Soul: Last News

Roy Ayers has died, aged 84.Ayers death was confirmed via an announcement from his team through Ayers’ Facebook account. The post, which notes he died from a “long illness” reads: “It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composter and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4th, 2025 in New York City after a long illness.”“He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed.

FKA Twigs has shared the official video for her latest single ‘Childlike Things’, featuring North West. You can watch it below.The song appears on Twigs’ third and most recent studio album, ‘Eusexua’, which was released back in January.Today (March 27), the singer-songwriter – real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett – unveiled the dramatic visuals for the track, directed by Jordan Hemingway (Wolf Alice, Young Fathers).

FKA Twigs has explained why she asked North West to feature on her recent track ‘Childlike Things’, saying her “energy is inspiring”.The musician released her critically acclaimed third studio album ‘EUSEXUA’ in January and it included ‘Childlike Things’ in its tracklist, a collaboration with the 11-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.North delivers a verse in Japanese on the track, and now Twigs has spoken about the decision to collaborate with her in a video posted on Instagram.“I was working on ‘EUSEXUA’, I was working on my album, and then I was in the studio one day with Lewis [Roberts, aka Koreless] and my friends, and they start playing this bassline, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I just heard a song,” she said. “It just came into my head.”FKA twigs explains why she asked North West to feature on her album, ‘EUSEXUA.’ pic.twitter.com/Ds2viE43x6— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 21, 2025She then says that in that moment, while she was on the mic in the studio, the words of the song’s opening verse came tripping out of her mouth.

Erykah Badu is finally readying her first album in over a decade – find out more below.In a new interview with Billboard, Badu revealed that she’s bene hard at work in the studio, where she’s recording on her first studio album in 15 years. The album is being produced solely by The Alchemist, who has in the past worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah and more.While the album isn’t done and hasn’t received a title or release date, Erykah Badu has told Billboard that it’s “taking up most of her time” and that she “can’t wait” until it’s done.Elsewhere during the chat, Badu explained why it’s been so long between albums: “I tour eight months out of the year for the past 25 years. That’s what I do.

John Legend has announced a world tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of debut album ‘Get Lifted’, including UK dates – see the full list below.The record was released in December 2004 and earned Legend three Grammys, including Best R&B Album. It includes the hit singles ‘Ordinary People’, ‘Used To Love U’ and ‘So High’ and features guest spots from Kanye West and Snoop Dogg.Now, details of the anniversary tour have been confirmed, with Legend set to kick off at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on May 27.

Stevie Wonder has been announced as the final headliner for London’s BST Hyde Park 2025. Find all the details below.Marking his third appearance at the festival, the soul legend will take to the Great Oak stage on July 12 as part of his run of ‘LOVE, LIGHT & SONG’ UK dates, with support acts to be announced later.The ‘Superstition’ singer is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having produced a slew of hits across his career and garnered 25 Grammy Awards, as well as being inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Wonder joins the previously announced BST Hyde Park 2025 headliners Neil Young, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan and Jeff Lynne’s ELO.Tickets go on general sale at 10am GMT this Friday (March 21) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.

En Vogue singer, has revealed that she has been living in her car for the last three years.The co-founder of the R&B girl group shared the news in a candid video posted on her YouTube channel on Wednesday (March 12), which you can watch below.“You guys, for the past three years, I have been living in my car…I said it, oh my gosh, it’s out,” she said. She explained that it is a lifestyle choice, adding: “This isn’t a sob story, this is about me learning who I am, as a person, as a woman.”Robinson went on to explain that she had been living with her parents for a period, before moving to Los Angeles in 2020, having been offered a place to stay by her former manager. That arrangement collapsed, however, and she ended up staying in a hotel for eight months while she searched for an apartment.She began to seek out alternative lifestyle options and found the prospect of “car life” appealing.

David Bowie famously sang about “Changes” in 1971, and true to his word, he turned and faced the strange on his 1975 LP “Young Americans.”Making a galactic journey from glam-rock to his self-described “plastic soul,” the man who came from Mars as Ziggy Stardust landed in Philadelphia to record his game-changing classic that came out 50 years ago on March 7, 1975.But the rock star — who died at 69 from liver cancer in 2016 — wasn’t exactly greeted with brotherly love in the city.“We were going to the birthplace of so many hits,” Tony Visconti — the “Young Americans” producer who had worked with Bowie since 1968 — exclusively told The Post. “But [Kenny] Gamble and [Leon] Huff, they didn’t want to work with us.”Indeed, the Sound of Philadelphia architects behind such R&B greats as the O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were not open to this Brit invading their territory.“They actually said, ‘We don’t want no white boy stealing our music’ or something like that,” said Visconti, 80.But Bowie was on a makeover mission that could not be stopped on “Young Americans,” assembling his own soul squad, including Sly & the Family Stone drummer Andrew Newmark, Donny Hathaway bassist Willie Weeks, James Brown saxophonist David Sanborn and an emerging background singer by the name of Luther Vandross at Sigma Sound — the Philly studio where many Gamble & Huff hits were made.There was also session guitar player Carlos Alomar licking it up on hits such as the title track and his co-written classic “Fame” — Bowie’s first No.

Erykah Badu honoured the late great singer-songwriter Roberta Flack during her one-off DJ set in London for her birthday. See the video below.Last Thursday (February 27), Badu celebrated her 54th birthday by playing a surprise DJ set at Camden’s Jazz Cafe under the alias DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown.London’s own Keyrahh was the opening DJ and, when the ‘Bag Lady’ singer got on stage, she thanked her for warming up the crowd and introduced Rashad Smith (aka producer Tumbling Dice) whom she hailed as “the original hitmaker from New York that had the ’90s streets on fire”.She then took over the decks for an experimental, eclectic set while on “mushrooms”.An impromptu Q&A session afterward.

Angie Stone, the R&B singer behind hits such as ‘Wish I Didn’t Miss You’ and ‘Brotha’, has died in a car accident at the age of 63. A representative of the singer confirmed to Variety that the crash happened in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday morning (March 1) as Stone was coming from a show. She was the only person to die in the accident.

Lauryn Hill has shared a tribute to Roberta Flack, who died earlier this week at the age of 88.“We are heartbroken that the glorious Roberta Flack passed away this morning,” Flack’s representatives wrote in a statement on Monday (February 24). “She died peacefully surrounded by her family.

The Isley Brothers‘ Chris Jasper has died at the age of 73.The songwriter, producer and keyboardist passed away last Sunday (February 23) following a cancer diagnosis in December 2024, a statement from his family confirmed yesterday (February 25).“He will be deeply missed and his legacy will live on as an inspiration for generations,” the message read.The post noted Jasper’s “pivotal role in shaping the sound of The Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley”, and his career “as a distinguished solo artist” – which spanned over three decades.In 1992, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of his bandmates in The Isley Brothers.Jasper earned a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2014. He was given the National R&B Society Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Damon Albarn, Kate Bush and Annie Lennox have released a silent album in protest of planned changes to copyright AI laws planned by the UK government. Check it out below.Dubbed ‘Is This What We Want?’, the album is completely silent, and is made with the hopes of drawing attention to the potential impact that artificial intelligence could have on the music industry.“In the music of the future, will our voices go unheard?” said Kate Bush in a new statement (via BBC).

a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a three-time Grammy Award nominee, was a voice for two major soul music hubs: Chicago and Philadelphia. Along with childhood friend Curtis Mayfield, he helped found the Chicago-based Impressions and sang lead on the breakthrough hit “For Your Precious Love,” a deeply emotional, gospel-influenced ballad that made Butler a star before the age of 20.

Sam Fender and RAYE leading the line-up. Find all the details below.The motor racing event is due to take place at the iconic Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire between July 3-6.Today (February 20), organisers have confirmed who’ll be topping the bill when the F1 hosts “an eclectic mix of British music heavyweights this year”, having attracted record crowds of 480,000 last summer.Fender, who releases his third album ‘People Watching’ tomorrow (February 21), is set to headline Silverstone on Thursday July 3.

Central Cee, Bashy and Ayra Starr were among the big winners at the 2025 MOBO Awards – see the full list of winners below.The 27th edition of the annual awards ceremony, which celebrates music of Black origin, took place in Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Tuesday night (February 18), hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and Love Island star Indiyah Polack.The show was live streamed on YouTube from 8pm on the night, while an exclusive ‘Access All Areas’ broadcast is set to air on BBC One on Friday night (February 21) at 11:25pm.Bashy took home the prestigious Album Of The Year prize for his first record in 15 years, ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’, which was also named as one of the 50 best albums of 2024 by NME. He was also named the Best Hip Hop Act.Other multiple winners were Darkoo, who won Best Female Act as well as Song Of The Year for ‘Favourite Girl’ featuring Dess Dior, and Ayra Starr, who picked up gongs for Best African Music Act and Best International Act.

Smokey Robinson has responded to a theory about a song he wrote which is speculated to be about an alleged affair with Diana Ross, saying he “could not possibly have experienced everything” he has written music about.The Motown icon, 84, spoke to The Times about his music, the soul genre, and hanging out with the likes of The Beatles and Marvin Gaye. He was also asked about his 1975 track ‘The Agony and The Ecstacy’, and whether it was about the affair he was having with Diana Ross at the time.In the interview, he called Ross a “babe” and said: “As a songwriter, I could not possibly have experienced everything I’ve written about, and that song seemed like a good idea because so many people were in that situation.“I’ve known Diana Ross since she was eight years old, man! She’s precious to me.

due to take place in Newcastle for the first time on Tuesday February 18, held at the city’s Utilita Arena.Jorja Smith, Sampha, Bashy, Ghetts, Cleo Sol, Central Cee and Odeal lead this year’s nominations, having earned three nods apiece. Check out the full list here.Last month, organisers confirmed that Spice, Krept & Konan and Bashy would all be delivering live performances on the night.

Diana Ross has shared details of a ‘Symphonic Celebration’ UK tour. Find ticket details below.Announced today (January 24), the upcoming shows will be held across the country later this summer and mark her first tour dates in the UK since she embarked on her 2023 ‘The Musical Legacy Tour’.Seven arena shows have been confirmed, kicking off at the BP Pulse Live in Birmingham on June 22.

Tina Turner single has been released – listen to ‘Hot For You Baby’ below.The song was premiered on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning (January 23). Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, it was originally intended to be an album track on Turner’s fifth record ‘Private Dancer’ (1984).‘Hot For You Baby’ was believed to be lost, but the recent unearthing of the tune “introduces a fresh chapter in the ‘Private Dancer’ story”, per a press release.Written by Australian musicians George Young and Harry Vanda, and produced by John Carter, the new song will appear on a 40th anniversary edition of Turner’s Grammy-winning breakthrough LP.‘Private Dancer (40th Anniversary Edition)’ is due for release on March 21.

SZA has spoken candidly about her rise to fame, admitting that she didn’t know what she was signing up for when she started her career.The R&B star and 2024 Glastonbury headliner appeared on Extra this week to promote her new film One Of Them Days, a female buddy comedy movie in which she co-stars with Keke Palmer.When asked about her relationship with the nature of fame, she said: “I don’t really know what is happening. I don’t know what the hell going on.