Soul music seems to be appearing constantly in modern releases.
From Bruno Mars’ latest album, “The Romantic,” to rapidly growing soul bands like Thee Sacred Souls, electronic sounds seem to be decreasing in popular music and live instruments are re-emerging.
But what might be the reason for the sudden shift?
One factor definitely contributes: soul music never truly disappeared. In fact, its use as a stylistic choice in rap like 21 Savage’s “A Lot” sampling the 1971 “I Love You” by East of Underground, or Kanye West’s “Spaceship” sampling the 1973 “Distant Lover” by Marvin Gaye, reveal that the genre has been subtly maintained in the veins of popular music.
A major turning point may have arrived in 2021 with Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s collaborative project “An Evening With Silk Sonic.” The album embraced classic soul almost entirely, and its breakout single, “Leave The Door Open,” became a massive hit, receiving 929 million views on YouTube and proving that audiences were still eager for traditional soul.
While the project initially seemed like a nostalgic tribute, it now seems like an early sign of a broader shift in popular music.
Since then, it can’t be denied that the genre has been pushed from the background into the foreground. I mean, Kali Uchis’ “All I Can Say” sounds like it was pulled off the top 40 from the 70s, and the increasingly popular Durand Jones & The Indications sound like a band that could’ve played alongside The Temptations.
Even T-Pain, known for heavy autotune and electronic production, released a soulful cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” at the 2023 Sun Rose. Complete with a live band and warm vocals.
I can go on and on about the different artists who seem to suddenly be dabbling in soul music, alongside rapidly rising soul stars – cough cough – Jalen Ngonda and Leon Thomas III.
Compared to the dominant sounds of EDM, synths, trap, and autotune from the 2000s and 2010s, this shift seems almost like a complete reversal.
What we’re seeing now might be a result of that early sound hitting the point of oversaturation in recent years; pushing listeners into the 2020s with a longing for raw vocals and live instruments.
Along with this, something might’ve been left desired not just in sound, but with lyrics and meaning, too.
2000s-2010s songs often focused on materialism, hedonism, and sexual empowerment. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with those themes, their dominance could’ve led to a longing for more simplistic, heartfelt lyrics.
This could also explain singer-songwriter Laufey’s quick rise to the charts; music featuring a movie-style of love and yearning seems to fill a space many listeners didn’t realize was missing.
The return of soul may similarly connect to a broader revival of analog sound.
Vinyl records have been increasingly popular, and the recordings often feature a warmth and imperfection that make soul music appealing in the first place, along with a large emphasis on feeling over polish.
Of course, how can I discuss what young people are into without mentioning social media? Sites such as TikTok or Instagram have played a large role in introducing younger audiences to vintage sounds. Clips of classic and recent soul tracks frequently circulate online, creating an appetite for modern musicians who recreate the sound, and musicians happy to duplicate it.
And I have to mention the fact that music trends tend to follow a 20-30 year nostalgia cycle. Just as disco and funk influenced 2010s pop, soul music seems to be entering its own period of rediscovery.
So, it doesn’t seem like soul music is suddenly everywhere again. As live instrumentation, emotional lyricism, and vintage sounds return, the genre is starting to feel less like simple nostalgia and more like the next step in modern music.