Fresh Music Super Group: James Blake, Toro Y Moi, Janelle Monae

MUSIC:

SXSW ended days ago. Friends have returned filtering latest, greatest, new, best. So, that got me stuck on music artists I find exciting, fresh and individualistic. Here are three relatively new and unique faces of Fresh Music from Cooking Lounge.

Back in NYC after SXSW, my friend Nina turned me on to James Blake as a must listen. James Blake is an anomaly for me - electronic, dubstep, brit soul(hates being called a soul singer), experimental. Waves of lushness in down tempo music. Effusive praise seems to be the reaction to James Blake with his win of the BBC's Sound of 2011.

The self-titled debut album was released February 7, 2011. Checking out the YouTube videos made me think of Bryan Ferry. So maybe James Blake is not so ground breaking but instead well informed.

Toro Y Moi came on the Cooking Lounge radar in Spring 2010 after hearing "Causers of This", loopy, dreamy, chill electronica with catchy beats.

Toro Y Moi personifies the Chillwave moniker. "Speakeasy" in The Wall Street Journal tracked the trend and posted a Chillwave primer "Is Chillwave the Next Big Music Trend?".  

Toro Y Moi released his second album "Underneath the Pine" on February 22, 2011. "New Beat" is a bouncy lo-fi disco throwback.

Janelle Monae takes a bite of style from pop divas of the 80's onward but distills the influences into her own distinct art school infused future funk pop.

Signature tuxedo clad Janelle Monae keeps it sweet and alluring without veering off into overt sexuality or buffoonish exaggeration. ArchAndroid is her debut studio album release from May 18, 2010. The single "Tightrope" did well and had wide appeal.

ArchAndroid is a cosmic ride through genres that showcases Janelle's style, vocal range and best of all, humor.

Imagine these three on the same bill or same stage as a Super Group..futuristic awesomeness on blast.
Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

Nneka – Afropean global soul

MUSIC: 

Nneka is a fairly new artist to American audiences; but, she is gathering a bundle of accolades in the US.  This camera-ready Nigerian raised artist, currently based in Hamburg, Germany, has her eyes on the States.  “Concrete Jungle” is Nneka's 3^rd release since 2005, after critical success in Europe and Africa. Nneka’s website.
 

Nneka is in a Top 10 list of artists to watch from SXSW 2010 compiled by Flavorpill.  Nneka is the stand out for CL; because, she is not so prefab, not so slick (yeah, yeah she's a label artist).  Her music is raw, from-the-gut worldbeat and change focused.  

In a way, Nneka is a combo of Zap Mama  and Erykah Badu (note: making headlines w/ her new video,"Window Seat") with some American-style folk rebel in the mix. Nneka will get you all irie.

Check out the “Heartbeat” video filled with Nigerian street life scenes.

 

Feel her spirit in this short docu video, "Who is Nneka?".

Enjoy!

Cooking Lounge