Song of the Day: Unfolded (Put a Little Love) – Karmacoda

Following the recent release of their soulful single ‘Try At Me’ back in January, KARMACODA returns with another irresistibly soul piece, ‘Unfolded (Put a Little Love)’ released via Sola Musa Music.

‘Unfolded (Put a Little Love)’ is a sweet and stirring ode to the beautifully charged moment where you can no longer contain your feelings of love for somebody. Sonically, it is tender and moving – sprinklings of delicately soulful keys, lush yet minimal jazz percussion tinged with a hint of trip-hop and romantically cinematic synth strings gently pull the listener into that gooey feeling of smitten goodness. Jessica’s vocals, as usual, soar richly over this tapestry, singing passionately of the joy, power and rapture of new love blossoming.

Jessica shared: “It’s that feel good song with admittance of loving someone and letting them know how you feel. You can’t keep it a secret anymore. You gotta tell them, hoping they will feel the same. Mad crush vibes with a tinge of nervousness, when you finally let the cat out of the bag. Like “are you feeling what I’m feeling?” If so, let’s take this friendship to the next level, and I’m feeling excited so… put a little love in your heart and match me.”

KARMACODA comprises Jessica Ford (vocals), Brett Crockett aka B. (vocals and producer), and Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Eric Matsuno (bass and unique elements). With an extensive discography and numerous awards, the trio has explored electronica, chill, trip-hop, R&B, rock, and dream pop in their two-decade career. Ever-evading genre constraints, KARMACODA’s evolving sound now blends soulful R&B and jazz lounge, earning comparisons to powerful artists like Adele, Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, and Lana Del Rey. Check out ‘Unfolded (Put a Little Love)’ below…

Timeless trio Karmacoda shares self-empowerment ballad, ‘Try At Me.’

Comprising of Jessica Ford (vocals), Brett Crockett (aka B. on vocals and producer) and Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Eric Matsuno (bass), captivating trio KARMACODA have unveiled their new single, ‘Try At Me’, which takes on a soulful, R&B quality that oozes with jazz lounge sensibility. A tender but passionate anthem to self-liberation and overcoming hardship, this track sees Jessica Ford baring her soul in her stirring, powerful vocal delivery. Her vocals soar over a gentle, syncopated downtempo beat, minimal R&B bassline and lowkey instrumental arrangements peppered with the delicate teal of jazz piano. ‘Try At Me’ is bathed in emotion and pain, yet decidedly triumphant and hopeful.

Jessica shared: “I wrote this song about a young girl I teach singing to. She had been through so much loss, anger, sadness and so many trials; more than any little girl should ever have to endure. I watched her fall into a depression, so much so, she didn’t want to sing anymore. Slowly but surely, through love, time and a lot of work, she started coming back, becoming more confident. I watched her fight for it.The song ‘Try At Me’… the words are “it’s time to try at me”, in other words, it’s time to give myself some girl power. It’s time to find myself, it’s time for me to rise, take a chance on myself, get out of this dark place, be heard, grow, and take a leap of faith, even when I feel beat up, I know I can stand up, try at me. She did, and she is. She is singing again. I couldn’t love this more. To my girl, this one’s for you.”

With impressive discography and many awards under their belts, San Francisco- based KARMACODA have offered up a vast array of sounds over the last twenty years, including electronica, chill, trip-hop, R&B, rock and dream pop. While still eluding being pigeonholed into a single genre, the trio’s sound has evolved into a soulful, sophisticated fusion of R&B, jazz lounge, drawing comparisons to the likes of powerful artists such as Adele, Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis and Lana Del Ray.

‘Try At Me’, was released on 26th January via Sola Musa Music. Why not check it out below…

Listen to VerseBorn x JAE 1’s EP, ‘Freedom Is Expensive.’

From the moment you hit play on VERSEBORN x JAE 1‘s latest collaborative EP ‘Freedom Is Very Expensive,’ you’ll be transported into a world of introspection and raw emotion. Single ‘Authentic’ sets the tone with its smooth beats and powerful lyrics, while second effort ‘Veritas’ showcases VerseBorn’s impeccable flow and lyrical prowess. Each track on the EP brings something new to the table, with JAE 1’s soulful production adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the mix.

As the EP progresses, you’ll find yourself becoming more and more immersed in the world that VerseBorn x JAE 1 have created. ‘Family Tides’ and ‘Rules To Live By’ are standout tracks that showcase the chemistry between these artists, while ‘Penthouse’ brings in heavy hitters Mickey Factz and Smooth Da Truth for an explosive finale that will leave you wanting more.

But it’s not just the music that makes ‘Freedom Is Very Expensive’ such an incredible project. It’s the way that VerseBorn x JAE 1 have seamlessly blended their styles together to create something truly unique and unforgettable. KonQuest Now has once again proven themselves to be at the forefront of the hip hop game, pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers with each and every release.

Don’t sleep on this EP – it’s destined to be a classic. Head over to Bandcamp now to stream and purchase ‘Freedom Is Very Expensive’ is now available exclusively via Bandcamp. Check it out below…

Must Listens: Family Tides, Rules To Live By, Penthouse

Song of the Day: Latter Days/Greater – Nona Brown

It’s very rare to come across a song that’s a VIBE, which really resonates sonically and lyrically with the soul, but singer/songwriter NONA BROWN perfectly encompasses those qualities in her single, ‘Latter Days/Greater’, out now on various music platforms.

The soothing drive of contemporary soulful jazz arrangements, alongside Nona’s robustly smooth vocal performance (a cross of Ann Nesby of Sounds of Blackness and Patti LaBelle), helps to hone in on the message of the inspirational single which is to: hold on in those dark moments as greater days are coming.

Nona Brown knows all too well what it’s like to be in the depth of despair when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the terrifying experience, the San Francisco native was determined to fight! ‘Latter Days/Greater’ is a testament to her strength and trust in God during this experience; she’s now an eight year cancer survivor. With the turmoil behind her, Nona is now living life to her full potential and was recently elected as the President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy, the first black women to serve in that capacity.

Spanning over 25 years, Nona’s music career includes some amazing accomplishments as an arranger and background vocalist on the GRAMMY Award winning Best Children’s Album, ‘A Colorful World’ by Falu and 2022 Telly Award Winner for her ‘Black Lives Matter’ music video co-written with Tony Saunders. Along with her fruitful solo career, Nona is also a member of the jazz trio Brown, Sturgis & Brown.

Nona recorded her first single, ‘I’ll Sing My Song’ back in 1997. In 2019, after writing music for years, she emerged with her Billboard Gospel-charting sophomore release, ‘Songs from my Journal Volume 1’, ranking #14 and #21 in weeks one and two.

She now follows up in 2022 with the project ‘Songs from my Journal Volume 2’ with ‘Latter Days/Greater’ as the lead single, which is a massive favourite with her fan base. The instrumental version of ‘Latter Days/Greater’ features the amazing sound of saxophonist Kevin Moore and has gained the attention of jazz stations around the globe.

Before you head out, have a listen to the stunning single below.

Connect with Nona Brown via:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/nonalisabrown
T: https://twitter.com/NonaLisaBrown
IG: https://www.instagram.com/officialnonalisabrown/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nonabrown266



Karmacoda Shares Alluring Single, ‘Dare’ Ahead Of Album, ‘Lessons In Time.’

Elegant USA-based band KARMACODA shared their song ‘Dare’, which is taken from their latest album, Lessons In Time, via Sola Musa Music.

In the spirit of love, Karmacoda’s impassioned songstress Jessica Ford makes her desire known in the single, as she risks it all and takes the leap. Jazz-inspired instruments entice, while each word teases, calling a lover to action. Jessica brings the track together with her seductive vocals, making its final destination a sweet embrace.

Discussing the LP, the band’s on vocals and producer, Brett Crockett (aka B) says: “We began writing Lesson in Time immediately after the completion of the album before it (Slow Down, Melt and Catch Fire) which dealt with the uncertainty of the early parts of the pandemic. Lessons in Time is about both looking forward to what the future will be and simultaneously looking back at what we once had, what we loved, and what we lost. Themes of time and flying and the need for emotional personal connections emerged, unconsciously, but they were obvious once the album was done.”

Having been placed in several film and TV scores, the three-piece band has won several awards including the Hermes Creative Awards (Platinum) for the ‘Lo-Fi Girl’ video and ‘Make Me The One’ video which also earned one Unglued Music Video (Gold) and three Davey Awards for Video Entertainment, Best Use of Music and Art Direction (all Silver). Based in San Francisco, USA, KARMACODA is comprised of Jessica Ford (vocals), Brett Crockett (aka B. on vocals and producer) and Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Eric Matsuno (bass and other unique elements). The trio’s sound has been compared to a unique mix of Paloma Faith, Adele, and Pixie Lott.

‘Dare’ follows their video for ‘Time Flies’ , which clocked up over 12K views since its release last month.