Groove Radar: Funky Picks of the Month - April 2026
A handpicked selection of fresh funk, soul, R&B and acid jazz cuts keeping the groove alive this April.
Featuring Dedicated Men of Zion, Blk Orchid, StickyWow, Adigun, Onra, Kitchen Collective, Evelien de Weger, Angels Of Libra, Nathan Johnston, amaree, Pimps of Joytime, Carol C, Crys Matthews, Albert Gold, and Bobby Saint.
This month, I’m looking at independent artists carrying the funk forward. As always, the sound leans comfortably into soul and R&B, but the heartbeat stays firmly in place. Funk lives and breathes through rubbery basslines, crisp drum pockets, and guitar rhythms that snap around the groove; that deep, undeniable feel is what makes it move.
The artists featured this April lock into that tradition while carving out their own sonic space.
Funk That Instantly Makes You Feel Good! Funk / Soul / RnB / Acid Jazz
Dedicated Men of Zion - Coming Up Through The Years
The guitar uses the wah-wah pedal in the song's intro to introduce us to the Funk. The bass tone is almost Motown-sounding. Great four-part harmonies are used throughout the verses and chorus. This song sounds so old school that you could mistake it for being recorded on an analogue mixing desk!
A very cool track.
Connect with Dedicated Men of Zion
Facebook / Spotify
Blk Orchid, StickyWow, Adigun - Can't Leave You Alone
This mid-tempo Soul/Funk track has a lot going on. The drum programming and keyboard part establish the groove, while the Moog-sounding synth plays a funky melody. There are multiple vocal parts with classic-sounding R&B gospel harmonies. The production is very slick without being overproduced.
Connect with Blk Orchid
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Connect with StickyWow
Facebook / Instagram / X / Spotify
Connect with Adigun
Instagram / Spotify
Onra - That Kind Of Girl
This song has an incredibly sounding synth bass. It is hard to get this sort of sound without layering many instruments together. The drum groove has classic 808 kick and rimshot sounds, which are a throwback to the nineties. The keyboards have cool pad sounds that remind me of early Luther Vandross.
It is well mixed and has tight production.
Connect with Onra
Instagram / X / Spotify
Kitchen Collective, Evelien de Weger - Share Your Plate
This is a great feel-good funk song. The female harmonies are reminiscent of early Sly and the Family Stone. The modern production includes what sounds like programmed drums over a live drummer. The guitar part is playing broken sixteenth notes on palm muted chords, which is very funky, almost 70’s sounding.
Connect with Kitchen Collective
Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Evelien de Weger
Spotify
Angels Of Libra, Nathan Johnston - Ain't No Lovin'
This is a very well-crafted song. It has incredible horn harmonies, similar to those of Funk Legends Tower of Power. It also has excellent use of dynamics, bringing the verses down in volume to make the chorus really stand out. There are some great choices for vocal harmonies and a cool drum groove that is throughout the song.
Connect with Angels Of Libra
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Nathan Johnston
Instagram / Spotify
amaree - Stay Focused
This song starts with an intro that is very Curtis Mayfield-like. Beautiful strings and horns playing in unison. The drum groove is very funky, playing syncopated 16th notes on the hi hats. The song builds by sowing, bringing in more layered vocal harmonies and keyboard lines.
Connect with amaree
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Pimps of Joytime, Carol C - Magic
This song has everything you want in a cool funk tune. A 1970s rubber bassline with a sharp, crisp drum beat. The vocal harmonies are sparse to let the main melody shine. The guitar plays a consistent but understated chord pattern that fills in the spaces. This is a great feel-good tune.
Connect with Pimps of Joytime
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Connect with Carol C
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Crys Matthews - Forged In Fire
This song has a real gospel flavour to it with soulful vocal harmonies. The call and response between the multiple voices is very common in church music. You have to wait till closer to the end of the song for the funk groove to kick in. It slowly builds but is definitely worth the wait!
Connect with Crys Matthews
Facebook / X / Instagram / Spotify
Albert Gold - REASON?
This song really feels like 1990’s acid jazz/funk. The snare sound is very flat and raw, which almost creates a danceable backbeat. There are layers of vocal harmonies that are common in RnB music. The production is stripped back in the verses to let you hear the lyrics.
Connect with Albert Gold
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Bobby Saint - It's All Good
This artist has an incredible vocal range with an outstanding falsetto. This song is funky from the start with a real Motown feel. The horn stabs in the bridge really help build the song and add to the funkiness. Tiny details like extra percussion (the triangle) really make this song unique.
Connect with Bobby Saint
Facebook / Instagram / Spotify
Spotify Playlist
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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