Thee Sacred Souls, courtesy.

Unforgettable desert blues from Songhoy Blues, Plantfood goes on a psychedelic jazz trip, Yvette Young of Bay Area band Covet makes a spirited solo debut, RY X and Thee Sacred Souls deliver soulful jams, and Miami Horror and Illiterate Light have us bopping and vibing.

Thee Sacred Souls, “Waiting On The Right Time” — Opening with a smooth falsetto, a calm bass line and muffled drumming, “Waiting On The Right Time” is a classic soul ballad. “If I rush it/ I might lose everything I’ve world so hard for,” Josh Lane sings. Just like “Can I Call You Rose?” this tune is slow and warm, with silky lyrics that communicate what it takes to find the right one. The song is from their forthcoming album, Got A Story To Tell, and the San Diego band plays The Masonic on Jan. 24 and 25.

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Songhoy Blues, “Issa” — From Timbuktu, Mali, Songhoy Blues‘ “Issa” is a desert blues homage to the Niger River in their home country. Sung in the Songhai language over bright chords and persistent shakers in the background, the song paints a rich picture of African culture and heritage. The band creates music from a space of appreciation to nature and its ancestry. “Issa,” which translates to “river,” gives thanks to the members’ ancestors for water as a source of life. The song’s fusion of acoustic guitars with kashas over Songhai lyrics gives it an unconventional perspective to African music; specifically West African music.

Plantfood, “Birdgang, Pt. II” — This is perfect example of how you introduce your debut album. It’s an explosive high-energy jazz bop filled with surprises. With a slow start of soft piano notes, the song slowly builds up with instruments layering on top of each other until reaching a sonic climax. The six-minute song has no lyrics, but its piano melody and trumpet blasts tell a mysterious story that will have you nodding your head. The songs from the group’s first album, Carnivores.

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RY X featuring Hermanos Gutiérrez, “You” — “Your body’s an ocean/ Pull me into your tides,” RY X (Ryan Cuming) sings in the first verse. “You” is pure poetry accompanied by bold guitar playing by Swiss-Ecuadorian duo Hermanos Gutiérrez. The Grammy-nominated producer and singer wears his heart on his sleeve in the love song layered with angelic vocals. It’s mellow and melancholic. The video is fun, too, with RY X delivering raw emotion.

Miami Horror, “Together” — Coming out of a nine-year hiatus, Australian synth-pop duo Miami Horror is back with a solid party anthem. The whimsical and nostalgic pop track samples a tune by ’80s soul artist Errol Stubbs. It’s paired with a layered childlike chorus (think The Jackson 5) and hopeful lyrics, making “Together” a solid 10/10. The band, led by Benjamin Plant, wanted to create a unifying song that blankets some of the division happening in the world. “When I close my eyes/ With you by my side/ We can go together,” collaborator Beckah Amani sings. It’s a mood lifter that lights up a gloomy day.

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Yvette Young, “Always” — The guitarist of Bay Area math rock band Covet, Yvette Young shows another side of her artistry on her first solo song. A coming of age summer song with hazy vocals, it opens with a New Wavy guitar intro that sets a yearning tone. She breaks it up with breezy riffage in a different tone, making for a summer jam you play on a motorcycle roadtrip with friends (or so she strongly hits in the accompanying video).

Illiterate Light, “Payphone” — From the band’s forthcoming album, Arches, “Payphone” is a groovy rock song that grabs you from the beginning with its sharp staccato synth chords. The song is energetic and playful and the visuals are just as captivating showing Virgina’s Illiterate Light playfully trying to help member Jeff Gorman reunite with his girl through a payphone. It’s a cool love jam that explodes with strong guitar riffs in the outro.

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Dumi’s pick: Since I’m a lover girl who goes crazy for high vocals and dreamy lyrics, Thee Sacred Souls had me at the first listen. Josh Lane’s sweet vocals with sexy guitar line and groove sounds like a perfect Sunday morning.

Follow Dumisani Mnisi at Twitter.com/nairobi_1899 and Instagram.com/nairobi_1899.