Is there some music out there that can be labeled ‘classic’ soul, or ‘classic’ R&B?
Probably, but artists that try to create their music within that realm are quite hard to find these days, as modern variations of the genres, have gone in various directions, adopting sounds from elsewhere along the way.
Of course, development is a good thing, but bringing back earlier sounds that were so prominent in soul and R&B is always quite refreshing to hear.
Brooklyn’s Dakota Jones and the band’s leader Tristan Carter-Jones, based on their second album Heartbreakers Space Club can be counted among those artists that favor including those ‘classic’ sounds within their music.
Yet, it seems that there are some other ‘old’ and new sounds to be found here, that make Dakota Jones’s music so intriguing. The story goes that during the recording of this album on heavy rotation during recording were the iconic Ziggy Stardust album by David Bowie, as well as D’Angelo’s discography and early Prince. Of course, some more modern sounds like hip-hop and other developments in R&B and soul filter through the music here.
Describing the music on the album, Carter-Jones says, “Heartbreakers Space Club – doubling as both something celestial and a place that you hold for yourself, is where you lose yourself to find yourself, break yourself down to build back up into the most authentic version of you.”
All of it, makes quite an excellent listen, putting Dakota Jones close to the top of the list of both classic and modern soul/R&B bands.
