It Ain't Retro

 It Ain’t Retro: Daptone Records & The 21st Century Soul Revolution (Jawbone Press, 2021)

For two decades, Daptone Records has churned out hard funk and such beautiful soul that these records sparked a musical revolution. With a collective of soul-obsessed producers and musicians, the Brooklyn-based independent label launched the careers of artists such as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley, while providing sonic support for the likes of Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, and Lady Gaga. Daptone’s records—and those of the larger soul revival scene—pay homage but never lip service to the original artists, proving that soul is still culturally relevant, and just as exciting as ever.