There used to be a time in R&B when male singers passionately broadcasted their love for the opposite sex. Rekindling the romance in music is Brandon Beal’s debut album “Comfortable.” 

Comprised mostly of ballads, the Texas native touches on different aspects of relationships throughout the disc, including: the courting process (“Grown,” “Girl”), cheating (“October”), breakups (“Don’t Wanna See You Again,” “Take Me Back”) and lovemaking (“Country Love”). A hopeless romantic, Brandon promises to please the target of his affection on “You Deserve,” declaring: “all I need is an open opportunity.”

Despite all of his wooing, the crooner isn’t immune to getting cold feet when pursuing women. The song “Maybe” finds the singer unable to approach the lady he’s attracted to at a bus stop—his rationale being: “maybe she was going home to her boyfriend, maybe I wasn’t the type that she wanted, maybe I coulda had her but I was trippin’.” Fortunately on “Purple Skirt,” Brandon finally gathers the courage to inform his crush that he’s interested in her. 

The production and songwriting anchor “Comfortable,” proving that chivalry in contemporary R&B still has its place when done the right way.

Label: MMG Records Inc.

Genre: R&B

Every so often an artist comes along that shuns convention and challenges the status quo of preexisting formulas. Peter Hadar happens to be that person, and his second album, “Well Dressed for the Art Show,” reflect his eccentric style. 

Fusing sounds and tones of R&B, Electronic, and Rock, the former fashion stylist turned singer/songwriter ventures into anomalous territory on the atmospheric “Painted” and spacey “Planets.” Returning back to earth piloted by the deep grooves of a base guitar is “Laugh Together,” a telltale song that explains how something so simple as laughter (or lack thereof) can affect the likelihood of a relationship advancing to the next level, as implied in the chorus: “we did not laugh together so it’s evident that we would not last forever.” Proud of his unorthodox ways, he even celebrates it on an interlude, singing: “if you’re weird and you know it clap your hands.” 

Even though “Well Dressed for the Art” defies traditional R&B formats, it proves that Peter Hadar’s presence alone is enough to make you pay attention.

Label: Cool Weirdo Music

Genre: R&B

After years of exciting the underground scene with their assortment of genre-blending sounds, J*Davey (which consists of singer Jack Davey [female] and producer Brook D’Leau [male]) has issued the debut of their double EP “The Beauty in Distortion/The Land of the Lost (if ten and thirteen songs respectively warrant the classification of an EP). 

Although signed to Warner Brothers Records, the release is a combination of two records the group previously sold independently during their pre-major label days, now being reissued on a national scale. Incorporating an amalgamation of genres, including: soul, hip-hop, funk, punk, rock, and electronic, J*Davey charms at making familiar territory sound refreshingly new. Opening “The Beauty in Distortion” are the distortedly sweet “Divisions of My Joy” and “Mr. Mister.” The sensuously funky nature of “Private Parts” produce thoughts of Prince, while Ms. Davey’s candy apple coos seduce the senses on “No More.” The ambient and lounge-like vibe of disc one dims in comparison to the grim and otherworldly production on “The Land of the Lost,” as heard on “Hi Sun,” “Rock the Dancehall,” and “Lil’Big Heads.” 

With a resemblance to the past, J*Davey is an artful expression of the future. 

Label: Interdependent Media 

Genre: R&B/Soul/Alternative

Traditionally, recording artists have been the principal recipients of public praise and admiration for their creative offerings, and are generally recognized as the face of the music industry. But with the success of highly acclaimed producers such as Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and Swizz Beatz, notoriety has shifted from being exclusive to artists, as the composers behind the hits are now starting to garner equal attention in the spotlight.

Capitalizing from the rise of popularity in musical production is the service company, iStandard Producers. Started in 2005 by founders Don Di Napoli and Jason “J. Hatch” Hadshian, iStandard Producers connects promising beatmakers with the recording industry at-large. A hallmark of the company is the monthly globetrotting iStandard Producers showcase, which offers fledgling producers the forum to display their production skills in a formal beat battle. The event mobilizes members of the music community to assemble, network, collaborate and promote their artistic efforts in a sonic-friendly environment.

“The main purpose is to provide opportunities for up-and-coming producers to get seen and heard by the industry that they try so hard to get in front of. We break down the barriers and share our relationships with the producers. It’s also a great atmosphere for artists and producers to build and create music from the underground level up,” states J. Hatch.

In addition to executive duties, J. Hatch functions as the host of the event, setting the mood for the aspiring producers to confidently tout their material by employing the mantra that “every contestant is a superstar.” Since the iStandard Producers showcase is a competition, a myriad of music professionals (A&Rs, publishers, producers, etc.) are commissioned to judge the talent and offer their critiques of the producers’ respective tracks (sometimes to the contestants dismay). 

Although the panelists serve as arbiters of the music, they are also there to assess the producers’ potential for future opportunities and projects. In fact, a few iStandard Producer showcase participants have placed beats with some of urban music’s biggest names. “Producers that have been in our showcase have had placements with the likes of 50 Cent, Fabolous, Jill Scott, The Clipse, Snoop Dogg, and many more. We never promise anyone that they will be guaranteed a placement from our shows, you just get the connects and from there it’s on you,” says Don Di Naopli.

While New York City and Philadelphia have been the primary locations for the contests, iStandard Producers has extended the brand to include other cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix (this past March, the company packaged its format and participated in Sha Money XL’s 2008 “One Stop Shop Producers Conference”), and Miami, where they are hosting a “Beats on the Beach” showcase in October. (Plans are also in development to venture into Boston, Houston and Virginia.)

Even though iStandard Producers is an event that helps producers hone the technical aspects of their craft and provides new talent with a gateway to enter the music industry, it is also a valuable medium for novices to learn and educate themselves about the business of music production. And while receiving advice from industry insiders is normally difficult to obtain, the perks the showcase offers new producers is invaluable. “To gain knowledge from some of the most influential in music is priceless,” concludes J. Hatch. 

To learn more information about iStandard Producers, visit their website at istandardproducers.com.