Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the shift happening on the music scene lately? A soulful, unexpected, but powerful one. Vintage soul is making a comeback in R&B, and it’s not just the nostalgic crowd driving the trend. A new generation of listeners is discovering the magic of classic soul and finding ways to make it feel fresh.

The Undeniable Rise of Vintage Soul in Modern R&B

If you’ve been paying attention to the R&B charts over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed a shift. Artists like Leon Bridges, Durand Jones & The Indications, and Lady Wray have been carving out significant space with sounds that would feel right at home in the 1960s and 70s. Streaming numbers don’t lie, songs with vintage soul elements are connecting with listeners across demographics. In fact, I use the term R&B loosely these days because it’s crossed every musical genre.  (I don’t even know what I am at this point.  One interviewer introduced me as a pop tinged RnB indie soul juggernaut…..yea, took me a minute to process it as well.)

But this isn’t just about recreation or nostalgia. Today’s soul revival is adding something new to the conversation, blending time-tested elements with modern sensibilities and production techniques. The result is a sound that feels familiar and fresh.

Why Vintage Soul Resonates Now More Than Ever

Authenticity. Y’all have heard the pitch-corrected vocals and computer-generated beats, but there’s something revolutionary about music that embraces human imperfection. Vintage soul celebrates the crack in the voice, the slight drift in timing, and the emotional truth that comes through when performers put feeling above technical perfection.  It’s not total calculation.  Sometimes it’s that miscalculation that makes the difference.

“People are hungry for music that feels like it comes from a real person with real experiences,” I often respond when people ask why my music seems to hit people in a totally relatable way.  It’s like when we hear Sam Cooke’s voice break with emotion or feel the rhythm section on an old Al Green record pushing and pulling against each other, that human element creates a connection that perfect quantization never will.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that sometimes we just get it too perfect.  I’m guilty of it at times as well. It’s one of the downsides of having my own recording studio.  I can lay a take as many times as I want, until I get it just where I want it to be. Only to find that many times, we go right back to one of the initial takes because it just felt better.  It was raw and packed with emotion.  Emotion that can’t be forced or reproduced with successive calculated attempts.

Reaction to Overproduction

Much of today’s mainstream R&B has become increasingly slick and produced. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with polished production, I enjoy a nice polished delivery, but occasionally something vital can get lost when every rough edge is sanded away. The vintage soul revival represents a nod toward rawness.

I’ve found that even listeners who grew up on heavily produced music often welcome the experience when they hear a song recorded with minimal processing and vocals that haven’t been edited to death. There’s a warmth and presence that’s alluring.

The Timelessness of Great Songwriting

As a writer, I zero in on lyrics of every song.  At its core, vintage soul prioritized songcraft above all else. Before the era of hooks designed for TikTok clips, soul songwriters crafted complete musical journeys.  Those great songwriting teams like Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ashford & Simpson, Gamble & Huff and others championed a good story line.  (That’s a whole history lesson right there by the way.) Memorable melodies, meaningful lyrics, and structural development, created music that has stood the test of time.

How I’m Keeping The Energy Alive

In many ways it’s just in me.  If you’ve followed my journey, or heard me discuss my influences you know that I have a great deal of admiration and respect for the greats like Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Aretha, Luther and others.  My approach to vintage soul has always been one of respect. I study the techniques, arrangements, and recording methods of classic soul records not to copy them, but to understand the principles that made them work. I also realize that music has evolved and it’s in a different space now so I aim to apply those principles in fresh ways that honors the past while also bridging the gap to the current landscape.

Bridging Generational Gaps Through Collaboration

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to introduce vintage soul to diverse audiences is through thoughtful collaboration. Working with contemporary producers from different backgrounds is always exciting.  I bring my authentic brand of vintage infused contemporary soul to their ultra contemporary sound, which creates fresh perspectives and helps introduce those sounds to new listeners beyond my core fans.

These collaborations go both ways. Sometimes it’s bringing modern producers into a more vintage-leaning production approach. Other times, it’s incorporating elements of contemporary genres like hip-hop or electronic music into soul arrangements. The key is finding authentic connections rather than forced fusions.  I’ve been deliberate about that with my upcoming project.  I wanted to ensure that I added a fresh perspective while also maintaining the “me” factor.

The Future of Vintage Soul

Although we never can tell with changing taste in music, but I have a feeling that the current revival of vintage soul isn’t just a passing trend.  I actually think it represents a reconnection with fundamental musical values that transcend era and technology. As digital production becomes increasingly accessible and automated, the human elements that define soul music only become more valuable.

For my part, I’m committed to being a bridge, honoring the traditions that shaped me while helping to guide soul music into its next chapter.