Taiwanese soul musician Yufu recently put out his debut album Heal Me Good, a project that is steeped in the essence of Northern Soul, Motown and funk of yesteryear. His latest release, “Side Effects May Include,” is a boisterous funk-soul piece with R&B and Latin soul aesthetics of the 70s. Backed by rich horn sections, rousing drum grooves with hypnotic fills and warm chords punctuated by soul-stirring vocal melodies, Yufu takes listeners back in time with this uplifting piece that reminds us of the side effects of true love.
Known as “The Soulful Gent,” Yufu is part of a growing generation of Asian artists bringing their own perspective to the traditions of soul music. His relationship with the genre began in childhood, listening to records by artists including The Platters, Ben E. King and B.B. King. Over the years, that early fascination developed into a deep study of soul, blues, jazz, funk and the musicians, producers, arrangers and engineers behind the records.
