My daughter introduced me to October London’s music a couple of years ago, and I have been a fan ever since. What first caught my attention was obvious: the warmth in his voice, the classic-soul arrangements and a style that recalls an era when a singer could build an entire song around feeling. But what has kept me listening is something deeper. October London does not simply imitate the music that shaped him. He understands its language.

Neo-soul has carved a unique niche in the music world, blending the smoothness of classic soul with contemporary rhythms and thoughtful...

Recently, while driving and tuning into the RadioActive1, a jam played that I hadn't heard in ages. It was a track by one of my favorite female vocalists, the beautiful, enchanting, and incredibly talented Phyllis Hyman.