This weekend we’re delving into some strong, silky vocals and reflective songwriting for this week’s R&B selection, where classic soul influences meet modern production. There’s a lot to love here, so let’s dive right in ❤️🔥
Chris Oledude – If A Woman Had Made The World
Chris Oledude and Kiena Williams unite on a stunningly soulful, socially conscious ballad grounded in warmth and conviction
If A Woman Had Made The World, unfolds with rich instrumentation and a gentle, nostalgic groove, allowing a strong, expressive vocals to carry its reflective core. Subtle soul textures and a measured percussion give both voices space to resonate and deliver the message.
Chris Oledude collaborates here with Kiena Williams, whose presence adds a wonderful depth and balance to the track’s message. Drawing on classic R&B influences while centring women’s strength and perspective, the release blends heritage, harmony and purpose in equal measure. Essential stuff.
Aalex – Tierra Rouge
Aalex crafts a wonderfully cinematic R&B soundscape that pairs sleek production with emotionally charged storytelling
Tierra Rouge, glides on smooth percussion and layered textures, building a mood that feels both intimate and expansive at the same time. The groove is understated, giving the narrative space to unfold in the best, almost theatrical way.
Aalex, an Italian producer with foundations as a drummer, blends R&B, jazz, pop and electronic influences into a cohesive style. It’s genuinely ambitious stuff, with a fantastic vocal to match. It strongly reflects his balance of elegance and intensity, shaping a polished yet heartfelt listening experience. More of this please.
Nadia Maria – No More
Nadia Maria fuses a touch of 2000s R&B smoothness with confident, self-affirming vocals to stunning effect
No More, rides on the best kind of velvety production and crisp, contemporary beats, placing its message of self-love front and centre. The chorus lands with clarity, turning personal resolve into an anthemic hook that has genuinely followed me around – in the best possible way – this week.
Nadia Maria, a Swiss singer-songwriter with Ukrainian and Italian roots, continues building towards her debut EP with this final single. Drawing from pop, soul and electronic influences, she channels classical training into modern R&B with poise and conviction. Instant follow on Spotify for me. Would love to hear more.
Backroom Gossip – Why should I?
Backroom Gossip shape an elegant, piano-led R&B cut built on precision, narrative depth and the most stunning of vocals
Why should I? layers expressive keys over restrained rhythms, allowing each musical detail to feel deliberate. The track dives into a beautiful atmosphere, stunning vocals and melodic clarity over excess. And to top it all off, the groove is just incredible.
Backroom Gossip, a Glasgow-based duo and collective, centre their work on composition and storytelling. With strong musical foundations and a focus on accessibility, this release captures their commitment to purposeful, finely arranged sound. Absolutely love this, more please!
Wadena – Bum Busta
Wadena delivers a bold, unapologetic anthem that blends sharp lyricism with confident R&B swagger
Bum Busta hits with bass-heavy production and crisp, snapping drums, pairing an instantly catchy hook with direct, no-nonsense bars. The energy is playful but pointed, as Wadena calls out deception and imbalance with clarity, turning frustration into something slick and empowering.
Wadena, hailing from Long Island, teams up with Zaytoven to fuse polished R&B melodies with hip hop edge. Framing resilience and self-worth at its core, this release strengthens her position as an artist unafraid to pair commercial appeal with a clear, purposeful message. It’s great.