The British Soul Invasion

Lately, the return of soul music is getting an interesting rebirth, not from its American roots, but from the motherland of good ol' Britain. Could this be the era of the white, female soul singer? It sure sounds like it with the likes of Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, and recently Alice Russell.

Alice Russell

They are such phenomenal singers, and they do it with style, envoking that angst and emotion that makes soul music so therapeutic. And It's refreshing to see an African American music genre embraced across the pond and worldwide. From its roots in the 70s till today, soul music continues to make an impact among an era of commercial pop music, rock, and hip-hop.

Soul music always maintians a blip on the commerical radar from decade to decade. The evolution of American soul today is known as neo-soul that has developed many faithful followers over the last decade. Artist like Eryka Badu, Jill Scott, Angie Stone, Leela James, and others continue to garner praise from mainstream critics. But it's the unlikely source of the soul genre from Great Britain that strikes a cord of respect from even the most diehard.

White female singers with a soulful urban sound. The likes of these British singers had their beginnings like most artist, in the underground, which gave them a lot of street cred by the time they hit the mainstream.

Amy Winehouse

Channeling the voices of the 60s and 70s era of singers like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Donny Hathaway, Steve Wonder and many others the new generation keeps alive the distinctive soul sound. Over the last decade we've had an American movement and now the British want to invade. From my standpoint, this might be one of the most welcoming invasion yet. Keep it coming.

NeoSoul Singers:

Angie Stone, Macy Gray, Eryka Badu, Goapele, India.Arie, Davina (R&B singer), Pru, Raphael Saadiq, Jazzyfatnastees, Adriana Evans, Ursula Rucker, Rhian Benson and Martha Redbone. Lucy Pearl, Glenn Lewis, Res, Bilal and Dwele.

More Recent...

Alicia Keys, John Legend, Emily King, Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton, Floetry, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Conya Doss, Julie Dexter, Hil St. Soul, Laurnea, N'Dambi, Gaelle, Joy Denalane, Joy, Aya, Divine Brown, Teedra Moses and Corinne Bailey Rae

Link Source: Wikipedia
Photo Source: Artist Websites and Wikipedia