Joey Quiñones Ushers In New Era of Contemporary Soul With Solo Debut ‘Inna Soul Steady Situation’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

The contemporary soul revival scene is due for a renaissance. Much like how The Temptations and Norman Whitfield began adding hints of psychedelia to the pop-tinted Motown sound in the late sixties, it is time for modern soul acts to enter into a similar phase of experimentation. With a plethora of new artists joining the fray and a focus on the “revival” part a bit too heavily, the modern soul scene is slipping into a repetitive sound that is sure to fizzle out unless a touch of innovation is applied. Thankfully, a new voice is emerging, not an unfamiliar one, but a refreshing reimagining from an artist looking to be the beacon of light his peers flock to. 

Inna Soul Steady Situation is the debut solo album from Thee Sinseers’ Joey Quiñones, and it is the splash of brightly colored paint the grayscale-oriented modern soul scene needed. As the leader of his band, Quiñones has long established himself as a titan of the industry, crooning Thee Sinseers to the mountain top of a burgeoning soul scene. Inna Soul Steady Situation, though, is far from an extension of his work with his band and more of a proper introduction to the intricate upheaval of latter-day soul music that Quiñones is seemingly aiming to execute. Inna Soul Steady Situation, through all its subtle experimentation, never loses the magic that pumps through the heart of the genre, allowing the artist to even expand on the tropes that flood most soul albums of the day. 

Quiñones, though, was seemingly not out to reinvent soul music but create an album that properly represents him and his upbringing. By diving deeper into himself and trusting his lofty visions, Inna Soul Steady Situation just so happens to achieve the perfect balance between tradition and invention. There is a blanket of lo-fi warmth blanketing these eleven tunes that is immediately palpable upon pressing play on the first song, the title track. The mostly instrumental tune features a bright bounce more akin to reggae than anything else, offering a loose, welcoming look into the theme of this tracklist. Those grainy textures and sun-bleached grooves are juxtaposed by longing-fueled highlights, like the sparse yet epic “Guess That’s Just Loving You,” which emphasizes those nostalgic crackles from the intro. 

As the album continues, Quiñones’ vision becomes even more colorful and nuanced. “There Must Be Something” is a stunning example of the artist’s command over contemporary tropes, while adding a hint of balladry to the tracklist. It is when those soulful moments collide with the island-tinted rhythms that the individuality of Inna Soul Steady Situation truly comes to light. Highlights like the incredibly moving “In My Arms” and heartbreaking “There Must Be Something” combine the artist’s naturally soulful vocals with his ambitious production tricks, all with poetic care. While Quiñones’ vocals consistently steal the show, the instrumental cuts, like the album closer “Situation 2” and “Bolsita,” act as meditative breakdowns of the sonic terrain that proved to be the perfect fit for Quiñones. 

If the rest of the artists in the soul scene are listening, Inna Soul Steady Situation should be a wake-up call. For eleven spellbinding performances, Quiñones captivates with rejuvenating tactics that further cement his undeniable placement at the top of contemporary soul and establish the bandleader as a much-needed, must-hear voice in any genre.