ONE TO WATCH: HABLOT BROWN

Our One To Watch radar is tingling this week as we excitedly present to you RnB and Neo-Soul artists, Hablot Brown - an all-male group consisting of Linus Hablot and brothers Austin & John Brown. These guys are full of funky freshness and we were more than happy to uncover the many layers to their music.

What started simply as a hobby whereby three musicians sent one another tracks and dabbled in live performances, led to a decision to drop out of college and dedicate everything to the formation and establishment of ‘Hablot Brown’. A decision that we, for one, are most definitely on board with.

Since their debut singles "Gone" and "Just Called" were released in 2017, the band have managed to secure over 7 million streams on Spotify as well as landing a gig as the opening act for fellow soul brother, Tom Misch.

Much of the group’s success lies in their ability to flaunt a musical maturity that demands respect while also rocking a down-to-earth style that keeps them raw and relatable. Clear from the band’s work to date, is an impressive group dynamic where lyrical insights are greatly complemented by soulful rhythm and refined melodies. With a sound that is clean and polished, the young trio succeed in blending some vastly different genres and proving their worth as unique and credible artists.

We'll be right behind them with open ears as they continue this musical journey, and if the last 12 months are anything to go by, we are too enthused to hear what's next.

Written by Aoife Chaney

ONE TO WATCH: RAVEENA

All the way from New York and drifting innocently over our ‘one to watch’ is RnB singer-songwriter, Raveena. With a sweet sound that is as sensual as it is tender, the Indian-born beauty is picking up momentum in the contemporary soul style that we love so wildly here at Oíche.

Raveena's style portrays an outward expression of inward reflection, with lyrics that are deep-rooted and based on past experience. Every track is a story - an intriguing narrative to the artists own little universe as told so sweetly by soft vocals, backed gently by 90's inspired baselines. With a warm and soothing delivery, we are forced into an almost dreamlike state, a fantasy land, a musical trance.

A perfect example of this dreamy and ultra-chill vibe which is so prominent throughout her style can be found in her latest release, 'I Won't Mind'. With lyrics that speak softly of "freeing your mind" and "moonlight glow" and "California dream house on the coast" - all intertwined with an almost church organ-esque piano - we sail away into a daydream from which we seek no escape.

After all, music is just that - an escape. Raveena's silky smooth sounds provide an escape from the rush of everyday noise into pure, uninterrupted transcendence. And with much more to come from her if our 'one to watch' is anything to go by, we could get very comfortable here in the peaceful bliss.

Written by Aoife Chaney

ONE TO WATCH: IYAMAH

Here at Oíche, we love all things soul, embracing the traditional genre as well as it's worthy & diversified counterpart - neo-soul. After a successful tour with her neo-soulsister Mahalia, Brighton beauty IYAMAH is unleashing her fiery soulful RnB vibes all over our "one to watch" radar.

Evident in her style is an artistic background, encouraged by a creative upbringing and influenced by empowering female artists like Alicia Keys and Erykah Badu. Unique to what we have witnessed so far from Iyamah is her ability to simplify the complex, to strip back the lyrics to create meaning and to let them shine brightly over a clean and tidy backing track. A delivery that is minimalist, with a result that is anything but.

In her debut single 'Cryptic Love', the London-based songstress exposes herself as a fool in love but a warrior in heartbreak, and the result is a powerful new-age love ballad that is both an instant hit and a sign of what's to come. As credible as a gentle pianist as she is a topline Drum n' Bass writer, Iyamah's silky smooth vocals paired with her rhythmic melodies leave us not only certain of but tickled with excitement about the future of soul music.

Written by Aoife Chaney