Sounds For The Soul: The Reunion series continues. Each of our past guest DJs from VOL 1-6 came back for a special edition of S4TS. In this episode, we have two of the dopest female DJs out of Chicago taking the stage to give y’all some beautiful blends, room-shaking edits. 

Performed by: Hillery Banks & Adonia

HILLERY BANKS
https://www.instagram.com/hillery.banks
https://soundcloud.com/hillerybanks

ADONIA
https://www.instagram.com/adoniabree
https://soundcloud.com/adoniabree

Sounds For The Soul:
https://instagram.com/s4tschicago
https://soundcloud.com/s4tschicago

Hillery Banks x Adonia | S4TS: The Reunion

Øn The EA$T$IDE

Un enregistrement live 100% humain, capté en une seule prise sur un Casio Grand Bechstein Piano Hammer Key, enrichi par la chaleur du Native Instruments Upright Bass, la profondeur de Piano Colors et l’énergie percussive de Addictive Drums 2.

Grand Bechstein Jam – Upright Bass & Groove Drums Live

Da war ein Glanz im Glas, ein Wort, das leicht zerbrach,
Die Zeit verann, ein leises Ticken nur.
Sitz’ wartend am Rand von diesem leeren Tag,
Fühl mich verloren und von Dir ist keine Spur.
Das iPhone in meiner kalten Hand,
Darauf Dein Selfie stumm und unbewegt.
Ein viel versprechendes neues Land,
Das sich nicht auftut – es bleibt unerlebt.

Wo bist Du, fremder Tinder-Schein?
Soll dieses Warten ewig sein?
Fällt Dein Versprechen in den Staub?
Fällt sein Versprechen in den Staub?
Wie welkes, abgefallnes Laub?
Bin ich zu kompliziert, fehlt Dir der Mut?
Ist etwa mein Profil nicht gut genug?

Die Welt geht weiter, achtlos und geschwind,
Ein Drama, dem ich nicht mehr folgen will.
Ein Kind sieht mich, so fremd wie ich ihm bin,
Bewundert meine Ruhe, schaut ganz still,
Die Neugier in den Blicken, die mich streifen,
Sie sehen nicht den Abgrund, der in mir klafft.
Sie können das Unheil nicht begreifen
Und nicht erfassen, was Gelassenheit erschafft.

Wo bist Du, fremder Tinder-Schein?
Soll dieses Warten ewig sein?
Fällt Dein Versprechen in den Staub?
Fällt sein Versprechen in den Staub?
Wie welkes, abgefallnes Laub?
Bin ich zu kompliziert, fehlt Dir der Mut?
Ist etwa mein Profil nicht gut genug?

Vielleicht ist dies die Prüfung, tief und rein,
Nicht Dich zu finden, sondern Ich zu sein.
Die Stille wächst, wo eine weitere Stimme fehlt,
Die Ruhe ist nicht schön – sie quält.
Die Leere wird zum unendlichen Raum,
Und aus der Ruhe wächst kein neuer Traum.
Die Stille wächst, wo eine weitere Stimme fehlt,
Die Ruhe ist nicht schön – sie quält.

Wo bist Du, fremder Tinder-Schein?
Soll dieses Warten ewig sein?
Fällt Dein Versprechen in den Staub?
Fällt sein Versprechen in den Staub?
Wie welkes, abgefallnes Laub?
Bin ich zu kompliziert, fehlt Dir der Mut?
Ist etwa mein Profil nicht gut genug?

Der Screen wird dunkel. 
Akku leer. 
Kein Widerschein.
Ich atme aus. 
Und atme mich. 

Und bin allein.

—
Arrangement and vocals: Volker Redder, Udio, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Ozone 11, Sound Studio, GarageBand
Lyrics: Volker Redder
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, FLUXpro, Apple's Keynote

Das Sein im Tinder-Schein

LYRICS:
You could have a steam train
If you'd just lay down your tracks
You could have an aeroplane flying
If you bring your blue sky back

All you do is call me
I'll be anything you need

You could have a big dipper
Going up and down, all around the bends
You could have a bumper car, bumping
This amusement never ends

I want to be your sledgehammer
Why don't you call my name
Oh let me be your sledgehammer
This will be my testimony

Show me round your fruit cakes
'Cause I will be your honey bee
Open up your fruit cakes
Where the fruit is as sweet as can be

I want to be your sledgehammer
Why don't you call my name
You'd better call the sledgehammer
Put your mind at rest
I'm gonna be-the sledgehammer
This can be my testimony
I'm your sledgehammer
Let there be no doubt about it

Sledge sledge sledgehammer

 I kicked the habit (Dejé el hábito)
 Shed my skin (Cambié mi piel)
 This is the new stuff (Esto es lo nuevo)
 I go dancing in (En esto salgo a bailar)
 Oh won't you show for me 
 (Por favor ¿no)
 Te presentarías por mí?
 I will show for you 
 (Yo me presentaré por ti)
 Show for me, I will show for you
 (Preséntate por mí)
 (y yo me presentaré por ti)

Yea, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 
I do mean you
Only you, you've been coming through
Going to build that power
Build, build up that power, hey
I've been feeding the rhythm
I've been feeding the rhythm
Going to feel that power, build in you
Come on, come on, help me do

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you
I've been feeding the rhythm
I've been feeding the rhythm
It's what we're doing, doing
All day and night
Come on and help me do
Come on and help me do
Ven y ayúdame a hacerlo
Come on and help me do 

------------------





SMOOTH SLEDGEHAMMER (Mazo Liso)

This track channels the vintage, jazzy vibe of Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good,” with a haunting saxophone weaving through the background. It tells the story of a workaholic man losing precious time with his children and sinking into unhappiness. A reminder to think about what we sacrifice for success, and the moments and happiness we might lose along the way.

Workaholic

“Prayer Of Manasseh” is a powerful call-and-response anthem that blends smooth 90s urban R&B with choral depth and heartfelt worship. Featuring soulful lead vocals, rich harmonies, and dynamic choir interjections, the song is a heartfelt prayer for forgiveness, renewal, and spiritual freedom. With its driving rhythm, soaring vocal runs, and moving chorus, it captures the cry of a humble heart seeking the mercy of a loving God who is slow to wrath and rich in love. (Tempo 2)

Prayer of Manasseh Up Tempo

Every heartbeat writes a line, every second shapes a verse. Beats That Time Our Lives moves like a slow pulse under city lights — warm Rhodes and tender guitar weaving around a voice that feels close enough to touch. It’s the sound of quiet strength, of moments passing but never wasted, a groove that lingers long after the final note fades.

A warm, mid-tempo blend of Contemporary R&B, Retro Soul, and Neo-Soul, it carries the intimacy of a singer-songwriter confessional. Soft Rhodes, mellow jazz guitar, and deep, rounded percussion frame a female vocal that’s conversational yet melodic, guiding listeners through reflections on time, rhythm, and the moments that shape us. The groove is understated but rich, with soulful harmonies and a clean, modern mix that invites both stillness and sway.

[LYRICS]

Seconds will light the way
From when the night turns to day
Steps fall like beats on stone
Each one a road of its own
Moments you choose to keep
Grow into dreams while you sleep
Every turn that you take
Follows the moves that you make

Seconds are the beats that time our lives
Every tick a spark that keeps us alive
From the first light to the midnight skies
Seconds are the beats that time our lives

Breathe in the morning air
Let it unfold with care
Watch as the seasons turn
Take every beat to learn
Don’t try to hold it still
Let it shape what you will
Each drop in the flowing stream
Moves you closer to your dream

Seconds are the beats that time our lives
Every tick a spark that keeps us alive
From the first light to the midnight skies
Seconds are the beats that time our lives

Don’t let the rhythm fade away
It tells the story of our days
And when the final beat has played
It’s the heart that marks our stay

Seconds are the beats that time our lives
Every tick a spark that keeps us alive
From the first light to the midnight skies
Seconds are the beats that time our lives

Every second… …is a heartbeat.
Seconds… are the beats…

Beats That Time Our Lives – A Contemporary R&B, Retro Soul & Neo-Soul Story

A slow-burning blend of Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, and Retro Soul, In the Hush Between lingers like a quiet conversation after midnight. Warm Rhodes chords, deep bass, and restrained percussion set the stage for a female vocal that moves between intimacy and mystery. It’s the sound of moments that live between words — where truth is felt more than spoken — drawing the listener into a space that’s both tender and unresolved.

[LYRICS]

Light through the smoke
Slow on my skin
Breath finds the cracks
Where the night comes in

I could move
But I stay in place
Something in your eyes
I can’t erase

You’re the shadow in my still frame
Heat that hides inside the rain
Every line you cross, I keep
Some truths are better when they’re deep

Glass on the floor
No sound, no break
Your hands don’t ask
They just know what to take

I could speak
But the words would burn
Some doors close
But they still return

You’re the shadow in my still frame
Heat that hides inside the rain
Every line you cross, I keep
Some truths are better when they’re deep

bars] Every motion’s slow…
bars] Every breath’s a choice…
In the silence,
I still hear your voice

You’re the shadow in my still frame
Heat that hides inside the rain
Every line you cross, I keep
Some truths are better when they’re deep

Some truths…
Are better when they’re deep

In the Hush Between – A Slow-Burn Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul & Retro Soul Reflection

A smooth blend of jazz and soul with warm piano chords, mellow saxophone lines, and a relaxed groove — perfect for late-night listening

Key: F#
BPM: 120


Jazz (AzzurroLive Edit)

There’s a stillness in Under My Quiet that feels familiar, yet something stirs beneath. Warm, soulful layers drift over a steady groove, carrying a voice that speaks softly but leaves echoes. It moves at its own pace, never rushing, letting each note breathe. The kind of song that lingers — not because it shouts, but because it says just enough.

[LYRICS]

Under my quiet… I’m still awake.
Under my quiet… I hold the weight.

Curtains move, the streetlights hum
Footsteps fade, but I don’t run
Hands stay warm, my breath stays slow
Not every fight is mine to show

I keep the fire where you can’t see
And that’s enough for me

Under my quiet, the ground is mine
Nothing can shake what I’ve designed
Storms can surround, but I won’t sway
Under my quiet, I’ll stay

Glass once broke, but I learned the sound
Found my steps on uneven ground
I don’t need light to know the way
Some truths don’t need to say

I keep the fire where you can’t see
And that’s enough for me

Under my quiet, the ground is mine
Nothing can shake what I’ve designed
Storms can surround, but I won’t sway
Under my quiet, I’ll stay

You’ll hear the echo when I choose to speak
But silence can carry what words can’t keep

Under my quiet, the ground is mine
Nothing can shake what I’ve designed
Storms can surround, but I won’t sway
Under my quiet, I’ll stay

Under my quiet…
I stay.

Under My Quiet - The Album’s Unexpected Pulse in Contemporary R&B and Retro Soul

El Cosmico Express - Con papa y yuca

El Cosmico Express - Todo bien

El Cosmico Express - Palo santo Pt 1

El Cosmico Express - One foot

Take it easy baby I don't really wanna stress you out
If I could make you feel better I'd do, no doubt

I don't mean to hurt you I'm just playing through a patch and now
I feel I'm on the edge of a friend but how?

Do I work with it
How do I learn from this?
How do I understand this?
Work with me? Please don't mess around 
Its hurting me, would you please make a sound 

The worst of it, is they don't make a sound x2
My mama said a woman's gotta be loud
Cause everyone is shutting her out

The worst of it x2
Cause even if she's loud
A man's mindis in the clouds

Worst Of It (Demo)

Blends chill R&B, neo-soul grooves, and lo-fi soul textures. Perfect for late-night listening.

Slow Down

🎹 After 27 years away, I returned to music for the pure joy of creating.
In solidarity with artists, I have removed all generative AI from my work, keeping every note authentic and played by hand.
A legacy of passion, integrity, and respect for the art.

for the love of music. art. mental health.

Musical influences? The first thing that comes to mind is Fred Hammond. Other than him, really everything influences my music. All praises to Abba

If you somehow find yourself here, Welcome. This is a dumping ground

Where Timeless Sounds Flex Forward! 🎶


At RetroFlex, we celebrate the golden eras of soul, funk, jazz, gospel, and R&B — then twist them with fresh beats and modern moves. From slow jams and city grooves to powerful ballads

I’ve always lived at the crossroads of music and poetry — where feeling becomes form, and melody turns memory into meaning. Whether it’s a lingering jazz note, a well-placed rhyme, or a shift in tempo that tells a deeper story, I’m drawn to that quiet magic where art reflects life with a little more style.

My roots are in classic music — the kind that doesn’t chase the moment but lingers with you long after the last note. Over time, that love expanded into poetry writing and jazz — especially the kind that swings, speaks, and smirks all at once. Jazz, to me, isn’t just a genre; it’s a personality. A conversation. A little tilt of the head and a grin that knows more than it says.

When I set out to create an album, it’s rarely just a collection of songs. I approach it like a personal playlist — one that drifts and flows as if the entire tracklist were one long, uninterrupted piece. Each track leans into the next, shifting mood, pace, or voice, but always carrying the same thread of feeling. I want you to listen the way I do — not as a shuffle of moments, but as a cinematic arc. One breath that lasts an hour.

Lyrically, my work is rooted in lived experience. Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times it’s just the skeleton of a memory, dressed up in wit, irony, or longing. I draw from real-life events, then let the poet in me twist, stretch, or sweeten them to taste. Depending on the tone of the album — playful, romantic, nostalgic, or something in between — I try to keep the emotional truth intact while giving it a fresh coat of creativity. A little humor where it fits. A deeper dive where it hurts.

My newest jazz album continues this tradition — short-lined swing tracks, conversational duets, and tongue-in-cheek storytelling. It’s an homage to late-night alleyway ballads, rooftop serenades, and train station goodbyes — all bound together with a sense of charm and cohesion. Each song is its own little scene, but together they tell a story — one you can revisit with each replay.

Thanks for stopping by my profile. I hope you find something that earns a spot on your repeat-play list — a melody, a lyric, or a moment that feels like it was written just for you.

ehzy.music@gmail.com

Genre-bending Producer | DJ | Audio Visual Storyteller

"Redder" is a palindrome. Like "racecar" or "level". These pieces of music ain't.



Composer - Producer -  
Genre: House - Jazz - Electronic 
Ghost producer samples Midi ->  email: jwolf2603@gmail.com

SINCERE IMPOSTER writes, performs, and produces a curious mixture of New Wave, Dance, Folk Rock, Art Pop, Electro, Dreamwave & Experimental Pop. Collectively, it's a genre known as QUIRKPOP --- Music that makes you say, "What the hell is this?"

The band currently consists of two members, both living within the same body, sharing a similar existence. They identify as Danielle & Dave. They are both psychologically and musically confused. However, both are extremely and unapologetically sincere. 

Influences include Weird Al, Nathan Fielder, David Lynch, T-Pain and T-Swift. Their favorite inventions are the vacuum and the peach pitter. Their father is simply known as Vessel... who may be an entity or a god.



New tracks tagged #NEO-SOUL