Music

Jazmine Sullivan Displays Her Powerhouse Vocals In A Soothing NPR Tiny Desk Concert

The R&B singer performs a medley of songs off her new album ‘Heaux Tales.’ …

It’s been over five years since we last heard from R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan with her LP Reality Show. But this week, the singer returned to get a lot off her chest with the vulnerable album Heaux Tales. To celebrate the release of her project, Sullivan appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series to showcase her dynamic vocal range and soothing melodies.

Taking the stage with her band and a trio of backup singers, Sullivan kicked off her set with her Heaux Tales album opener “Bodies (Intro).” The song is Sullivan’s way of holding herself accountable for her past slip-ups and pushing herself to find the strength to change her lifestyle. The singer then transitioned into a rendition of her tracks, “The Other Side,” “Lost One,” and “Let It Burn.”

Closing out her set, Sullivan was joined by Grammy Award-winning musician HER for assistance performing their collaborative single “Girl Like Me.” HER appeared by Sullivan’s side with an acoustic guitar in hand to contribute her expert finger-picking and soaring vocals. The two harmonize an account of feeling insecure after being left in the dust by their last partner.

Watch Jazmine Sullivan’s NPR Tiny Desk concert above.

Heaux Tales is out now via RCA. Get it here.

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Artist Spotlight

Lisa Jo turns feeling unseen into self-acceptance with latest release “Oddball Gem”

Lisa Jo captures that feeling of being outside the crowd in “Oddball Gem.” The song is about feeling invisible, misunderstood and determined to be yourself. The emotional core is visceral. So many thoughts, not enough words, the draining effort of trying when the fight still feels unfinished. The writing gives you that feeling, makes isolation a familiar, personal thing.

The song then moves to images of becoming ‘a shadow’ and ‘a ghost’ before arriving at a stronger sense of identity. The emotional feeling of not fitting in is at the heart of this song, with the lyric “I was built this way” changing the tone from pain to self-acceptance.

“Oddball Gem,” is a declaration from someone learning to stand comfortably in their difference. The line “I don’t fit in I’m an odd ball gem” is a direct and memorable encapsulation of what the song is all about. Lisa Jo turns that feeling of being left out into a portrait of individuality. She provides the track with an emotional message of staying true to yourself when belonging seems hard today.

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Artist Spotlight

Temidayo Balogun bridges tradition and modern expression on latest release “Ori I “Concept of Democracy”

Temidayo Balogun‘s latest release, “Ori I “Concept of Democracy,” blends African musical traditions with contemporary jazz to explore identity and community. “Talking drums, native instruments, but there are also passing notes on the piano and a saxophone for another dimension to the musical language,” the song is characterized by.

The track isn’t rooted in one musical planet, but in the relationship between its different elements. Talking drums are part of African musical traditions. The piano and saxophone add a jazz-oriented dimension. That contrast lets the song explore its themes of identity and community as much through sound as concept.

If you like genre-bending work, “Ori I’ Concept of Democracy” is a thoughtful musical experience. Temidayo Balogun mixes indigenous instrumentation with contemporary jazz textures to keep the focus on the relationship between people, culture, and community. The track works because the sounds come together. It invites the listener to dwell on the musical ideas rather than just pass through them.

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