New Music: The Black Keys, Cautious Clay, & Jalen Ngonda

Artists with roots in R&B highlight three of my new favorite tunes:

No Rain, No Flowers – The Black Keys

The Black Keys have been around for a long time. I can’t say I’ve been a huge follower of their music but a few of their tracks have remained consistent across my various playlists, particularly 2010’s soulful and bluesy Never Gonna Give You Up and 2014’s Turn Blue. Their upcoming album, No Rain, No Flowers is scheduled to be released in August. The title track is decidedly a bit more pop with a catchy hook. The draw of it is also the positive lyrics which suggest, as we all know, that without rain there are no flowers. Strife hits us but we are ultimately the better for it: “There's evil people in this world, Live long enough and you will be burned, But all these little messes are only little lessons we've learned…It won't be long 'til we're back in the sun.” Great words of hope!

Promises (9AM) – Cautious Clay

Cautious Clay was born in 1993 as Joshua Karpeh in Cleveland, Ohio. Before pursuing music full-time, he worked in real estate and advertising. I first became acquainted with him following the release of his 2022 album Deadpan Love and, in particular, the song Karma & Friends. His new project, the short 20 minute The Hours: Morning, continues his introspective soulful tradition. Each song covers a particular hour of an early day. (Can you say The Pitt?) Promises covers the 9AM hour as he speaks to a complicated lover: “I can tell that you don't make promises, But I can't let you go…” Just having Clay’s voice around is a promise that emotive writing and singing is still alive.

Just as Long as We’re Together – Jalen Ngonda

A year after Clay, singer/songwriter Jalen Ngonda was born in Maryland but he is currently based in London. His voice is high, almost feminine sounding, and soulful, calling to mind vocalists of 1960s and 70s R&B. His latest single is Just as Long as We’re Together is a beautiful love song: “Just as long as we're together (together),There is no place or time (no place, no time), listen to me… In the shelter of your warm embrace, My strength I find, And only you, girl, can reinstate, My peace of mind.” What a great feeling to have with someone!

Link to my 2025 Playlist is here!

What do you think? Do any of these songs hit you?