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Out now: Smooth & Soulful Sounds Vol. 17

With our “Smooth & Soulful Sounds” series, WEST COAST SOUL.de presents current favorites, potential hits as well as fresh releases and artists that deserve more airplay. Discover the latest from Soul, West Coast, Slow Funk and Sunset Disco.

Island Time – Interview with Joel Sarakula

“Island Time” is the long-awaited new album from Joel Sarakula and his first since moving to the Canary Islands at the height of the pandemic. Building on his previous albums “Love Club” and “Companionship”, the Sydney-born singer-songwriter, musician and producer expands his palette with a wider use of synthesizers and drum machines, making stylistically adventurous choices such as AOR samba and 70s-style reggae. The result is one of the first album highlights of the new year. West Coast Soul took the opportunity to talk with Joel Sarakula before the start of his German tour about the making of “Island Time”, the influence of his new domicile on his music, what the audience can expect on the tour and much more.

Eddie Chacon releases new single “Step By Step” and announces new album for the end of March

Californian singer-songwriter Eddie Chacon is probably best known to most as one half of the successful US soul duo Charles & Eddie from the early 90s. With “Pleasure, Joy and Happiness”, the “low-key R&B legend” (The Fader) celebrated a brilliant comeback in 2020 with support John Carroll Kirby. On 31 March, the long-awaited follow-up will be released, on which Chacon has once again collaborated with his soulmate John Carroll Kirby. As a foretaste of the album, his new single “Step By Step” has now been released.

OUT NOW! WEST COAST SOUL.de presents “Tokyo Dreams Volume 3 – Japanese City Pop, Funk and Rare Grooves”

It all started with an internet phenomenon: “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi became a viral hit in the 2010s. The 1984 single, written by Takeuchi and her husband Tatsuro Yamashita, sounded nostalgically familiar and at the same time exotic to Western ears, and opened up a musical cultural space previously known only to insiders: the world of City Pop. A genre that provided the soundtrack for Japanese economic prosperity in the 80s.

West Coast Soul.de – Albums Of The Year 2022

The year is coming to an end and it was again a year of great new releases and discoveries. Of course, it was and is always impossible to limit a year to just ten albums, but the following records have left a lasting impression on us and accompanied us through the last months. It’s time to honour the best albums of the year: Here is the West Coast Soul.de Top 10 of 2022!

Out now: “Smooth & Soulful Sounds – Best Of 2022”

With our Spotify series “Smooth & Soulful Sounds”, WEST COAST SOUL.de presents current favourites, potential hits as well as fresh songs and artists who deserve more airplay. We’ve compiled the seven editions of the year for you in one Best Of West Coast, Soul, Funk, Sophistipop and Sunset Disco of 2022.