Well, 2021 is finally here, and not a moment too soon. And while we were all happy to let 2020 pass us by, we look forward to the new year with hope and anticipation. That positive outlook also goes for the world of soul music, where we have a bunch of upcoming releases that should make our new year bright. Here is a quick look at what is to come.
Longtime Favorites
Well, 2021 is finally here, and not a moment too soon. And while we were all happy to let 2020 pass us by, we look forward to the new year with hope and anticipation. That positive outlook also goes for the world of soul music, where we have a bunch of upcoming releases that should make our new year bright. Here is a quick look at what is to come.
Longtime Favorites
It’s always a treat to hear new music from old friends, and we have quite a few that have us excited about early 2021. The great Will Downing, who won our Male Vocalist of the Year (again) last month, returns with the EP The Song Garden, and the two pre-release singles have been a hit with SoulTrackers. Also coming is a solo album from the last surviving Bee Gee, Barry Gibb. Soul and dance queen Deborah Cox returns with new music in February, 20 Feet From Stardom singer Judith Hill delivers a new one, and much anticipated albums are coming from Force MDs, Jazmine Sullivan, Candi Staton, Stone Canyon Band leader Stone Paxton, and Stax Records icon Steve Cropper, as well as a multi-artist Philadelphia soul music tribute album created by legendary producer Preston Glass.
Indie Soul Gems
Teamwork is the name of the game in the indie soul world in 2021, beginning with Readers’ Choice winner Conya Doss teaming with OxKeyz for the disc 6019 in January. Also coming are pairings of FE+ mates Zo! and Sy Smith on Until We Meet Again, and an all-star crew of indie performers led by songwriter/producer James Day on Kiss of Freedom. There are also a number of indie solo projects, including Bashiri Asad’s highly touted “Live” album, and albums from Son of Pearl, Bey Bright, Lady Bain, U-Nam, and Thomas Motter. For something more expansive, early January brings the massive Luxury Soul Family indie soul collection from Expansion Records.
There will also be new discs coming in the crossover jazz and gospel areas, and lots and lots of singles to be released. However you slice it, 2021 promises to be a musical year we’re going to treasure.
Check out the full list below.
[Note: If you know of other album releases coming, please drop us a note with Artist, Title and release date to info(at)soultracks.com]
Upcoming Album Releases (shown by date of release)
January
Divine Forces - Dream #3 (January 14)
Robert Harper - The Fonk Album (January 14)
Son of Pearl - Valentines Day Vibez (January 14)
Various Artists - Record Kicks Soul Sides 2 (January 15)
The Gospel Legends - Just One Touch (January 22)
Quentin Moore & The Daxtones - The Fonk Corona Album (January 22)
Will Downing - The Song Garden (January 29)
Al Castellana - The Right Place to Be (January 29)
Richard Elliot - Authentic Life (January 29)
Mario Biondi - Dare (January 30)
February and Beyond
Friends of Distinction - Whatever (reissue) (February 5)
Judith Hill - Baby I'm Hollywood (February 12)
Steve Stickz Heyliger - The Midlander (February 19)
Celeste - Not Your Muse - (February 26)
Deborah Cox - TBA (February)
Lady Bain - Limitless (March 20)
Tristan - What Could Possibly Go Wrong (April 2)
Salah Ananse - An Edgewood Love Story (April 2)
Stone Paxton - kundalini Awakening (April 12)
Steve Cropper - TBA (April)
Zo! and Sy Smith - "Until We Meet Again" (May)
U-Nam - Future Love, part 3 (Spring)
The Force MDs - Continuing the Legacy (Spring)
Candi Staton - Trouble, Heartaches and Sadness (The Lost Sessions Masters) (June 12)
Bashiri Asad - The Everyday Soul Singer (September)
Mary Cross - Love Project (October)
On The Horizon (Release Dates TBA)
Paula Ralph Birkett - #Something Better
Wayne Brady - TBA
Ty Causey - Milestones, Vol. 1
Donnie - American Mythology: The Musical
Conya Doss - Through Rose Colored Glasses
The Family Stand - Evolve
Iisma - Superhuman
Acantha Lang - Beautiful Dreams
Kenya - S.H.E.
KSAM - In My Scriptures
Maxwell - MidsummersNIGHT
Monica - Chapter 38
Wendy Moten - As
James Biscuit Rouse - The Buddy Miles Project
Keith Slattery - TBA
David P. Stevens - TBA
Stokley - Sankofa
Usher - Confessions II
YahZarah - The Ceremony
Geno Young - Short, Dark & Handsome