Groove Radar: Funky Picks of the Month - May 2026
A monthly dive into deep grooves, soulful hooks, slick basslines, and irresistible rhythm sections.
Featuring Sentury, Jason Piccioni, Orchestra 014, Night Talks, Love Jones, My Mom Is Here, Joe Jackson, Jennifer Holm, Themrsax Mickey Vee, and corto.alto.
This month, I’m looking at independent artists keeping funk alive. As always, the sound stretches comfortably into soul and R&B, but the groove remains front and centre. Funk still thrives on elastic basslines, tight drum pockets, and sharp guitar rhythms that lock everything together—that unmistakable pulse is what gives the music its lift. The artists featured this month combine diverse influences, with Funk as the main ingredient.
Funk That Instantly Makes You Feel Good! Funk / Soul / RnB / Acid Jazz
Sentury - Don't Mind
This song has a great Funky synth bass in the song's intro. A slower Funky RnB song jam-packed with tight soulful vocal harmonies. The verses are stripped back, while the choruses have a lot of instrumentation going on. It reminds me of classic '90s soul music. A great track!
Connect with Sentury
Website | Instagram | Spotify
Jason Piccioni, Orchestra 014 - Cos It’s Love That Really Matters
This song has a super Funky drum groove that reminds me of the Michael McDonald song ‘I Keep Forgetting’. The beat and bassline are very hypnotic, which creates the foundation for this track. The sparse use of strings really helps the song feel elegant. I like the female vocalist's tone, which is soulful. This is a great feel-good tune.
Connect with Jason Piccioni
Instagram | Spotify
Connect with Orchestra 014
Spotify
Night Talks - People Pleaser
Photo credit: Eliot Hubert
This well-written track is a mash-up of Funk and Pop. It starts with a super Funky bassline that is quite high in the mix. The production is stripped back, which creates a rawness. The thick vocal harmonies in the chorus really help build the song. This song will instantly lift your mood!
Connect with Night Talks
Instagram | Spotify
Love Jones - The Greatest Show
This band reminds me of early Steely Dan with their infectious funk grooves and clever horn arrangements. I like how the drummers' kick drum and bass players' groove lock in. The RnB type vocal harmonies in the choruses really accentuate the melody. There is a very beautiful guitar solo at the 3-minute mark. This is a great band!
Connect with Love Jones
Instagram | Spotify
My Mom Is Here - The Lucky Dudes (Extended Version)
I am always a fan of bands that have a full horn section and string section. It takes an incredible amount of talent to write music for a band of this size because of all the melodies and counter melodies going on. The singer has a beautiful tone that is easy on the ears. Make sure you check out the extended version of this song for the trumpet solo at 5 minutes 37. These musicians can play!
Connect with My Mom Is Here
Instagram | Spotify
Joe Jackson - Fabulous People
This mash-up of old school Funk and pop music is a feel-good gem. The interlocked groove between the bass guitar and drums in the verse is super funky. The syncopated hi-hat pattern really adds to the fluidity of the groove. It is a polished production without being overproduced.
A great vocal on top of a cool chord progression makes this song instantly memorable.
Connect with Joe Jackson
Instagram | Spotify
Fire-Toolz - And Where Is The Heart? I've Searched My Entire Home (ft Jennifer Holm)
This track is a heavily 1980’s funk/pop track. There are lots of synths and counter melodies throughout the whole song. The vocal floats just above the keys in the mix. I like the simple bass line that sits on top of the heavy programmed drum beat. A song that will give you 80s nostalgia.
Connect with Fire-Toolz
Instagram | X | Spotify
Connect with Jennifer Holm
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Themrsax Mickey Vee - THE GROOVE ASSEMBLY MIX I
This song has everything you want from a great Funk Jam. Heavy synths, a prominent slapping bass line, and a funky drum groove. The use of horns in the choruses elevates the song. The instrumentation reminds me of the music that Funk Legend Rick James was creating in the 1980s, although this has super-solid modern production.
Connect with Themrsax Mickey Vee
Instagram | Spotify
corto.alto - THIEF
This song is very left field, almost alternative funk. The reason I’m including it on this playlist is that the drum groove is incredibly funky! It is like a sped-up version of James Browns ‘Sex Machine’. There are a lot of interesting things happening in the song. There is a super low bass sound mixed with intermittent vocal samples. It is unusual in the best way possible.
Connect with corto.alto
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Spotify Playlist
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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