Funk Music is Making a Comeback on the Indie Scene

Funk music is making a comeback on the indie scene, and we couldn’t be happier about it! This infectious genre is the perfect way to get your groove on, and we’ve rounded up some of the best funk tracks around.

Origins of Funk

Funk music first hit the scene in the late 1960s, with artists like James Brown and Sly and the Family Stone. The genre is a mix of soul, R&B, and African-American musical styles. Funky tunes often have a strong groove and emphasize the bass and drums.

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

In the early 1960s, James Brown began experimenting with a new sound that would later come to be known as “funk.” Brown’s bandleader at the time, Jimmy Nolen, helped create this new style of music by developing a distinctive guitar riff that became the signature sound of James Brown’s recordings. This new sound was characterized by a strong backbeat, driving basslines, and horn lines. The term “funk” was first used to describe this new style of music in a 1965 review of James Brown’s live performance at the Apollo Theater.

The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers were a group of studio musicians who performed the backing tracks for many Motown recordings from 1959 to 1972. The group consisted of rhythm section instrumentalsists, bassists, keyboardists and guitarists, including James Jamerson on bass guitar, Earl Van Dyke on keyboards and guitar, and Joe Messina on lead guitar. The Funk Brothers had a major impact on the development of popular music, playing on 190 number one hits and over 4,000 Motown recordings.

The group was originally assembled by Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of Motown Records, in 1959. He had the idea to bring together some of the best musicians in Detroit to play the tracks for his upcoming Motown productions. The band became known as “The Funk Brothers” after they were featured on a track called “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”.

The Funk Brothers were responsible for creating the “Motown Sound”, which was a combination of R&B, pop and soul. They were one of the most successful studio bands of all time, playing on hits such as “My Girl”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”.

Despite their success, the members of The Funk Brothers were not given credit for their contributions to Motown’s success until much later. In 2002, they were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Funk Revival

Funk music is making a comeback on the indie scene, and fans are loving it. Funk was a popular genre in the 1970s, and it is making a comeback with a new generation of fans. Funk is a genre of music that is known for its groove, and it is often described as a mix of soul and R&B.

The Dap-Kings

The Dap-Kings are a Brooklyn-based band that has been credited with helping to revive the sound of funk music. The band was formed in 2000 by bassist/producer Bosco Mann, who is also the owner of the now-defunct Desco Records. The Dap-Kings have released eight studio albums, the most recent of which, Soul of a Woman, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.

The band has been praised for their tight musicianship and retro sound, which has been described as “a party in your head”. The Dap-Kings have toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and have performed with a variety of artists including Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, David Byrne, and Bruno Mars.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Formed in Brooklyn in 1996, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings helped lead the funk revival of the early 2000s. With their vintage sound and Jones’ powerful vocals, the band found success with a series of well-received albums, including 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007) and I Learned the Hard Way (2010). They also gained exposure through their work with Amy Winehouse – Jones and the Dap-Kings served as backing band on Winehouse’s Grammy-winning album Back to Black (2006).

Since Jones’ passing in 2016, the Dap-Kings have continued to perform and record, keeping her legacy alive. In 2019, they released the album Soul of a Woman, which received critical acclaim. The album featured lyrics that Jones had written before her death, as well as never-before-heard recordings of her singing.

Charles Bradley

Charles Bradley is an American singer, who brought funk back to the music scene in the 2010s. He was born on November 5, 1962, in Gainesville, Florida. His mother raised him in a religious household where he sang in the church choir. When he was fourteen years old, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, to live with his sister. It was there that he discovered James Brown and soul music. Inspired by Brown’s music, Bradley began performing under the stage name “Black Velvet.”

Bradley’s career took off in 2011 when he released his debut album No Time for Dreaming. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it earned him a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Since then, Bradley has released two more albums: Victim of Love (2013) and Changes (2016). He is currently working on his fourth album, which is set to be released in 2018.

Bradley’s music is a mix of funk, soul, and R&B. He has been described as “one of the most exciting live performers of our time.” His music is fun and uplifting, and it always gets the crowd moving. If you’re looking for something new to dance to, check out Charles Bradley’s music!

The New Wave of Funk

Funk music is making a comeback on the indie scene. The new wave of funk is a mix of old and new school, with a focus on the groove. This new breed of funk is led by artists like Vulfpeck, Lettuce, and Turkuaz.

Janelle Monae

Funk music is making a comeback on the indie scene, and one of the driving forces behind this revival is none other than Janelle Monae.

A protégé of OutKast’s Big Boi, Monae first burst onto the music scene with her 2010 debut album The ArchAndroid. Inspired by the work of science fiction writer Octavia Butler, The ArchAndroid was an ambitious concept album that told the story of an android who falls in love with a human.

While The ArchAndroid was met with critical acclaim, it was Monae’s follow-up album, Electric Lady, that really cemented her status as a force to be reckoned with. Released in 2013, Electric Lady featured guest appearances from some of the biggest names in music, including Erykah Badu, Prince, and Miguel.

With her unique blend of R&B, soul, funk, and pop, Monae has carved out a niche for herself as one of the most exciting and innovative artists working today. And with a new album reportedly on the way, it looks like she’s only just getting started.

D’Angelo

In the mid-’90s, D’Angelo emerged as one of the most promising R&B artists of his generation. His debut album, Brown Sugar, established him as a soul revivalist with a sound that combined classic ’70s funk and contemporary hip-hop production. The album was a critical and commercial success, earning D’Angelo multiple Grammy Awards and launching him into the mainstream.

However, D’Angelo’s follow-up album, Voodoo, would prove to be his most seminal work. Released in 2000, Voodoo is a groundbreaking album that further blended funk and hip-hop with elements of jazz and Afrobeat. The result is an intoxicating blend of sounds that is both timeless and ahead of its time. Voodoo cemented D’Angelo’s reputation as one of the most innovative and visionary artists in music, and it remains an essential album for any fan of R&B or soul.

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most popular and successful rappers of the past decade. He first gained mainstream attention with his debut album Section.80, which was released in 2011. Since then, he has released several more albums, including good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly. His latest album, DAMN., was released in 2017 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Lamar is widely considered to be one of the best rappers alive today. His music is often lauded for its lyrical precision and social commentary. In addition to his solo work, Lamar has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Beyonce, SZA, and Logic. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and has been nominated for dozens more.

The Future of Funk

Funk music is making a comeback on the indie scene, and there are a few reasons why. For one, the genre is incredibly versatile, and can be blended with just about any other style. Additionally, funk is all about having fun and getting people moving, which is something that people are really craving these days. Finally, funk is just plain old good music that makes people happy.

Kamasi Washington

Saxophonist and bandleader Kamasi Washington is one of the driving forces behind the resurgence of funk music on the indie scene. His debut album, The Epic, was hailed by critics as a modern masterpiece, and he has since gone on to collaborate with some of the biggest names in hip hop and R&B, including Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Herbie Hancock.

Washington’s brand of funk is steeped in the tradition of greats like George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, but he infuses it with a freshness and energy that is all his own. His massive ten-piece band, The Next Step, provides a thick bed of groove for Washington’s soaring solos, and the result is a sound that is both familiar and new.

If you’re looking for something fun and funky to add to your music collection, Kamasi Washington is a great place to start.

Thundercat

Thundercat is one of the most celebrated bassists in the world, and he’s helping to spearhead the funk revival that’s happening on the indie scene. His latest album, ‘Drunk’, is a masterclass in how to fuse funk and R&B with modern pop sensibilities, and it’s helped to raise the profile of the genre significantly.

With artists like Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson bringing funk back into the mainstream, it’s no surprise that Thundercat is leading the charge on the indie scene. He’s not afraid to experiment with his sound, and his willingness to collaborate with other artists has helped him reach a wider audience.

It’s clear that Thundercat is one of the most important figures in contemporary funk music, and he shows no signs of slowing down. With a new album on the way and a busy touring schedule, he’s set to continue his domination of the genre for years to come.

Vulfpeck

Formed in 2011, Vulfpeck is a four-piece funk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band consists of Jack Stratton on keyboards and guitar, Joe Dart on bass, Woody Goss on keyboards, and Theo Katzman on drums and vocals.

Vulfpeck rose to prominence in the early 2010s with their inventive blend of funk, soul, and pop. Their music is characterized by tight grooves, intricate musicianship, and a playful spirit. In 2014, they released their debut album Thrill of the Arts to critical acclaim. The album featured the single “1612”, which became a viral hit on YouTube.

Since then, Vulfpeck has released three more albums: Sleepify (2014), Fugue State (2018), and The Beautiful Game (2019). They have also toured extensively throughout the US and Europe.

Vulfpeck is often cited as one of the leading bands of the contemporary funk revival. Their music has been praised for its originality, musicianship, and humor. In 2018, they were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Fugue State.

If you’re looking for something fun and funky, check out Vulfpeck!