UK boutique label, SOUL DIRECTION has just launched a new imprint – CONTEMPO SOUL. It’s not connected in any way to the old B&S linked label, rather it will release more contemporary sounding soul from independent artists… “contemporary” if you would! For the first release, Soul Direction’s head boy, Alan Kitchner is working here with Kevin Edwards III and Dave Thorley.
That first release comes from THE KEVED PROJECT (FEAT. DELBERT NELSON) and pairs ‘Life Has Been a Thief’ with ‘Spread Love’. The duo/”Project” are picture below.
The “Project” is essentially the aforementioned Kevin Edwards III who hails from Hamtramck, Michigan. We’ve learned that, inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Kevin took to the guitar at a young age and was soon playing in local bands like Sons and Brainstorm. Eventually he began song writing and producing making his producer debut in 1986 with a rap group Rhapsody who released several singles on Giant Records, By the late 90s, though, Edwards was back in a group and, working with Darryl Lee and Greg Nance, formed Ground Level who eventually morphed into Level Rizon. He’s also a professionally trained sound enginer with his own facility.
Kevin’s current project is, of course, “The Keved Project” and on these two Contempo tracks he’s aided and abetted by veteran singer/songwriter Delbert Nelson . Delbert’s background is in Detroit gospel but now working secularly, he performs as lead vocalist with the remaining Motown Funk Brothers . He’s also collaborated with a long list of soul artists including Darlene Love, Bootsy Colins Ben E King, Mary Wilson and George Duke.
You can hear all the pair’s soul experience on these two tracks. ‘Life Has Been a Thief’ is a busy beater with a gospel message while ‘Spread Love’ (another “message song”) is a little slower and just as committed. Edwards wrote, produced, arranged and engineered both tracks and it’s his searing, Henrix-esque guitar work too. Four Tops drummer and supporter of the Funk Brothers, Drew Schultz is involved too. We believe the recordings date from 2021. Learn more @ https://soul-direction.co.uk/
