Somewhere Soul presents the second volume in his Rituals compilation series, this time landing on the esteemed label Mr Bongo. A carefully curated collection of exclusive, genre-spanning tracks from his most hotly tipped, contemporary emerging artists and underground forerunners. Across the compilation listeners are taken on a 24-hour journey through Somewhere Soul’s ritualistic listening habits. This next double A-side single showcases Landing Eagles breakbeat driven closer ‘Be On My Side’ and Verushka’s soul-laden, ethereal enveloping cut ‘Please Have Something To Say’.
 
The first track comes courtesy of Reuben Vaun Smith. With a run of albums now under his belt on Soundway and Ubiquity, both as a solo artist and with his brother as Sons of Sevilla, his hazy, sun-kissed style has fast been causing a stir.
 
‘Be On My Side’ was initially written with his singer-songwriter Sons of Sevilla project in mind. Yet with the verse and chorus already penned, Smith couldn’t resist the draw of adding a dose of breakbeat drums to drive the track. Not quite fitting into either of his monikers he decided to start a new project, Landing Eagles, as a home for his clubbier creations.
 
Doused in synth strings, soul-rousing chords and Smith’s dreamy vocals, it’s end of the night, eyes closed embrace territory. In Somewhere Soul’s words, “This was the last track I locked in for the compilation, and it really felt like the perfect final piece of the jigsaw - and such a fitting way to round off the record. It’s the sort of huge anthem that deserves to be played to massive festival crowds”.
 
Dialling it back to the opening side of the compilation, up next is London-based singer and composer, Verushka. With a delicacy, intimacy and familiarity to her sound, drawing influence from soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop and beyond, she’s a rising talent in the capital’s ever bubbling underground.
 
‘Please Have Something To Say’ was co-written by Verushka and Yves Fernandez, sparked by a voice note Yves sent one day of a guitar loop he’d come up with when the two friends were chatting. The track was recorded at Verushka’s shared studio space in Hither Green and speaks of yearning and uncertainty after the murky ending of a complicated relationship. The two also produced and mixed the track, bringing their varied tastes and skills together to create a warm, soothing track that pulls the listener in. Yves played bass, guitar and some drum/percussion parts while Verushka layered keys, percussion and recorded all the vocal layers. The very talented Ben Brown later added some drum layers remotely.

​