Recommended Listening

JKriv ft Angela Johnson - Not That Serious [Big Love]

Brooklyn native JKriv teams up with the hugely talented Angela Johnson whose wonderful vocals have graced more amazing tracks than I care to remember. The result is a catchy number with funky guitars, soulful strings and sassy brass. The stellar bassline could easily have underpinned classic funk tracks of the 70s and early 80s. I'm getting shades of Gap Band meets Cameo; gloriously funky and hugely uplifting!

Flashback 2002

Tortured Soul - How's Your Life [Central Park Recordings]

Considering some of the Flashback selections, this is actually relatively recent in comparison. We journey back to 2002 and my earliest introduction to the sounds of Tortured Soul. With exquisite vocals from John Christian Urich allied to live instrumentation from Ethan White (RIP) and JKriv, this is such an infectious tune. I was hooked right from the first few bars. On remix duties we find NYC's Alix Alvarez who keeps things smooth and soulful. The vibe is almost contradictory in that it feels uplifting yet has a melancholy undertone. The net effect is a captivating track that has endured for nearly two decades.