Kansas City’s The Freedom Affair doesn’t revive Southern soul so much as inhabit it. Their self-titled sophomore set moves like Muscle Shoals with a Midwest passport—deep-pocket grooves, church-rooted harmonies, and songs that understand both joy and pressure. Produced with Grammy vet Boo Mitchell at Royal Studios, the album wears its lineage proudly without sounding like cosplay.

The secret weapon is the three-headed vocal front line of Paula Saunders, Seyko Groves, and Shon Ruffin—voices that testify, soothe, and strike all at once. Cuts like “Get My Share” lock into a four-on-the-floor grind where grit meets grace. Anchored by the full six-piece band with a three-lead vocal attack functioning as both lead and chorus. Guitar stays clipped and percussive, organ provides Muscle Shoals–style glue, and the horn section delivers Memphis snap without excess. The song’s power comes from discipline—nothing flashy, everything intentional. The rhythm section locks into a factory-floor groove while the vocals frame inequity as lived experience,

My favorite track, “Don’t You Wanna Love Me,” slides back into classic soul territory, all slow burn and emotional precision. Horns punch with Memphis authority, guitars stay lean and purposeful, and the rhythm section never overplays—because it doesn’t have to. Royal Studios’ room sound is front and center here—warm, rounded low end and air around the vocals. Lead vocals rotate naturally, supported by stacked harmonies rather than a single spotlight performance. Minimalist guitar phrasing and restrained horn swells underline the song’s emotional patience. This is slow-burn soul done right. 

“Be Who You Are: continues the classic yet original R&B theme. The horns and Hammond organ bring a Memphis feel, while the lead vocals add a touch of East Coast swagger. 

What makes The Freedom Affair land is its modern urgency wrapped in vintage soul language. These songs speak to inequity, connection, and survival without preaching, letting the groove do the talking. It’s not nostalgia—it’s continuity. Soul music, alive, working, and sweating in real time.

Now I need to reflect on why The Freedom Affair wasn’t on my ‘Best of 2025’ list.