Stones Throw crooner Mayer Hawthorne is back with a clever new video for “I Wish It Would Rain,” off his brilliant debut A Strange Arrangement. Maybe I’m just missing Teddy P and Ron Banks of the Dramatics (RIP), but this is making me real nostalgic for soulful heartbreak slow jams. From the cascading strings in the intro to the doo-wop melodies and pleading falsetto, Mayer sounds like he pulled this one straight out of the Quiet Storm vaults.

Check Mayer Hawthorne out on tour this spring in the US and Europe:

Mar 9 Philadelphia
Mar 10 Washington DC
Mar 12 Virginia Beach, VA
Mar 13 Atlanta
Mar 15 New Orleans
May 1 Bergen
May 4 Istanbul
May 5 Amsterdam
May 5 Groningen
May 7 Mulhouse

There are those among us who are blessed with the power to save what is loved by another, but powerless to use this blessing for love themselves.

Pretty strong words, used as the first lines on Alicia Keys’ new video for “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart”. The video itself is rather different from her other work, considering we get the soulful songstress making great leaps over skyscrapers and healing others with a touch…

Alicia Keys’ latest album, The Element of Freedom, drops Dec 15th, which includes a duet with Beyonce and the “second part” of Empire State of Mind.

And also, as a part of World AIDS Day, check out Alicia Keys’ live performance Dec 1st at 8pm EST. Where? Right on YouTube, of course (though if you happen to be in New York on the date you can try to get to her in person at the Nokia Theatre). The proceeds of this concert will go to her organization Keep A Child Alive, which provides actual  treatments and other services to individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS.  Hm, could the saving lives motif in the latest video represent these efforts? Check out Alicia Keys’ own recorded message below.

I love discovering new talent, and I’m always excited about judging new voices like its my personal American Idol. Back when I first started this site, I used to spend hours trying to find the “next big thing,” but this era of over media oversaturation it seem like finding a true singer is becoming that digital needle in the haystack. There are few people that stand out. Jessica Cornish is that girl. Forget Auto-Tune and slick production, this is pure, raw, talent. It looks like Ms. Cornish is on her way to getting a record deal. (Props: Kia)

GE-OLOGY Feat. Yukimi Nagano – Blues Alley

GE-OLOGY Feat. Yukimi Nagano – Longin’

I know I don’t stand alone with my fascination with all things Little Dragon and their incredibly talented lead singer Yukimi Nagano.  So when a friend put me on to this song she did with GE-OLOGY, I had to dig around and find out more. Of course the question at hand was how did I miss this?? So in case you did too let me put you on to this hotness real quick.

GE-OLOGY (aka G-YOUNG) is a producer/DJ/visual artist from Brooklyn NY.  He is known for fusing hip hop, alternative and soul music into one incredible sound and he was once a part of a four-member group which included the late (and great) Tupac Shakur. Although GE-OLOGY has a plethora of hot tracks with many talented artists, for this post I’m just gonna speak on his work with Yukimi; and once you hear the songs you will understand why.

They recorded two songs together called ‘Blues Alley’ and ‘Longin’ and they definitely fall under the ‘alternative’ genre: think Portishead, Supreme Beings of Leisure or early Esthero… but totally Yukimi style – some ish that is pretty much indescribable but insanely dope. The two linked up prior to her being with Little Dragon, when she was just a new artist fronting a band call Koop (for you serious Yukimi fans you’ve gotta check them out too) and the results were amazing.

OK, so we all know this girl sounds good singing pretty much anything – from the “oohhs” to the “ahhs” she has proven that her range is broad and she can immaculately bring it on any track handed to her (a producers dream, one might add). But I’m just gonna have to go there and say that I think Yukimi Nagano is one of the best alternative female vocalist out there right now (this coming from a die-hard Esthero fan). And rumors are circulating of a solo album in the works…  so, I mean…??

But anyway,  in the meantime check out these tracks in case you missed them.

The beautiful and talented Melanie Fiona undertook a very unique effort to promote her album, The Bridge. Ms. Fiona approached street performers in New York and got them to provide the backup for tracks off of her album. The result is rather amazing. Not only does this video highlight the talents and versatility of Ms. Fiona, but it also shines a light on some of the amazing street performers that make any city vibrant and complete.

The Bridge will hopefully make its US debut in November. Please support.

Also, check our Melanie Fiona interview from this past Summer with Sonya of The Glass House.

Most of y’all know that I’ve been a fan for UK soul singer Alice Russell for a hot minute, and I will argue to the death my point that her Under the Munka Moon is one of the best R&B albums of this decade. Alice’s voice is one of the most powerful and soulful that I’ve heard in a long time, and I’m glad to see that she dropped this amazing video for her track, Let There Be Loving off her her current album Pot of Gold. The soulful bluesy track needs to be in your iPod collection for sure.

It’s one thing to see the video, but its another to see Alice live. Check her out when she comes to your town.  (via SoulBounce)

Electric Wire Hustle – Chaser

Electric Wire Hustle – They Don’t Want

To name your group after a song on a much derided hip-hop album is a bold step, but New Zealand’s Electric Wire Hustle seem to take that in stride, whilst dropping some of the hottest soul I’ve heard in a while. Led by the stylistic vocals of Mara TK, EWH seems to have in abundance what is missing with modern soul music today, drawing comparisons to American artists D’Angelo, and Marvin Gaye, without even the hint of Auto-Tune. Let it also be noted that the band is cosigned by such acts as the Platnum Pied Pipers, Sa-RA, and Notable guests include Stacy Epps and Georgia Anne Muldrow.

And forget whatever stereotype you’ve heard about New Zealand. Between Electric Wire Hustle and Fat Freddy’s Drop, it might be the most soulful country on Earth right now. (via my homegirl Whitney)

I don’t really mess with male R&B (for obvious reasons) but of y’all know that I’m an unabashed Ryan Leslie fan. The dude is making some of the best R&B tracks out there and I really feel that too many people slept on his last album. Thankfully the Harvard educated singer/producer has brushed it off and dropped more hot music. “You’re Not My Girl,” is the hottest R&B track I’ve heard all year, with a bassline ripped straight from 80s funk, and a hook that reminds me of the Neptunes in their hayday. Please find me another male R&B song that grooves harder than this one, seriously.

Ryan Leslie – You’re Not My Girl

R&B Song of the Year, hands down.

I’m mad that Ryan Leslie isn’t getting the rightful attention that he deserves.

The Harvard educated R&B artist who tought himself how to produce, dropped two bangers last year with “Diamond Girl,” and “Addiction,” but the album never was the chart topper that it neeeded to be. It’s all good, because Leslie is back with his new album Transition, and his pro-player anthem “You’re Not My Girl,” is straight fire. Check it. (via herfection)

Little Dragon – Blinking Pig

Little Dragon – Fortune

Little Dragon is one of my favorite groups of the past few years, and I’m glad to see that they are finally getting around to releasing new material. Led by the soulful vocals of singer Yukimi Nagano, the group combines downtempo, with traditional R&B, and indie folk. Their self-titled album, which dropped in 2007, had been making waves in the neo-soul community, and their followup album, titled Berlinmaster, drops in August. Blinking Pigs and Fortune are two new singles that just started floating around the Internets last week and they are both quality, with Blinking Pigs even representing a more upbeat departure for the group. (special shout out to Bama Love Soul for the heads up)

As an added Bonus, the group will be in DC at Liv on July 19th with local opener Yoko K. This might be the hottest ticket in town, so jump on it and get yours here.

Priscilla Renea – Hello My Apple (Windows Media Stream)

I know it sounds cliche every time I say it, but Priscilla Renea is defiantly a breath of fresh air in music these days.

In a land of cookie cutter R&B, where starlets are often known more for their talents off the stage than on, Renea’s mixture of R&B, pop, indie, and a tinge of country (yes, country!) makes her stand out from the crowd. The Atlanta based artist not only sings, but writes, plays, and composes her own music. Her down to earth approach to music cuts out the fluff that has infiltrated her counterparts, resulting in simple, yet warm, melodic pop.

Even though her YouTube vids showcase her acoustic side, her newest EP takes that sound and wraps it into a radio-friendly (but not generic) package. My favorite song that I’ve heard so far is the track “Cry,” a track that switches up her mellow vocals over a hip-hop beat and features one of the most powerful hooks I’ve heard in a while.

Priscilla Renea – Cry

Renea’s claim to fame? YouTube. Her videos were topping out at  over 1 million views, and she has over 30,000 subscribers. With that type of built in aueince, no wonder Capitol Records signed her Her rise to fame is definitely a model for new artists in the game.

Priscilla Renea’s EP Hello My Apple is on iTunes now.

Priscilla Renea – I Fell In Love With You

Myspace: myspace.com/priscillarenea
YouTube: youtube.com/PriscillaRenea
Twitter: @PriscillaRenea

Jazmine Sullivan – Jumpoff (prod. by Waajeed)

Most of y’all know that I’m absolutely in love with Jazmine Sullivan. I think that her debut album, Fearless, was one of the best commercial R&B album I heard in years (and it was ROBBED at the Grammys!!). Back in 2007, Ms. Sullivan recorded this track with Coultrain and Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers/Bling 47 crew for her album. Unfortunately this track didn’t make the cut. I understand why. I doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album, and might be too left-field for mainstream ears, but its a solid track nonetheless. (via IHearditOn, OKP).