Welcome back to Soul Sessions, your one-stop shop for a weekly playlist like no other. This week, like each week, we’ve found some fantastic music for you on Soundcloud from the best and the brightest in independent music. Tell us which listens you’re feeling the most in the comments below!

Calvin Lockett – “CHBYG (response)”

Go back a few editions of Soul Sessions and you might remember the banger by Ré Lxuise that we posted. This response takes on the male point of view in a failed relationship, and does so with the most pristinely placed harmonies. We love when great music inspires more great music, and this is definitely one of those listens that you should pair with the original tune in your playlist.

Rippy Austin – “I Am Art”

If you mixed jazz, hip-hop and electronic music, would it be good? My first inclination would be to say I don’t really think so, but Rippy Austin creates something special here, mixing all three genres effortlessly. When shortly into the song he sings, “All I do is design,” you get the feeling that he’s not just talking about designing sounds or artwork, he’s talking about designing his life and even himself. This is one of those songs to completely vibe out to alone in your room while reflecting on your own life’s design.

Billzegypt featuring Iman Omari – “Bring It Back”

For all of my jazz and neo-soul appreciators out there, this one’s for you. Tackling the topic of struggling relationships, this song questions the ability to return to a love affair’s former glory. The instrumentation is intricate, yet still leaves room for powerful vocal layers. It’s one of those songs fit for your Sunday afternoon glass of wine with friends.

Brittany B. – “Oceans”

That whole phrase about it not being about the size of the ship, but the motion in the ocean? Well, Brittany B. turns it into an awesome groove on her song “Oceans.” From her Hello Summer EP, this is definitely the standout song, and the one to listen to before you’re headed out on a weeknight date with your boo. You’ll be amped up to show some real affection.

Snoh Aalegra – “Under The Influence”

Do you miss Amy Winehouse? No one will ever compare to her brilliance, but you can get similar vibes here. Snoh Aalegra gives one of those bluesy tunes that will have you feeling like you should be walking down a deserted road with dust blowing up behind you. The production and background layers do a lot of work to uplift the lead vocals.

SELVSSE featuring IDEH – “Sunrise”

In this case, the producer is SELVSSE and the vocalist is IDEH. The production here is simple, and almost seems like a four or eight bar loop, but it does eventually switch up toward the bridge. The piano is very vibey, while the drums are strong. This song doesn’t follow a normal verse, hook, verse, hook format, which is why it’s so engaging. You never know when the vocalist is going to return to the (very catchy) refrain.

VB x SueLily – “Nothing More”

This song is about reciprocity. Have you ever been in a friendship or a relationship that seems so one-sided? This vocalist sings about how her love is the only one she can count on, but as we journey through the music, she finds that even his give and take falters until it’s just the latter. Giving without expectation is a great trait to have, but when reciprocity is absent from our relationships, it can be draining. This song delivers a trap sound with a lovely reminder to build reciprocal relationships.

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