Singer, songwriter and record producer K'Jon delivers his smooth feel-good single "Beautiful Thing (Summer Breeze)" and it's accompanying video.
"Beautiful Thing (Summer Breeze)", follows after K'Jon previous single "Live, Love & Laughter" which was released earlier in the year. RnBJunkieOfficial Interviewed K'Jon earlier in the year. See HERE!
R&B Singer and actor Tyrese returns with his powerful new CeeLo Green-assisted single and visual entitled "Legendary" which supports the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality.
Seven-time Grammy Award-winning Superstar Toni Braxton has released her tenth overall album Spell My Name via Island Records.
The 10-track project features guest appearances from Missy Elliott ("Do It" Remix) & H.E.R. ("Gotta Move On") and includes the Billboard Adult R&B No. 1 song "Do It" as well as "Dance".
Spell My Name Tracklist
1 Dance
2 Do It (Remix) ft. Missy Elliott
3 Gotta Move On ft. H.E.R.
4 Fallin'
5 Spell My Name
6 O.V.E.R.r.
7 Happy Without Me
8 Saturday Night
9 Do It
10 Nothin' (Bonus)
Spell My Name follows after Braxton's 2018 album Sex & Cigarettes.
R&B Singer-songwriter Tweet delivers her soul-stirring new song "Neva Felt This Way" on all digital music streaming platforms.
Co-written and produced with frequent collaborators Charles Bereal & Craig Brockman, "Neva Felt This Way" follows after Tweet's previous single "I Admit It".
Grammy nominated Singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan returns with her emotional piano-driven heartbroken ballad "Lost One".
Produced by Dave "Pop" Watson, "Lost One" is Sullivan's first offering of new music since her Bryson Tiller-assisted single "Insecure" from the soundtrack to the hit series of the same name.
In 2005, Virginia-born and multi-talented Singer-songwriter Will Preston released his critically-acclaimed debut album It's My Will via the West King Entertainment imprint. This project was followed-up by the intimate live CD/DVD release Caught In the Act...The LIVE Experience and the 2013 release #reacquainted. Preston returns with his catchy new guitar-driven mid-tempo single "Never Knew Love" available on all digital music streaming platforms which serves as the lead single from his upcoming album due in October.
TERRANCE: First, congratulations on the release of your new single "Never Knew Love". How does it feel to get new music out there?
WILL PRESTON: Thanks man. And congrats to you too. I’ve loved watching your brand really grow over the years. I’m a fan. I remember when you were first starting out. I would go and read your interviews and always found them to be insightful. Very entertaining and informative.
To answer your question, it feels great. I released my last project #reacquainted seven years ago, so this upcoming project is long overdue. It’s amazing that once I started putting the buzz out earlier this year that I was working on new material, it’s like everyday or every other day someone is asking me about the project. I guess people have been waiting. It was kind of like “Finally. Where have you been?”
TERRANCE: Walk us through the creative process and how it came to be.
WILL PRESTON: It’s a feeling. I got that itch. I just felt like recording a project. I wanted some new Will Preston material in the mix. I’ve recorded things over the past several years, but I wasn’t focused on a full project. I have my own recording studio, so whenever I felt like doing a little something here and there I would, but I wasn’t in the right zone to commit to recording for a full project. It takes focus and a commitment to timelines. Earlier this year, I was ready for it and said let’s do this.
And then the pandemic hit, so my plans changed a little. I had planned to work with a couple of producers and writers during that time and of course that came to a halt. But I wanted to keep pushing. I typically write about 70% of my project I guess, and the remaining songs I choose from other writers. On this project, I wrote everything. I was in such a good zone creatively. Still am.
TERRANCE: Many of your songs speak on love and with that being said, what does Love mean to you?
WILL PRESTON: Yea. Good question. Love is multifaceted. I’ve sung about love from many angles, and I’m sure I’ve missed a few. Love doesn’t look the same for everybody. Love is complicated. It’s the best of everything and also the worst pain you could ever experience when things are not in harmony. Anyone who has ever truly been in love can tell you that it’s more than sharing good times. True love endures. As the lyrics go in Never Knew Love, “I never knew love could make you act like this. It twists and it turns and it’s not all bliss. I never knew love could make you feel this way. There’s something about love that makes you go insane.” I view love as the foundation. If the foundation is solid, the twists and turns will ultimately lead back to the straight road. Those bumps and bends also help define love and can at times add to the intensity. Just find that special one and hold on for the ride. That’s what it’s all about.
TERRANCE: This year marks the 15th anniversary of your debut album It's My Will. What is your most memorable moment about making that album?
WILL PRESTON: Can you believe it’s been 15 years? We probably first met around that time. That’s crazy. That was the beginning of it all for me commercially. I remember how excited I was to work with Funkeeboy. I recorded most of that project in Connecticut with him. I would fly up from DC. Sometimes I would drive. It was cold. I remember one session, I was very sick. I was so congested and didn’t think I’d be able to really accomplish anything in the studio. I was drinking, not sipping, but drinking hot tea every second it seems. We just kept working at it. I recorded two songs that weekend. One was "It’s My Will", which is a favorite by many, so it all worked out. I have so many great memories of recording that project, but that one always stands out.
TERRANCE: Talk about your growth as an artist through the years.
WILL PRESTON: I’ve definitely grown. My writing, my vocals, my artistry in general has evolved. The goal is to always become better, to focus on perfecting your craft. I’m extremely proud of all of my past releases, but I listen to some of the songs today and think of things I would have done a little differently. I think all artists probably do that. We’re always self-critiquing. Vocally, I think I was very safe in the earlier days. I didn’t want to be too soulful, yet I needed to capture a certain sound. I didn’t want to be boxed into a specific category. Now I don’t care about that. (laughs) I sing what I feel. In the end, you’re going to fall wherever people want to place you. Some call me RnB, some say RnB/Pop, others say Urban AC. You know, on and on. It really doesn’t matter. I’m whatever you want to call me, just keep spinning the records.
TERRANCE: Social media was in its early stages when you first came along, so how have you embraced or utilized it to promote yourself as an artist and your music?
WILL PRESTON: You’re so right. When I released It’s My Will and even Caught in the Act, Facebook, Instagram and the others were just not relevant. Snapchat and TikTok were unheard of. I remember promoting on Myspace. Now, how many people actually know what Myspace is? In fact, I believe my old profile is still out there. It has some of the live tracks streaming. IG wasn’t even a big thing when #reacquainted was released. Twitter was starting to boom at that time. Admittedly, it’s the piece that is the most challenging because it’s always evolving. I love it though. I just have to stay on top of it. I once had a very vibrant IG presence and took it down several years ago after being hacked, but we’re back up and thriving. It has been great growing it again and interacting with those who love my music. I have a team that helps with the various social media aspects, but I check my own messages and respond. I post content. I love the interaction. Everybody can find me @thewillpreston on IG and Twitter. You can get to my others from there.
TERRANCE: What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
WILL PRESTON: Man, I’m just so excited for the world to hear what I’ve been brewing in the lab. I sing about love, that’s what I do. The good, the bad, and everything in between. There is so much depth to this project, both vocally and lyrically. It’s going to put you in touch with your feelings. It will have you saying, yes I’ve been there and also have you celebrating how good love feels. The sound is current with amazing track production by who I consider to be some of the best talent out there, Tone Jonez, The Legion, Al Fraser, and a few others. Vocally, I showed up to work each day (laughs). I was ready. I look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback, but I think there is something there for everybody to enjoy. If you’ve ever enjoyed any Will Preston music in the past, this is next level.
TERRANCE: Growing up who were some of your musical influences who helped shape you to who you are today as an artist?
WILL PRESTON: I’m often asked this question, and my answer probably varies a little each time because I love so many singers. There are artists that I loved listening to, but I’ve never intentionally set out to channel them in my music. I loved singers who focused on the vocals and could give a great show just by listening to them. People like Luther Vandross. I think he was the preeminent balladeer. I loved everything he did. He could do things vocally that I’ve never witnessed any other artist do. So maybe my smoothness can be attributed to my admiration of his style. People like Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick – She’s so smooth. Sam Cooke – I love Sam Cooke. Harry Connick Jr. Aretha. I was a big fan of Gerald Levert. Marvin Winans is also one of my favorites. Babyface is a beast vocally, but his writing is in a league of its own. None compares. He writes the language of love. And of course, Whitney was in my opinion the greatest. Vocally superior. I don’t even think she understood the magnitude of what she possessed.
The artists that I really listen to and follow today are Avant, Calvin Richardson, Usher, Alicia Keys, Jorja Smith. I like Chris Brown, Drake, The Weeknd. As you can see, I love a variety of music. Not to mention all of the indie artists that I vibe with, Eric Roberson, PJ Morton, Russell Taylor, and others.
TERRANCE: If you could give one piece of advice to fellow independent artists, what would it be?
WILL PRESTON: Invest in yourself. It’s bigger than having a great voice. That’s such a subjective measure, and you can’t rely on that alone. Music is more accessible now than ever. You have to build your brand. It takes time. It takes drive. It takes passion. And it definitely takes resources. I would be selling a false dream if I said money is not important. Do what you have to do to invest in yourself creatively and financially. Maybe that means you can’t put out a full-length project, but instead focus on releasing a great single or EP. Enjoy the journey. Most people that we see as superstars today have put in many years of hard labor. The optics of overnight success is merely an illusion. And I would also say find someone who is doing what you want to do and study them. Study their moves. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. When I first started out, there was a singer named Jarrard Anthony from VA. I discovered so much about the indie music scene, venues, blogs, promoters, literally almost everything just by following his journey.
TERRANCE: What are the best attributes of being a live performing artist?
WILL PRESTON: Oh, this is where you have the fun. This is where all of those songs come to life. You get to interact with the crowd. Some might know the words to your songs. Some may only know a few words, and some might not know any, but you interact with the energy in the crowd. Music brings people together. For that moment you’ve solved the challenges of the world. You allow people to escape the headaches of life. It’s a good feeling when you can look out and see people smiling and moving because of the energy you’re giving. Definitely an amazing feeling.
TERRANCE: Any final words you would like to share with longtime fans and followers as well as new ones?
WILL PRESTON: Of course. Thank you to those who have been on the journey with me through the years as well as those who are just discovering the sounds of Will Preston. Your support is greatly appreciated and never taken for granted. We’ve got some exciting days ahead of us. Hold on and enjoy. Stay close!
Grammy nominated Soulstress Ledisi has released her new motivational, inspirational and uplifting single "Wake Up" which features rapper Sa-Roc.
"Wake Up" is available on all digital music platforms HERE! and follows after "Where I Am" and the Billboard Adult R&B top 10 hit "Anything for You" from Ledisi's upcoming album The Wild Card due August 28th.
Seven-time Grammy Award-winning Superstar Toni Braxton shares her new empowering single "Gotta Move On" which features H.E.R. who adds background and Guitar assistance to the breakup anthem.
"Gotta Move On" is available on all digital music streaming platforms and serves as the fourth single following "Dance", "Do It" remix ft. Missy Elliott and the current No. 1 Billboard Adult R&B Airplay hit "Do It" from Braxton's upcoming 10th overall album Spell My Name which will be released on August 28th via Island Records.
Slim & Mike of the Grammy Award-winning R&B group 112 have released the visual for their powerful new single "For Us".
"For Us" serves as the third single following "Spend It All" & "Tonight" from their upcoming EP project 112 Forever: Slim & Mike which drops August 28th on all digital music streaming platforms.
R&B Icons Sisqo, Shawn Stockman, Raheem DeVaughn & Omar Wilson have teamed up for an updated version of the 1989 classic "Secret Garden", available on all digital music streaming platforms.
Originally recorded by Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge & Barry White, "Secret Garden" was featured on Quincy Jones' multi-Grammy Award-winning album Back on the Block which topped the R&B singles chart.
Grammy Award-winning Superstar Mariah Carey shares her uplifting new song "Save the Day" from her upcoming album The Rarities, a collection of unreleased gems and live performances over the span of her illustrious musical career.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri, the inspiring song includes a sample of The Fugees' 1996 classic version of "Killing Me Softly".
On the song, Carey adds:
"I started writing this years ago and the message rings true now more than ever: we're all in this together."
The Rarities is set to be released on October 2, 2020.
Detroit-born Singer, songwriter and actress Ryan Destiny has unveiled the visual for her new mid-tempo sultry single "Do You" that's available on all digital music streaming services. On the concept behind the video, Ryan Destiny adds: "I wanted to do something that was a bit more intimate, not too much of me trying to make a different world. I felt it would be a moment to literally just talk to the camera and make it more intimate. With us being in quarantine, I had no other choice to shoot it this way. I shot this very, very early on in the quarantine process. But I love the simplicity of it because it is more simple - we did a lot of camcorder shots and rented out this Malibu house and stayed in that house to shoot the entire day. Quarantine has helped me to be more creative and we were able to create a vibe that I don't usually do." See the "Do You" video HERE!
On October 2nd, Grammy Award-winning Superstar Mariah Carey will be releasing a compilation album The Rarities. A collection of unreleased gems and live performances over the span of her illustrious musical career. Carey took to social media to add: "This one is for you, my fans. It's to celebrate us, and to celebrate 🤫 years of pure love and support. I am so grateful to you." The double disc project includes an unreleased Lauryn Hill collaboration entitled "Save the Day". Pre-order HERE!
Carey's first memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey drops September 29th.
Grammy nominated R&B Singer, songwriter and Producer Kevin Ross has released the second installment of his Audacity series Audacity Vol. 2 via his imprint label Art Society Music Group/EMPIRE.
The 7-track project includes the lead single "God Is A Genius" as well as a cover of Jeff Buckley's classic "Everybody Here Wants You" which features Canjelae.
Audacity Vol. 2 Tracklist
1 God Is a Genius
2 I Do / Options
3 Remind You
4 Overthinking
5 Everybody Here Wants You ft. Canjelae
6 Prey for Me (Interlude)
7 Salvation
Audacity Vol. 2 is available on all digital music streaming services.
Grammy nominated Singer, Songwriter and Producer Kem is set to release his sixth overall album Love Always Wins on August 28, 2020 via Motown Records which includes the Billboard No. 1 Adult R&B hit "Lie to Me".
The 12-track project features guest appearances from Brian Culbertson, Erica Campbell & Toni Braxton who appears on the current single "Live Out Your Love".
Love Always Wins Tracklist 1 Not Before You 2 Lonely ft. Brian Culbertson 3 With You In My Life 4 Love 5 Praise 6 Lie to Me 7 Live Out Your Love 8 Love Always Wins 9 Friend Today 10 Can't Stop Giving Love 11 Live Out Your Love ft. Toni Braxton 12 Love Always Wins ft. Erica Campbell Love Always Wins is available for Pre-order HERE!
Two-time Grammy Award-winning Record Producer, Songwriter and Singer PJ Morton has released his new single entitled "So In Love" which features Darrell "MusiqCity" Walls & Zacardi Cortez. Listen HERE!
"So In Love" serves as the follow-up single after "All In His Plan" which features Le'Andria Johnson & Mary Mary from Morton's upcoming first Gospel album Gospel According to PJ, arriving August 28, 2020 via Morton Records.
Grammy winner John Legend has unveiled the visual for his latest single entitled "Wild" and as shown in the video, he is expecting his third child with wife Chrissy Teigen.
Directed by Nabil Elderkin and filmed in Mexico, "Wild" captures the couples love story.
"Wild" appears on Legend's latest album Bigger Love.
R&B/Soul Singer, songwriter and musician Tweet took to social media to announce her upcoming single "Neva Felt This Way" which is set to be released on August 28th via eOne Entertainment. "Neva Felt This Way" follows after Tweet's previous single "I Admit It" and is available for Pre-order HERE!
Produced by frequent collaborator Troy Taylor, "Circles" serves as the follow-up single to the Summer Walker-assisted single "Back Home" and will appear on his upcoming eighth studio album Back Home later in the year.
This week Seventeen-time Grammy nominated R&B Singer, songwriter and musician Brian McKnight scores his 18th overall Top 10 Billboard Adult R&B song "Nobody" which landed at No. 10
On the song, he adds: "One of the greatest love songs I've ever written."
"Nobody" appears on McKnight's recently released 20th and final studio album of original material Exodus.
Ciara delivers a new profound and powerful single and visual entitled "Rooted" which features Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and record producer Ester Dean. Stream HERE!
See the Official Video HERE! Serving as a celebratory to the Black Lives Matter movement and Black Excellence, "Rooted" follows after Ciara's single "Melanin" which featured City Girls, Lupita Nyong'o, LaLa Anthony & Ester Dean.
CeeLo Green has released his latest encouraging and empowering single "The Way" and it's accompanying black-and-white visual.
"The Way" appears on CeeLo's recently released album CeeLo Green is Thomas Callaway which also includes previous singles "Lead Me", "People Watching" and "Doing It All Together".
British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith recently dropped a new Social Injustice-themed single "By Any Means" on all digital music streaming platforms.
The Otis Dominique & Ellington Hammond-directed accompanying visual captures Black London with family and friends.
"By Any Means" serves as the lead single from Roc Nation's upcoming multi-artist compilation project Reprise which raises awareness to ongoing social injustice issues.
This week Grammy Award-winning Superstar Toni Braxton scores her 9th No. 1 Billboard Adult R&B Airplay hit "Do It".
"Do It" is set to appear on Braxton's upcoming 10th overall album Spell My Name along with follow-up singles "Do It" (Remix) featuring Missy Elliott & "Dance" on August 28, 2020 via Island Records.
Two-time Grammy nominated Inspirational artist Koryn Hawthorne has released the visual for her new single entitled "Speak to Me".
"Speak to Me" was Co-Written by Johntá Austin, Troy Taylor & Jeremy "TryBishop" Hicks and serves as the second single following "Pray" from Hawthorne's sophomore LP I Am which drops September 18, 2020.
Melody Thornton formerly of the multi-platinum female group The Pussycat Dolls delivers her debut EP Lioness Eyes. The 7-track project was led by the empowering singles "Love Will Return" and "Phoenix Rise" which pay homage to the civil rights leaders who have paved a way for us.
LIONESS EYES TRACKLIST
1 Pray For Me
2 Goodbye to Happiness
3 Love Will Return
4 Sing About You
5 I Will Wait
6 Lioness Eyes
7 Phoenix Rise
Lioness Eyes which follows after Thornton's mixtape P.O.Y.B.L. is available on all digital music streaming platform services.
In honor of what would have been Grammy Award-winning International Superstar Whitney Houston's 57th Birthday today, @RnBJunkieOfficial compiled her Top 10 Non-Singles throughout her illustrious musical career, plus honorable mentions, so without further ado, here are Whitney Houston's Top 10 Non-Singles...
10 "DEAR JOHN LETTER"
From the Album: Just Whitney...
09 "I BOW OUT"
From the Album: My Love Is Your Love
08 "LOOK INTO YOUR HEART"
From the Album: A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield
07 "UNASHAMED"
From the Album: Just Whitney...
06 "CALL YOU TONIGHT"
From the Album: I Look to You
05 "OH YES"
From the Album: My Love Is Your Love
04 "IF YOU SAY MY EYES ARE BEAUTIFUL" (DUET WITH JERMAINE JACKSON)
