Appreciators of vintage soul music can take solace in the fact that in 2019 there is healthy crop of artists and industry professionals carrying on the traditions of decades past with live instrumentation, analog equipment, and a commitment to producing genuine music from the heart. The Brooklyn-based Daptone Records, a longtime staple in the industry for their analog sound, is working with the Finnish label Timmion Records on releasing the music of New York singer Carlton Jumel Smith, who has a new single out now entitled “This Is What Love Looks Like!” The track is part of Smith’s upcoming debut album 1634 Lexington Avenue, which is due out on May 10.
Smith’s forthcoming album was recorded at the Timmion Records studio in Helsinki and features the label’s house band Cold Diamond & Mink. The band provides appropriately earthy and buoyant instrumentals in support of Smith’s passionate vocal delivery as he sings about the majesties of a life-altering romance. “This Is What Love Looks Like!” offers a reminder of the magic of analog and proves that while the equipment might be old, the vitality of the style will always live on.
Pre-order 1634 Lexington Avenue here.
Connect with Carlton Jumel Smith: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Spotify
