary soul influences to create a sound that’s all his own. The last year has seen the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Come Around And Love Me ” he has even swiftly followed it early in 2024 with two brand new singles, as an artist who writes songs every day, its a natural thing to keep fresh music coming out. Jalen is already catching the attention of the likes of Snoop Dog, Jill Scott, Kehlani and Olivia Dean, as well as Elton John, who predicted last Summer that “he is going to be a huge star”. Despite being extremely busy these past months playing sold-out tours in the USA, UK and Europe and promoting the album, the good news is that he is already planning the next recording sessions. Signed to Daptone Records a funk and soul independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York and the perfect home for him, Jalen possesses a rich, nuanced voice that sets him miles apart from the crowd. His music is as fresh and contemporary as anyone’s gracing today’s scene. . Music that may instil a nostalgia for the golden era of soul but from a very special artist that is very much of his time, a real once in a generation experience.

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r&b/soul

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The Badloves

One of Australia’s most cherished bands, The Badloves, are getting ready to hit the road for their vinyl release tour. The local lads will be performing at venues across the country and at one of Melbourne’s much loved live music institutions.

The Badloves became a household name in the 90’s with their debut album Get On Board. It spent a massive 69 weeks in the charts, peaked at No. 5 and went on to achieved double platinum sales. The critically acclaimed album delivered four hit singles: Lost, Memphis, I Remember and Green Limousine. The band then went on to be nominated for five ARIA Awards – Album of The Year, Single of The Year (Lost), Breakthrough Artist – Album, Breakthrough Artist – Single (Lost) and Best New Talent. The band secured two awards for Breakthrough Artist – Album and Breakthrough Artist – Single.

After extensive tours in Australia and Europe, they released their second album in 1995, Holy Roadside. It was a Top 15 chart debut, received further ARIA nominations, and another string of hit singles in Slave, Barefoot Bride, Living Thing and Caroline, establishing them as one of this country’s premier acts.

Whilst The Badloves wagon has rarely left the road in 30 long years, their recording output has been sparse. The drought finally broke in late 2019 when the band released the superb soulbrothertruckinsong – their first new single in 17 years. The Badloves continue to build on their legacy with the arrival of their recent single, Tribal, which has already received strong support from Australian radio. The song was inspired by one of Michael Spiby’s recurring dreams. Spiby explains “I don’t usually remember dreams, they’re so hard to catch. But often enough I wake up disturbed by this one recurring theme…how will I keep my little tribe together in tough times, am I up to the task? ‘Tribal’ is my recurring dream, caught in the light of day.”

In April 2021, for the first time, Warner Music released Get On Board on vinyl and as a digital deluxe including unreleased tracks from their 1993 Triple J Live At The Wireless session. The band’s videos have also been digitised for the first time, with the videos from Get On Board to be staggered from November 30. To celebrate the re-issue of Get On Board the band will be embarking on a national Australian tour.

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Cookin' on 3 Burners

Cookin’ On 3 Burners are Australia’s hardest hitting Hammond Organ Trio – joining the dots between Deep Funk, Raw Soul, Organ Jazz & Boogaloo.

Listening to Cookin’ On 3 Burners is like poking your head through a time portal that stretches between the year you were born and the middle of next week. On one hand there are clues to a spiritual home that’s situated somewhere in the back streets of 1966, but on the other is a reinvented soul stew that’s very much a product of the 21st Century.

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funk

r&b/soul

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Stylus

Stylus were an Australian blue-eyed soul group formed in 1975. They were the only Australian act to be released by Motown Records in the USA. Stylus toured supporting George Benson, Average White Band, Ike & Tina Turner, and Little River Band. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, Stylus "scored a number of hit singles and became very popular on the Australian pub and concert circuit". The group disbanded in 1979 and subsequently had various reunions. In 1998-99 Japan's Toshiba-EMI re-issued three Stylus albums on CDs (For the Love of Music, Best Kept Secret and Part of It All). Their reunions have resulted in a live album, Still Alive (2003); and a new studio album, Across Time (2010).

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