#6 - Moonchild return with Waves
Moonchild - Image Courtesy of tru-thoughts.co.uk
When Moonchild release new music, soul fans tend to move closer to their speakers. The blend of jazz-soaked harmonies, and thoughtful songwriting as well as Amber’s breathy vocal style has quietly built one of the most distinctive sounds contemporary soul music. Their 6th album, Waves continues that journey with a deeper emotional current.
Rather than focusing on romance, the album dives into themes of grief, healing, resilience and self-worth.
Moonchild have always thrived in that sweet spot where Soul and Jazz overlap, as multi-instrumentalists, they build lush aural landscapes with warm horns, airy keyboards and groove-driven bass lines.
The band returns to more in-person collaboration and experimentation with sampling, which adds texture and depth that feels intimate and organic. It is the kind of album that doesn’t shout for attention, it settles slowly, like cigarette smoke curling through a late-night studio session.
The album features 14 tracks and a strong lineup of collaborators
“Not Sorry” featuring Jill Scott and Rapsody – a confident opener that sets the tone for the album’s themes of self-worth.
“Ride the Wave” – a reflective groove about navigating life’s emotional highs and lows.
“Strong” featuring Erin Bentlage – a gentle but powerful affirmation of resilience.
“For Yourself” featuring Lalah Hathaway – a standout moment encouraging listeners to recognise their own value.
“Sweet Spot” – a beautifully textured track blending bass and flute into one of the album’s most memorable sonic moments.
Other collaborators include Robert Glasper and PJ Morton, further reinforcing the album’s quality
While the smooth musicality remains familiar, Waves feels more introspective than previous releases. The lyrics explore mental health, personal growth, and emotional recovery, reflecting evolving perspective on life and relationships. The album lives up to its title: emotions rise, crest, and fall across the entire set.
Waves offers a thoughtful, soulful listening experience that rewards patience and not chasing those big “radio moments|”. It has an understated nature and the songs reveal their depth which each play.
Waves is available on all digital platforms, purchase it, put it on, and allow the music to unfold gradually.
