Groove Radar: Funky Picks of the Month - August 2026
A monthly dose of irresistible grooves, soulful R&B, funky rhythms and feel-good sounds!
Featuring Oreaganomics, Captains Of Entropy, Papangu, MERCE, Marla Kether, Ruby Wood, Kenny Iko, Elliott Skinner, KINGH, and Boogaloo.
The funk tracks I picked this month will definitely make you feel good! There’s something about a great groove that can instantly lift your mood, and August has once again delivered plenty of funky goodness from some exciting independent artists.The boundaries between funk, soul, R&B, and modern pop continue to blur beautifully, creating fresh sounds while keeping that all-important groove at the heart of the music.
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Funk That Instantly Makes You Feel Good! Funk / Soul / RnB / Acid Jazz
Oreaganomics - I used to call Mary
This track is exceptionally funky! It has elements of quirkiness with strange lyrics, but the Funk is undeniable. Wait till the slap bass guitar kicks in during the chorus. This shifts the whole feel of the song. Chicken-scratch guitar parts and synths solidify this track into an instant Funk classic!
Very cool!
Connect with Oreaganomics
TikTok | Spotify
Captains Of Entropy - On Juno
This track starts with a funky 16th-note groove on the drums. The backbeat syncopates from the usual backbeat, making it extra funky. There is a wah-wah pedal on what sounds like a Fender Rhoads keyboard, creating 1970s vibes. There is minimal guitar, but the melodies played help solidify the groove.
It builds to a nice crescendo towards the end of the song.
Connect with Captains Of Entropy
Spotify | Instagram
Papangu - Celeste
The piano in the intro of this song is recorded beautifully. It sounds like a vintage upright if I had to guess. This is a band of serious musicians! There are many changes in this song where the drums, keyboard, and bass play in unison parts. It changes to a halftime shuffle after the bridge, which is a challenging feel to play. This instrumental groove track will make you instantly feel better!
Connect with Papangu
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
MERCE - My Guy
This laid-back R&B funk track hits all the right notes. It has a cool, funky groove that sounds like it is sampled or run through a ‘tape isolator,’ making it sound old-school. The vocalist has an incredibly soulful voice that emotes every lyric. Put this together with real piano and bass, and it becomes a recipe for an instant classic.
Connect with MERCE
Spotify | Instagram
Marla Kether - Reverse feat. Sofia Grant
This song mixes Funk with elements of Dance and Afrobeat. It has a great syncopated rhythm that the song is built on. The constant vocal harmony is a popular element of pop music. Wait till after the bridge when the guitar comes in; this is where it gets seriously funky!
This tune gives off nothing but positive vibes!
Connect with Marla Kether
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Sofia Grant
Spotify | Instagram
Ruby Wood - This Thing Called Life (ft. Illa J & Abstract Orchestra)
I loved this RnB/Funk track! It has a drum groove very similar to James Brown’s Funky Drummer if it were slowed down. The singer has a beautiful tone and unique vocal phrasing. The piano plays some sweet jazz-inspired chords throughout the song. The live horns really make the song sound full after the middle 8 section. This is a cool track by a very talented artist.
Connect with Ruby Wood
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Connect with Illa J
Spotify | Instagram | Website
Connect with Abstract Orchestra
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Kenny Iko - Pretty Words
This laid-back RnB/Funk jam reminded me of old-school RnB singers like Maxwell and D’Angelo. The keyboards play some cool chord extensions over a funky programmed drum beat. The singer has an amazing range with a flawless falsetto. The harmonies are very soulful and high in the mix where they belong. What is extra cool about this song is the guitar solo. It is rare to hear a guitar solo on an RnB track. The only other one I can think of is ‘Red Light Special’ by TLC. This is a really great song.
Connect with Kenny Iko
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | X
Elliott Skinner - DON’T BE A RUNNER
This track is really hard to categorise! It definitely has elements of RnB and Funk but also has Jazz harmony. The vocal harmonies are thick and very layered. They sound amazing and are not overused. The guitar part is sparse, playing short staccato chords. I like the vocalist’s style as it has an unusual but cool swagger to the phrasing.
Connect with Elliott Skinner
Spotify | Instagram
KINGH - RIDE (feat. Kojey Radical)
This track creates a 1970’s feel with super modern and slick production. The main groove, held down by the drummer and bass player, is both infectious and funky. The singer has such a sweet tone, accompanied by soulful vocal harmonies. It sounds like there is a funky clav keyboard on the bridge, which adds to the overall funkiness. Check out this artist; she is amazing!
Connect with KINGH
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
Karate Boogaloo - Booger's Bounce of Joy
This track mixes Dub and Jazz with Funk for incredible results! The main bass groove is syncopated but fits perfectly with the drum beat. It sounds like the guitar is running through a chorus pedal to help the jazzy chords last slightly longer. The production is stripped back and raw, which gives the song it’s Funky feel. A very cool band.
Connect with Karate Boogaloo
Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
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About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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