As R&B leaps back into critical and pop favour, artists and producers from Canada are being touted as part of a wave of indie or alternative acts that are providing a new perspective to the genre. Red Bull Music Academy, an incubator for progressive young musicians, recently explored the "renaissance in contemporary R&B" and included a few Toronto musicians in their roundup. From Vancouver's Evy Jane to Toronto's Rochelle Jordan, here are five homegrown acts that are part of the next wave of Canadian R&B and soul.
Rochelle Jordan, Toronto
After last year's excellent free mixtape PRESSURE, Rochelle Jordan (who often goes by Rojo) landed a dream gig opening for British singer Jessie Ware in the U.S. It would be too easy to say that she's working with in-house producer KLSH to craft a sound that picks up where Aaliyah left off because, though she's clearly indebted to the deceased icon (as well as Amel Larrieux, Kelis and others), the duo is bent on refining a more contemporary take that merges radio R&B with electronic music. Watch for collaborations with rising Canadian electronic producers Jacques Greene and Zodiac (formerly of the Weeknd).
Unbuttoned, Toronto
The boy-girl harmonies and bright, minimal arrangements of Toronto band Unbuttoned make us think of a more upbeat version of the xx. Unbuttoned's 2012 release, Electric Kingdom, is less playful than the band's previous easy-going singles, and puts an of-now spin on soul and pop.
Evy Jane, Vancouver
Pitchfork-sanctioned duo Evy Jane veers between glitchy electronic and sparse soul. What separates the pair from the self-serious dilettantes is the tinge of serious sadness behind singer Evelyn Mason's careful vocals on singles "SaySo" and "Nothing So Great."
Ivanunknown, Toronto
There's not much information out there about Toronto singer Ivanunknown, but we do know that he prefers to lay his smooth vocals over unconventional production from Murr and Middlefield. The beat-focused approach to soul-pop is reminiscent of mid-'00s neosoul, but the futuristic instrumentals anchor his sound in the present.
Maylee Todd, Toronto
On April 1, Maylee Todd will release her second full-length album, Escapology. It's a record that reflects the singer's own curious and confident persona, slipping easily between bluesy, funky and boogie, all held together by Todd's effortless vocals.
Related:
Nuela Charles's alt-soul from Edmonton
A timeline of black Canadian R&B/Soul
Black History Month: Canadian musicians share their gospel roots