Oliver Clark | Copywriter

From an early age, it became apparent that I loved two things in music: great production and exceptional falsetto singing.

As the chilling Winter winds bite and evening light wanes, I thought, ‘What better way to escape the gloom than to create a mix of songs that live and breathe both?’

So, without further ado, here are seven of the best.

1. Jai Paul – ‘jasmine (demo)’
2. Frank Ocean – ‘Thinkin Bout You’
3. J Dilla – ‘So Far To Go (feat. Common & D’Angelo)’
4. Prince – ‘It’s Gonna Be Lonely’
5. Ravyn Lenae – ‘Light Me Up’
6. Ruthven – ‘Hypothalamus’
7. Wham! – ‘Nothing Looks the Same In the Light’

1. Jai Paul – ‘jasmine (demo)’

To kick things off, I’ll introduce you to the song and artist that have shaped my music taste: Jai Paul’s magnetic ‘jasmine (demo)’.

Released back in 2012 to a wave of rave reviews, ‘jasmine’s fusion of funk, R&B, and pop is a joyous lesson in sonic world-building. From roaring synths, a thunderous bassline, and an irresistible guitar groove, Paul’s inimitable falsetto rounds out a track that swells and retracts with captivating precision.

Make no mistake, ‘demo’ or otherwise, Paul’s second single remains the real deal over a decade on since its release.

2. Frank Ocean – ‘Thinkin Bout You’

Once again, I’ll take you on a trip back to the unsuspecting year of 2012.

Aged 13, I might have been shorter than I would have hoped, but nonetheless, I was buzzing with anticipation for the release of The Dark Knight Rises, and more importantly, Frank Ocean’s seminal debut album Channel Orange.

‘Thinkin Bout You’ had me hypnotised. Waves of spellbinding synths accompany Ocean’s signature sultry vocal delivery. As the track’s ethereal chorus enters the mix, Ocean’s falsetto rides the airwaves without the faintest concern of ever touching back down.

‘Cause I’ve been thinkin bout forever’

Chills.

3. J Dilla – ‘So Far To Go (feat. Common & D’Angelo)’

Dilla’s flip of The Isley Brothers’ ‘Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love)’ with D’Angelo’s mercurial croons on ‘So Far To Go’ showcase Dilla at his romantic and everlasting best.

The song opened avenues for my music taste, turning my attention towards the unmistakable neo-soul collective, unofficially known as the Soulquarians.

Fronted by Common, Questlove, Dilla, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu, the group collaborated on albums like Common’s Like Water for Chocolate, Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, The Roots’ Things Fall Apart, and Bilal’s 1^st Born Second, and more.

A special era.

4. Prince – ‘It’s Gonna Be Lonely’

Aged 20, I came across Prince’s ‘It’s Gonna Be Lonely’ at the perfect time to amplify my misery whilst I suffered a breakup at Uni.

However, as months of wallowing gave way to indifferent self-pity, Prince’s 1979 masterpiece grew on me. A prowling, seductive bassline provides a steadfast backdrop for Prince’s angelically androgynous falsetto to work its exhilarating magic.

To this day, the track has lost none of its potency to transport me back to a miserable time, but that’s just part of its brilliance.

5. Ravyn Lenae – ‘Light Me Up’

The newest release on this list, Ravyn Lenae is a special talent. Patiently fulfilling her potential as an enchanting presence in the alternative R&B scene, ‘Light Me Up’ is a shimmering centrepiece of her debut album Hypnos.

Originally conceptualised during the recording sessions of her previous EP Crush in 2018, ‘Light Me Up’ is another offering from frequent collaborator and producer Steve Lacy. A bewitching bassline is bolstered by teasing guitar licks and Lenae’s mesmeric vocal inflections that evoke the sound of Erykah Badu.

Keep an eye out and an ear open for Ravyn Lenae going forward. I doubt she’s done just yet.

6. Ruthven – ‘Hypothalamus’

One of the first recruits to Jai and A. K. Paul’s music collective the Paul Institute, former firefighter Sean ‘Ruthven’ Nelson is another one to keenly watch.

On his second single ‘Hypothalamus’, Ruthven brings the heat with sumptuous vocals that echo the coos of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. A propulsive beat is driven by industrial 80’s percussion and a roaming bassline that climaxes with a searing guitar solo from A. K. Paul.

Me and my brother used to joke that it was the ‘Purple Rain’ of the Paul Institute roster, but as Ruthven pleads “The temperature’s lower, my body’s losing heat”, ‘Hypothalamus’ ignites with an indelibility that prime Prince would have been proud of.

Check out the live performance of his latest singles; Ruthven has something brewing.

7. Wham! – ‘Nothing Looks the Same In the Light’

If you’ve never had a Wham! phase, what are you doing with your life?

‘Nothing Looks the Same In the Light’ is George Michael at his subtle best. On this slow burner, Michael and Ridgley take their time to release tension out of every verse. Smooth keys are backed by warm radiating synths and an ice-cold falsetto that melts indulgently into the mix.

Far from one of Wham!’s biggest hits, ‘Nothing Looks the Same In the Light’s deft sound still stands the test of time, all these years later.

So, that’s that. Seven of the best tracks for the crooners out there.

Listen, indulge, and enjoy.