Yolanda Sargeant is the Queen of lo-fi soul, a genre that she and her producer, Comrade (Evgeniy), pioneered after they could not find an appropriate label that fit their eclectic style. The duo infuses jazz, soul, funk, dancehall, hip-hop, and other genres into a unique sound that combines the old with the new.
In an era where jazz is abundant but missing that freeing experimentation that made it such a fascinating genre to begin with, Sargeant and Comrade look to shake the norm. On their new single, “Old Familiar Feein’,” the soulful duo strikes precisely that. Sargeant’s eerie and warm vocal tones slowly coil around Comrade’s hypnotic production that finds beauty in the balance of their influences and modern visions. The slow-burning melodies and palpable longing from the vocals harken back to the simplicity of the golden era of jazz vocalists. At the same time, the warping production hints at more modern influences, and the two craft a dark canvas for Sargeant’s wistful songwriting. The lyrics of “Old Familiar Feelin’” add a layer of vulnerability to the stripped-down performance, with the vocalist crooning about the anxiety that comes with heartbreak and realizing how familiar it all feels only increases the strife. The duo of Comrade and Sargeant quickly separate themselves from their peers on their latest single. “Old Familiar Feelin’” is a moving and refreshing performance that introduces the duo as fearless, poetic artists who plan on taking over modern jazz-infused soul with their own rules.
“Have you ever invested so much energy into making something work, only to look back and see you’re exactly where you started? Despite hoping for a different outcome, you’re left with the same sense of brokenness when things fall short,” explains Sargeant. “Yet, somehow, in that space, there’s a strange comfort—like the familiarity offers some kind of peace.”
