{"title":"RnB \/ Soul","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"ariel-something-amazing-vinyl-45","title":"Ariel - Something Amazing (Vinyl 45)","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl 45 \u003c\/strong\u003e(Limited Edition of 300)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eArtist:\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eAriel \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlbum: \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSomething Amazing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRelease Date:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eJuly 19, 2024 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength: 7 min 7 seconds • 2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Track Maxi-Single\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/2FBnZ1GJ40dekPwuq2oRq1?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Maxi-Single 45\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo celebrate Canadian R\u0026amp;B singer Ariel's signing with Mello Music Group, Ariel is releasing her first single, “Something Amazing,” since her debut EP, Symfonia, in 2023. Produced by Relyae, the track’s warm synths and laid-back guitar riffs call back to the sounds of 90s R\u0026amp;B. Laced with Ariel’s lush vocals, she looks to find the magic in the everyday moments of a relationship as she sings, “Forget about the right time \/ Cause’ baby this is our time \/ You’re feeling like my lifeline \/ Came in and let the sunshine in.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“For ‘Something Amazing,’ I was listening to a lot of Lucy Pearl, SAULT, and Moonchild at the time. I wanted a super sunny and warm sound. Relyae nailed it. I always wanted to write a love song about the time after you fall in love, that calm, complete feeling you get when you really trust and connect with someone. When you can find magic in the mundane stuff it's pretty amazing.” - Ariel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAriel crafts a sound that feels both familiar and new, like a lush and breezy confetti of imminent nostalgia. Her 2023 debut EP, Symfonia, has garnered over one million streams to date, airplay on BBC Radio 1, and a co-sign from music critic Anthony Fantano. Having just signed to Mello Music Group, Ariel has leaped into a new stage of her rising career that promises more music, starting with the release of her new single “Something Amazing.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eproduced by Relyae\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSounds Beautiful Like The Truth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMello Music Group 2024\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ariel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41141108605017,"sku":"45-MMG-00193","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/Ariel_somethng_aming_amazing.png?v=1721775092"},{"product_id":"ariel-symfonia-lp","title":"Ariel - Symfonia (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP \u003c\/strong\u003e(Aqua Marine Swirl)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eArtist:\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eAriel \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlbum:\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cem\u003eSymfonia\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRelease Date:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNovember 28, 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength: 26 min 14 seconds • \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8 Track Maxi-Ep \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor fans of: \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSAULT • Cleo Sol • Lucy Pearl • Moonchild • Jill Scott •  Solange • Jamila Woods \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem data-is-only-node=\"\" data-end=\"10\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eSymfonia\u003c\/em\u003e is the nostalgic R\u0026amp;B debut from Saskatoon’s Ariel—equal parts shimmering throwback and fresh perspective. With echoes of early 2000s greats like Lucy Pearl and Brandy, Ariel blends smooth vocals, infectious hooks, and soulful production into a record that feels like summer crushes, burnt CDs, and the golden hour glow. A modern classic in the making, pressed on vinyl for the first time for lovers of melody, memory, and emotion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" height=\"352\" width=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/0xEXGSaTJTNd2fNJB7urxy?utm_source=generator\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" data-testid=\"embed-iframe\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduced, mixed, and mastered by Yumo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtwork by Devon Kerney Hanofski\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSounds Beautiful Like The Truth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMello Music Group 2025\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ariel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42579650216025,"sku":"LP-MMG-00202","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/ARIEL_SYMFONIA_FRONT.jpg?v=1755746564"},{"product_id":"ariel-amatoria-lp","title":"ARIEL - AMATORIA (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP \u003c\/strong\u003e(Joker Edition)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eArtist:\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eAriel \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlbum:\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003e Amatoria\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRelease Date:\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e June 28, 2026 (PRE-ORDER)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFantasy Girl • Felony Smooth • Love Potion • RnB\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAriel’s \u003cem data-start=\"920\" data-end=\"930\"\u003eAmatoria\u003c\/em\u003e feels like a modern cousin to Brandy’s most intimate work—layered, emotional, and built around the complexities of real love. The project floats between fantasy and truth: messy crushes, dangerous devotion, spells cast to save something fragile, and the quiet moment where you learn to choose yourself. With velvet-soft vocals and harmonies that curl like smoke, \u003cem data-start=\"1294\" data-end=\"1304\"\u003eAmatoria\u003c\/em\u003e transforms every chapter of love—infatuation, heartbreak, rebirth—into a diary you can dance to.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e01 Soprano\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e02 Ta Da!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e03 Amatoria\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e04 Marigold\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e05 Oxygen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/7DxzNnU5uMIbjELJCOcjVH?utm_source=generator\u0026amp;theme=0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSounds Beautiful Like The Truth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMello Music Group 2026\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ariel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42989673906265,"sku":"LP-MMG-00205","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/ARIEL_COVER_MOCKUP.jpg?v=1768595891"},{"product_id":"lady-wray-cover-girl-lp","title":"Lady Wray - Cover Girl (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProduct: Vinyl LP (Clear Pink)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eArtist: Lady Wray\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlbum:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eCover Girl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 px-3 py-3\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"ng-tns-c14-38\"\u003eLady Wray makes her highly anticipated return with Cover Girl, her third album on Big Crown Records. The album opener “My Best Step” says it all, “my next step is my best step”, and indeed she is taking her artistry to a new high and making the best music of her life. The celebratory Cover Girl takes listeners on a free-spirited joyride glittered with ‘60s and '70s-inspired soul and disco, ‘90s hip-hop and R\u0026amp;B, and perhaps the most defining element, gospel. Following the healing journey that was 2022’s Piece of Me, Nicole has performed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and toured the world. After this period of growth, Lady Wray is now ready to let her hair down and embrace all of what life has to offer. Reunited with producer Leon Michels (Norah Jones \/ Clairo \/ El Michels Affair) for the record, the outcome is effortless and undeniable, a reflection of their longtime collaboration that extends over a decade.“I've gravitated more towards love and self-care with this album. Piece of Me was realizing that I was going to be a mother, and all those feelings were on my heart,” Lady Wray says. “Now I'm able to sit back and be a real boss. I got my career, my motherhood, and my marriage by the horns. I've grown into this more self-aware and beautiful flower for Cover Girl.” With an almighty voice, soul-stirring lyrics, and a magnetic personality, the singer-songwriter reflects her appreciation for her family, her faith, and her renewed love for herself—all of which drive her new record.Lead single “You’re Gonna Win” is a report to the dance floor, feel good banger. Cole lets loose while naming and claiming her power “I do not care who came before me, after me there will be none” as she likens her company to winning the lottery. The Fabulous Rainbow Singers choir joins on the chorus taking the whole affair to church and putting it next to the finest gospel-disco records ever pressed. “Be a Witness” is a funky, mid-tempo powerhouse that would make Prince proud. Nicole finds the perfect groove over punchy drum machines and infectious synthesizers, singing about a love destined to happen, and spreading the good vibes to everyone in earshot. Cover Girl’s title track is one of the album’s most vulnerable moments. Lady Wray delivers a show-stopping performance over the stripped down track as she details her journey to finding herself again: “I lost myself trying to please someone else \/ I want to be me again.” The title stems from a childhood nickname she earned for her consistently manicured style. Lady Wray explains. “As I grew up and got into the music business, I lost that happy part of me. I see that happiness in my daughter, who’s just beautiful, talented, and smart. ‘Cover Girl’ is me going back to that little girl. It’s about getting back to loving yourself and healing.” Similarly on “Where Could I Be,” she reclaims the happiness and sense of identity that she lost focus of through life’s struggles. Nicole gushes about her love and respect for her marriage on “Best For Us” \u0026amp; “Hard Times”, both acknowledging the imperfection and referencing the strength and resilience of true love. She sings to her daughter on “Higher,” teaching her how to love and be loved, encouraging her to be confident and persistent. Lady Wray was born to sing, sharing her soul and her life with us through her music. She has amassed a diehard worldwide fanbase with her relatable messages and incomparable voice. Whether singing of her struggles or strengths, there’s a comfort that comes from the way she makes us know we are not alone in any of it. Nicole Wray is inspiring and uplifting. Having been through a lot, she’s taken all of it and made herself a better person and a better artist. “You need to rule your own world. Don't let anybody get in your way. You rock with your dreams until the wheels fall off,” Lady Wray says. “That's what I've been doing with my career since 1998. I know who I am and what I bring to the table. It's been a heck of a journey, and I feel so happy to be making the best music of my life.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/4SvP99rd8lr8wpDW8p55uq?utm_source=generator\u0026amp;si=a2de65ef35f548b2\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"big crown records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44560942727257,"sku":"LP-BCR-166-C2","price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/Screenshot_2026-08-21_at_11.39.12_AM.png?v=1787337578"},{"product_id":"lady-wray-piece-of-me-lp","title":"Lady Wray - Piece of Me (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProduct: Vinyl LP \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eArtist: Lady Wray\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlbum:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cb\u003ePiece of Me\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSIDE A: 1. I Do 2. Through It All 3. Piece Of Me 4. Come On In 5. Under The Sun 6. Where Were You\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSIDE B: 1. Beauty In The Fire 2. Games People Play 3. Melody 4. Thank You 5. Joy \u0026amp; Pain 6. Storms\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003ePiece of Me, the sophomore full length offering from Lady Wray. This is something of a homecoming for Nicole. Where her 2016 solo debut Queen Alone leaned more towards Soul and R\u0026amp;B with tinges of hip-hop, this record changes the mixture. It's still R\u0026amp;B with the textures of analog Soul, but there is a heavy Hip Hop inuence that brings the sum of Nicole's career together in a new sound that will dene her future. Boom-bap drums and chunky bass lines are front-and-center creating a perfect head-nodding backdrop for Lady Wray to take on the good, the bad, the difcult, and the joyful on her most personal collection of songs to date. The title track, \"Piece of Me,\" which has already become a classic since it's 2019 release is about the people in your life who need more than you are willing to give. This tune and the B side of the 7” “Come On In” were the rst songs put to tape for this album and they were recorded with Nicole sitting in a chair 8 months pregnant with her daughter. Her voice is so powerful, so raw, so thorough on these initial songs—it's wild to think that they were recorded this way. And even wilder to know that she knocked them all out in one take. Long time collaborator and producer Leon Michels keeps the musical backing restrained and expertly executed, setting up Lady Wray for the full spotlight and setting the tone for the rest of the album. While the upbeat energies of “Under The Sun” and “Through It All” are sure to become hits that reconnect Lady Wray with her 90s R\u0026amp;B fanbase, “Where Were You” offers a behind the scenes look at what those days of stardom in her youth were really like. Nicole takes on the racial tension in America with her poetic and powerful “Beauty In The Fire” and leans heavy into her faith and church upbringing on the showstopper, “Thank You”. She gushes about the profound love she’s come to know for her daughter on “Melody” and celebrates life’s ups and downs on “Joy \u0026amp; Pain”. In 2021 it is rare to hear a varied yet cohesive album with no “skippers”, but that is what you have here in spades. The tried and true chemistry between Lady Wray and Leon Michels has undeniably found a higher level and this album stands as a testament to conviction and dedication for all of us to enjoy and be inspired by. With this in mind, when talking about this record, for Lady Wray, it's about a larger purpose. \"My goal is always to help and to heal people with singing,\" she explains. \"Part of that is to try and bring back real music, real singing, so people can feel something again.\" Now, she's not dissing anyone here, to be clear. It's just that Lady Wray cannot sing without tapping into something deeper, searching for that shared compassion between all of us. Perhaps it comes from her church upbringing, or maybe from her years of trials and tribulations in the music industry. Either way, Lady Wray is looking to bring that \"Good Sound\" back and the good feelings that come with it. She calls it \"those inner hands,\" and she always means to stir them up, grabbing your attention from within\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 px-3 py-3\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/6YZfQdeTTIIkPUEAFmXvMB?utm_source=generator\u0026amp;si=ca8fd9e7555c4eb1\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"big crown records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44560954949721,"sku":"LP-BCR0-66","price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/BCR066.jpg?v=1787337261"},{"product_id":"surprise-chef-superb-lp","title":"Surprise Chef - Superb (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct: \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP (Translucent Tangerine)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: \u003cstrong\u003eSurprise Chef\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlbum: \u003cstrong\u003eSuperb\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIDE A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSleep Dreams, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBully Ball, Body Slam, Consulate Case, Dangerous, Websites\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSIDE B\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFare Evader, Tag Dag, Plumb Tuckered, Dreamer’s Disease, Slippery Dip\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAustralia’s world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album Superb. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album.Album opener “Sleep Dreams” is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect, but then lead single “Bully Ball” comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song’s gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like “Body Slam” that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on “Fare Evader” where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-fi film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like “Consulate Case” and “Tag Dag”; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk. They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on “Websites” and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with “Dreamer’s Disease”. With their new album Superb, their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground’s most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/33TEY0oQeWSc7akHHtPk6o?utm_source=generator\u0026amp;si=416a55dbc1404731\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"big crown records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44579030270041,"sku":"LP-BCR183-C2","price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/BCR183.jpg?v=1787695844"},{"product_id":"surprise-chef-education-recreation-lp","title":"Surprise Chef - Education \u0026 Recreation (LP)","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct: \u003cstrong\u003eVinyl LP \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist: \u003cstrong\u003eSurprise Chef\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlbum: \u003cstrong\u003eEducation \u0026amp; Recreation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIDE A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA1 Bakery Pledge of Allegiance, Grinners Circle, Velodrome, Suburban Breeze, Conversation Piece, Iconoclasts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSIDE B\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMoney Music, Spring's Theme, Together Again, Winter's Theme, Ten \u0026amp; Two, Goldie's Lullaby\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurprise Chef’s music is based on evoking mood; their vivid arrangements utilize time and space to build soundscapes that invite the listener into their world. The quintet’s distinct sound pulls from 70s film scores, the funkier side of jazz, and the samples that form the foundation of hip hop. They push the boundaries of instrumental soul and funk with their own approach honed by countless hours in the studio, studying the masters, and perhaps most importantly, the “tyranny of distance” that dictates a unique perspective to their music. Hailing from just outside of Melbourne, Australia their first two albums, All News Is Good News and Daylight Savings amassed a die-hard fanbase and brought their sound from their home studio to every corner of the globe. The band is now signed to Big Crown Records, joining a lineage of contemporary and classic sounds that have influenced Surprise Chef’s music since their formation in 2017. Surprise Chef is Lachlan Stuckey on guitar, Jethro Curtin on keys, Carl Lindeberg on bass, Andrew Congues on drums, and Hudson Whitlock—the latest member who does it all from percussion to composing to producing. Their self proclaimed \"moody shades of instrumental jazz-funk\" have a bit of everything: punchy drums, infectious keys, rhythm guitar you might hear on a Studio One record, and flute lines that could be from a Blue Note session. But when you step back and take in the entirety of their sound and approach, you'll hear and see a group greater than the sum of its parts. In many ways Surprise Chef embodies the idiom \"the benefits of limits.\" They were limited in that there weren't many people making or talking about instrumental jazz\/soul\/funk in Southeast Australia, let alone putting out records. This left them to develop their sound and approach in a kind of creative isolation where a small circle of friends and like-minded musicians fed off each other. \"Being in Australia, being so far away, we only get glimpses and glances of this music’s origins,\" Stuckey says. \"But hearing a label like Big Crown was one of the first times we realized you could make fresh, new soul music that wasn't super retro or just nostalgic.\" This approach is on full display throughout their new album Education \u0026amp; Recreation. Tracks like “Velodrome” pair chunky drums with an earworm synth line that has all the making of something you would find on an Ultimate Breaks \u0026amp; Beats compilation while numbers like “Iconoclasts” show their knack for tasteful use of space. From the crushing intro of “Suburban Breeze” to the floaty mellow bop of “Spring’s Theme” Surprise Chef has weaved together an album that takes you through peaks and valleys of emotion and provides a vivid soundtrack that will pull you deeper into your imagination. There is a beauty in the vast space for interpretation of instrumental music and they are adding a modern classic to the canon with this new album. Turn on the record and enjoy the ride, wherever it may take you.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/2x4fBy7xBQe7tsKx5nnCqZ?utm_source=generator\u0026amp;si=2d32ec491b634103\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"big crown records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44579062186073,"sku":"LP-BCR-126","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0154\/0333\/files\/BCR126.jpg?v=1787697690"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.mellomusicgroup.com\/collections\/rnb-soul.oembed","provider":"Mello Music Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}