Neo-soul is a subgenre of R&B with roots in traditional soul, hip-hop and jazz. Neo-soul was a staple in my house growing up, so it has a special place in my heart. Here are three phenomenal female neo-soul artists and their albums that you can add to your playlist to introduce yourself to neo-soul!

1. “A Seat at the Table” by Solange Knowles begins with “Rise,” which is a strong start to the album, thanks to the lyrics that serve as an uplifting affirmation, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Track #4, “Cranes In The Sky,” was the song that introduced me to Solange. When I was younger, my Dad would play it on the way to school, on the way back and everywhere in between. Song #5 is “Mad” featuring Lil Wayne. When I first listened to this song, I was instantly hooked. The hip-hop influence from the beat and Lil Wayne’s verses mesmerized me. The last song I would recommend is “Don’t Touch My Hair” featuring Sampha. This song illustrates and highlights the beauty and pride of Black culture, which is something I really appreciate.

2.“A Rose in the Dark” by Cleo Sol kicks off with “One Love,” a beautiful song with lyrics repeating the phrase “One Love” the entire time. I adore the jazz instrumentals that Cleo uses in her songs; they make the album feel seamless and whole. The next song on the album is “Why Don’t You.” This song paints a picture of the real struggles in human life and relationships, unlike other mainstream, clichéd romance songs. I first discovered Cleo Sol on TikTok. I know, crazy. But unlike the usual songs that only sound good on TikTok, Cleo set herself apart with the song, “When I’m In Your Arms.” Cleo’s idea of romance strays away from the usual boy-meets-girl type beat. Cleo’s depiction of love and romance is much more mature and soulful, which lends itself to the jazzy side of neo-soul.

3.“Ugh, those feels again” by Snoh Aalegra begins with a short intro that goes into “I Want You Around.” Once again: a great start to a great album. Out of the three, this album is the most hip-hop inspired. My dad introduced me to Snoh. He was playing “Whoa,” which is my favorite. The chorus is so satisfying to listen to. I find myself listening to this song whenever I have to study, but still want to listen to something fulfilling. It scratches that itch of wanting to listen to a song with lyrics without getting distracted and taken out of what I am doing at the moment.