Contemporary Funk 397 Items

Ivan Makvel & Maya Killtron join forces to create two fresh powerful Nu-Funk anthems with Like Water & Step It Up. The music in Like Water takes influences from the best funk songs of the early 80's 'till the more modern funk of Bruno Mars, with strong edgy bass lines, synth brass and real horns mixed to the elegance and power of the voice of Maya Killtron. Step It Up, is a tribute to the electronic funk of the 80's that will make you dance all night.

Frontier's Edge is the new EP by the fiery, energetic and genre-defying group The Budos Band. After a two-decade run with the legendary Daptone Records, Frontier’s Edge is the first new music from the group on the new label, Diamond West Records — run by The Budos' saxophonist Jared Tankel and guitarist Tom Brenneck. The Budos Band’s departure from Daptone was on good terms; the split from their long-time home base was an organic result of the band’s evolution. “It’s just a natural growth,” Brenneck says, admitting: “We’re going further away from the sound of Daptone and into territory they probably wanted to stay away from.” As a result, Frontier's Edge finds the group hungry, passionate and primed to charge into their next epoch newfound sense autonomy within the collective. “We’re a powerhouse in the studio; we can produce ourselves,” Brenneck says proudly of a long process of self-containment. “I take the helm, but the band, they know what they want.” As expected from The Budos Band, Frontier’s Edge resists analysis; it represents the band as they are: a contained explosion. You don’t pick apart Frontier’s Edge; you feel it all at once. “Somehow, we wrote six songs in two days,” says The Budos’ drummer, Brian Profilio. “Tom was able to take what we were doing and put it together in a cohesive manner” Whether this is your first rodeo with The Budos Band or you’ve been following them throughout their two-decade run, Frontier’s Edge contains their musical universe — Afrobeat, Ethiopian music, proto-metal, any number of other streams — in microcosm.

"Dutch Neo-Soul-come-Electronic-Pop quartet Dragonfruit release their hotly anticipated new EP Honeymoon Phase. Featuring a set of shimmering electronic soundscapes, the EP showcases the intoxicating soundscapes which Dragonfruit has become known for. Across the EPs 5 tracks, the band creates a rich multifaceted sound, blending their electronic, synth-heavy tendencies with elements of funk, R&B, indie, pop, and neo-soul to create truly transportive, euphoric sonic experiences.

Tina, a member of the K.O.D.P. crew led by Muro aka King OF Diggin' and one of Japan's leading R&B singers, has released "Makkuro Ni Naru Wake -Struttin' With Muro-" on 7"!! This is a long-awaited release, as it was only available in a very rare promo 12" analog version. The 7" includes the instrumental version on the B-side. *limited Quantity*

"Bloom", the first new album in a year and 10 months by the four-piece Japanese indie R&B band "Mime", will be released simultaneously on LP and CD from Kissing Fish Records! This album is the third album in total, first since their last album "Yin Yang," in which they restarted with four members. The lead song "Seed" features guest appearances by Soulflex singer ZIN.

Hollyspleef is an Italian electronic music producer, shaping his way through the early 21st Century. He spends his late evenings and early mornings making live recordings with a bunch of analog gear from his hidden studio on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. On one end pulling from R&B, House and Dub/Reggae, and on the other richly layered ambient and future-jazz. He creates sonically smooth music that rises and recedes like the tide, fitting for the next great surf film soundtrack or a packed club at 2am. Maintaining a steady hold on timeless dance music when he's up in the DJ booth playing the hits and the new 'classics’, Hollyspleef is a soulful artist whose styles bend time and space with particular groove.

“Paradise Seeds” is about roads, roots, paths and emotions, the ones you’re not used to feeling everyday. But most importantly it is about change, about the inner force one discovers when forced to transform. After finding out he had to move out his beloved Resonance Jungle Studio, Hollyspleef decided he had to make one last album before the big move. Exploring his inner self through R&B, Jazz, Trip Hop, Footwork and Trap he delivers yet another gem of a record.

“If you like soul music, with a healthy dose of blues and funk thrown in…and if you like honest storytelling and songs that will lift your spirit, then you might want to check my music out,” ensures London by New Orleans soul revivalist Acantha Lang.

In a few short years, rising Robert Randolph collaborator Acantha Lang has swiftly become one of modern soul music’s best-kept secrets — building a dedicated fanbase through her "Standing On The Shoulders Of…" Soul series (currently over 9 million views across socials) where she honors past Stax and soul legends with spirited reimaginings of jukebox classics. Thus far, she's earned widespread praise across BBC Radio, earned over 1 million streams (and counting), and has been playlisted on top Spotify playlists including earning a spot on Spotify’s Best Retro Songs of 2021 and Best Funk Songs of 2022 playlist all without a debut album – until now.

Come June 30th, Lang will release her debut album 'Beautiful Dreams' a record that's destined to propel her from an undiscovered gem into the pantheon of modern soul greats. With Acantha's takes on Stax-inspired funk with Southern blues, she tells highly personal tales atop spirited, shimmering grooves. Acantha’s storytelling style harkens to age-old blues traditions while grounding itself in contemporary themes, delivering head-on lyrical attacks on fake news (the tell-all “He Said/She Said”), odes to motherly love in the wake of Katrina’s disaster (the gripping “Lois Lang”), and celebrations of Black strength and womanhood with confidence and pride.

The second album from Cantaro Ihara is finally here!

Deftly weaving everything from 70’s soul to AOR to city pop into his sound, Cantaro Ihara makes pitch-perfect groove-forward pop music. With high praise from DJs both in his native Japan and abroad, this second album is sure to be killer! With a knowledge of music unbound by genre, recent years have seen Cantaro Ihara’s star steadily rising. Whether he’s compiling music for DJ Bars, providing commentary for international artists, or releasing 7-inches that sell out on pre-order, it’s clear that the young musician is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Japan’s indie music scene. In the two years since his first full album C, Ihara has leveled-up, and Portray makes the clear from beginning to end. From a Japanese-language cover of free soul legend Weldon Irvine’s “I Love You” (the original 7-inch led to intense bidding wars after heavy radio play in both Japan and abroad) and the Ihara original “Twiny”, the lead singles are already off to the races. Gripping the hearts of crate diggers worldwide, it seems predetermined that Ihara’s newest album would be funky, soulful, and mellow. Yet Portray manages to remain shockingly fresh, without any of the obvious tropes that have threatened modern soul. A feature from Japanese trumpeter Yusuke Sase on “Baby So In Love” catapults the song into neo-soul territory, bringing a new twist to a timeless sound. Meanwhile, a feature from Bialystocks keyboardist Go Kikuchi on “Yoru no Nagare” (The Flow of the Night) sees one of Ihara’s most instantly iconic melodies played with a gentle sophistication that could move you to tears in one moment, and have you two-stepping the next. With a history of selling out vinyl on pre-order and intense bidding wars, I’d say it’s clear that Cantaro Ihara is not just one of Japan’s most promising musicians, but one that continues to grip the hearts of record lovers everywhere. His second full length album Portray has everything there is to love about him. Mellow soul and funky grooves are aplenty - but I can’t say the same for stock! Make sure to get your copy of Portray on limited edition vinyl while stock lasts!

First 7inch physical release of 2 big tunes "Omoi Omoware" and "Kodo (Heartbeat)" by XinU, who has been featured on numerous playlists since her debut with the single "Kokokara" in 2021!!