Kris Berry

Today was a beautiful sunny day here in Holland, which definitely inspired today's post. While studying in the sun, I listened to today's featured "Kris Berry"; an upcoming soul and jazz formation from my own  country. While listening I imagined being on an Caribbean beach, drinking coconut cocktails under palm trees. Kris Berry is perfect for warm summer days or even to dream away a little on rainy days. On their five track debut EP, which was released last february Kris Berry are treating you with a melting pot of Jazz, Country, Latin and Rhythm & Blues with songs, that according to the band itself hides the story of it's origin. Kris Berry is Kris Berry (vocals), Jet Stevens (bass), Claus Tofft (percussion) and Coos Zwagerman (trumpet) and their "Flower Empty Tree EP" is available on iTunes and Spotify! Don't hesitate and bring some summer in your life!

@ Amsterdam, NL

♫ Jazz, Pop

♥ Seeds of Blue (mp3)

▸ Facebook

▸ Official Website
+ Spotify

Susie Ro & Ayla

Susie Ro & Ayla is an harmonious folk soul duo, consisting of two incredibly talented songstresses: Susie Ro and Ayla who first made name for theirselves in music by releasing several albums and playing countless gigs. The combination of their voices will astound you with a mix of strife and serenity, politics and peace, and their enchanting vocal prowess compels the heart and evokes the soul. These two travelling Sirens wander this land weaving the tales of their journey through beautiful melodies sewing the seeds for the fruition of a conscious future. They've toured Spain, "hitching there with no money and a guitar we sung our way, stumbling upon tipi communities and glorious secret beaches where we lived and played and mingled our voices with astonishing musicians. Living from busking and selling the new album, from smiles andthe heart-opening generosity of others" And are just about to embark on another kind of journey through the United Kingdom. Recently they released their first album as a duo called "She and I" featuring 12 beautiful soulful folk tracks. You can order it at their MySpace.

@ Brighton, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Soul
♥ Silver City (mp3)
♥ As The Ivy Grows Tall (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Sam & Ruby

Nashville-based duo Sam & Ruby are a blend of R&B, folk and pop. Their newest album The Here And The Now is due to come out in August 2009. Ruby, who was born in Ghana, has spent most of her life in Nashville. Her father, a computer scientist, was recruited by a Tennessee-based firm, and he moved his family to Nashville when she was just three. Sam formed a band in high school and, by the time he’d finished college, it was practically a career. It would still be several years before Sam & Ruby officially became a duo. Sam left Nashville for New York City to work as a solo artist, sticking it out until after the September 11th attacks. Ruby released a solo album, Smoke and Honey in the UK, which reached Top Five on the British pop charts with a song called, "Sugah." Just as Ruby should have been savoring this success, record label snafus left her high and dry in Nashville. That’s about when Sam came back into town. So they combined their complementary talents, and the track "The Here And The Now" was born, laying the foundation their partnership. A year later they were invited to play at Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans where they also decided to record an EP that would contain some of the tracks that would eventually make their way onto their debut full length. They cut, mixed and mastered everything in a one-bedroom apartment. That EP led to a publishing deal, access to better recording facilities and, finally, to a deal with Rykodisc. In between, Ruby co-wrote "Heaven’s My Home," and an early version by Sam & Ruby was featured in the Queen Latifah-starring film, The Secret Life Of Bees. Now Sam & Ruby have reclaimed this tune for their debut album, The Here and The Now.

@ Nashville, USA
♫ Folk, Pop, Soul
♥ What Do I Do Now (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Natalie Prass

Natalie Prass is a Nashville based singer-songwriter that has been singing/writing/recording/performing since elementary school. She took one year at Berklee but it was too cold for her, so she moved to Nashville. Where she started to work on her debut, 6 song EP. This EP, entitled Small & Sweet has been released in the meantime and contains 6 songs with a smart blend of folk, pop and soul. Natalie wants anyone to enjoy the EP under optimal conditions and has even written a manual for it that says: “I get cozy. I love my surroundings. I take everything in and get super comfy cozy. I'm constantly seeking to be inspired and I hope you are someone who sought me out to find a little extra inspiration. I hope you listen while laying on your floor, or eating your favorite snack, or looking at a variety of pretty pictures. I hope after listening you will want to make something, whatever that may be. Write your friend a letter, construct a popsicle stick house for your pet rock, patch up the hole in your jeans with a crazy colored fabric, cookies (yum), whatever, you get it.” So get relaxed, and have a listen at last.fm where Small & Sweet is fully streamable.

@ Nashville, USA
♫ Folk, Pop, Soul
♥ Jenny (mp3)
♥ Small And Sweet (mp3)
▸ Myspace
+ Full EP stream

Diane Birch

I think most of you have heard of Diane Birch by now, her debut album Bible Belt; a title that is referring to both her very restraining religious upbringing that on the other hand is the source of her creativity. is getting quite a buzz around the net. A buzz she certainly deserves, Bible Belt is filled with soulful pop songs that will have you swinging in no time. On catchy tracks like “Fools” and “Valentino” Birch mixes piano-playing virtuosity with easy-going soul, and she can strike an uplifting groove on even the most melancholy tune. Her love for soul started most likely when she moved to Zimbabwe at a very young age. Her dad was a conservative pastor who moved his family from continent to continent. Until she arrived in the States, she’d had not had any exposure to the radio or television and little knowledge of popular culture; she’d only listened to classical music, opera and, of course, church hymns. That’s probably why the church organ can be heard throughout most of her songs. Alongside with the beautiful piano- parts, which is actually where her singing career started with. Because it was in piano class that Diane wrote her first original song, which her new classmates immediately loved. Not long afterwards she started posting songs on MySpace which resulted in a record deal with her current record label S-Curve Records. You can get Bible Belt from most digital stores. Buy it, if you want a swinging start of your summer.

@ New York, USA
♫ Pop, Soul, Alternative
♥ Valentino (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website