Durand Bernarr, Jessie Reyez, Ledisi, And More New R&B For The Ultimate Impact
This week in R&B, people are changing, breaking hearts, and making an impact on themselves and others.
Durand Bernarr, Jessie Reyez, and Ledisi lead the charge of new releases as they sing about intention and good ol' loving. They're joined by Victor Ray, Coco Jones, Leon Thomas, and Journey Montana along with rising stars, Jourdin Pauline, Kaya Nova, and AVERY.
Ready to dive into some R&B that'll impact at least one area of your life? Then, get into VIBE's top new picks.
Durand Bernarr is once again making his impact on R&B with his daring new single.
Written by Durand, GAWD, b.kae, and Sierra Hill and produced by Stanley Randolph, Poe Leos, and Bijan Davis, 'IMPACT' is both intentional and inevitable.
This groove is for those who scream, 'I'm gracious, not graceful,' as well as for those who can recognize that 'there's no battle ever worth winning when it comes to whoever I love.'
Jessie Reyez is ready to square up and fight for the love that sets her soul on fire.
'Goliath' is her heartfelt new single that she notes is a 'reflection of selfless love.' For us, it's a soul-stirring love song that reflects the beauty of how good love makes one feel.
'When I say I love you/ I mean I would pull every star from the sky down/ Or square up with any Goliath/ I'll moonwalk it through any fire,' she sings on the chorus. To make things even better, the visual is a live performance of the tune and you can never go wrong with that.
We love us some Ledisi, and we're so glad the feeling is mutual. The songbird's latest release, 'Love You Too,' is a soulful reminder of the power of love. Yes, it can be a descriptor of romantic love, but we think it fits with any form of love.
'Music is my offering. I hope it helps,' Ledisi shared while teasing the new single in which she wrote and produced. 'Love You Too' really proves that love will always be a necessary part of survival.
Just when you thought Coco Jones' Grammy-nominated ballad, 'Here We Go (Uh Oh),' couldn't get better, she joined forces with hitmaker Leon Thomas for the official remix.
It's one of those things that just make sense. This is the second duet from the respective R&B powerhouses after releasing a Spotify-exclusive cover of Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé's 'Until The End Of Time.'
As Coco continues to prep for the release of her debut album, this is a reminder that she isn't playing around.
Kaya Nova has been one of our favorite indie acts for quite some time. If you're a fan of Ari Lennox and Summer Walker, then Kaya is your new fave.
'Out Loud' serves as a 'reminder to never settle in love, no matter what,' per Kaya. It relates to the desire of being loved out loud. She added, 'Wait for the person that makes you feel like a big deal and that will care for you out loud — anything else is not for you (trust me).'
Journey Montana's debut album has arrived.
Described as a 'labor of self love and self empowerment,' Lucky Girl Syndrome was produced by Camper and spotlights themes of raw honesty and boasts audacious confidence in life and love. Across the 10 enthralling, contemporary tracks, it's somewhat of a coming-of-age story as she grapples with stepping into her power and womanhood.
Journey notes, 'During the making of this project, I was inspired by the power of my words. Speaking love and light into myself is so important to me at this time in my life because if you don't pour into yourself and believe in yourself why would anyone else? 'Lucky Girl Syndrome' is a collection of real stories of womanhood and feelings that I hope everyone can understand and enjoy.'
Victor Ray is back with his chilling new offering, 'Hearts Break And People Change.' It's both an emotional and affirming anthem as Victor realizes that love doesn't always sustain a broken bond.
''Hearts Break and People Change' is about someone you trust breaking that bond repeatedly, and coming to terms with the fact that not everyone is meant to be in your life forever,' he explained.
With relatable storytelling such as 'Oh, it's hard to believe that your shadow was all I've ever known/ Never thought I'd be leaving/ Oh my god, were you always deceiving?,' paired with his dynamic vocals, the record was made for somber nights when you need a good exhale.
The record will appear on his upcoming EP, I WILL., slated for release on Mar. 7. It follows previous releases: 'Sticks & Stones' and 'Falling Into Place.'
Jourdin Pauline's 'Sugar' is just as sweet and addicting as its title implies.
Produced by Brian 'Killah B,' the single is a pop&B lover's dream as it blends the two genres seamlessly and oozes girl power. ''Sugar' is a whole mood,' Jourdin teased in a statement. 'It's about confidence, feeling sexy, and knowing your worth. It's that song you blast when you're stepping into your power.'
AVERY is kicking off 2025 with a hypnotizing anthem about 'accountability, emotional growth, and reconciliation.'
'GOOD FOR IT' paints a picture of both regret and redemption. 'I'll be the bigger man for the two of us/ Coulda fought for us,' she sings. AVERY makes good on the promises she vowed to herself that's aided in her resilience while navigating the woes of a relationship. It's her first release since 2024's 'US.'
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