The term neo-soul has been popping up around the Detroit music scene more and more frequently these days. Used to describe a blend of R&B, soul and non-traditional inclusions of jazz and hip-hop, neo-soul is becoming more of an overall aesthetic than just a sonic nuance. And no one embodies this quite like foursome White Bee. Their latest track "Beat State" may be difficult to peg to one genre, but is an easy-to-swallow blend of creamy jazz vocals and tenderized percussive arrangements paired together for a perfectly patient concoction. Shannon Barnes (Guitar/Vocals), Alex Niemi (Drums), Michael O'Brien (Bass/Backing Vocals) and Scott Ryan (Keys) together create a serene, textural velveteen on "Beat State" - a little Tame Impala smoothness, a hint of vocal climbing a la Feist, and a dash of new John Mayer, White Bee is a unique and delightful grab-bag of good vibes.
Lay it on thick with White Bee's "Beat State" below:

playing detroit: white bee adds neo-soul buzz to "beat state"
Jerilyn Jordan
Jerilyn Jordan
Jerilyn Jordan is an untamed writer with an insatiable affinity for vivid descriptive detail and pushing the boundaries of traditional music journalism. In addition to her music coverage, Jerilyn also writes heartbreaking and comedic autobiographical essays that likely originated as sporadic sentences written on bar napkins.









