An icon of blues, soul, funk and R&B, Syl Johnson has passed away at 85. Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Johnson was a singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose lyrics often delved into complex social and political issues. His 1969 song “Is It Because I’m Black,” inspired by the murder of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, was a piercing statement on race relations …
Röyksopp feat. Alison Goldfrapp: Impossible Last month, electronic music legends Röyksopp (Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland) released a new instrumental track, teasing the Profound Mysteries project. Now they share more details about the endeavor, along with a song featuring Alison Goldfrapp. Immediately recognizable as Röyksopp, the dark and moody “Impossible” is enthralling. The English singer, songwriter, musician and producer says, “I’ve been a fan of …
Danish-born, LA-based singer, songwriter and producer Nanna.B teams up with R&B legend Raphael Saadiq for “Too Much.” With syncopated piano and percussion, the track features a muffled verse from Nanna.B which leads to Saadiq’s similarly altered—but still immediately familiar—vocals. On Instagram, the artist explained her excitement to work with Saadiq: “If you know me you know I have to pinch myself daily to make sure …
