(April 17, 2026) Mikelyn Roderick had her first introduction to music fans like me because she was a one-third of the vocal group By All Means, which scored a hit with a remake of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
Roderick has one solo album, but if an artist is going to release just one project, they would want it to be as good as Roderick’s 2007 album Copasetic was, an album I reviewed when I first started working for SoulTracks. It’s a record that comes back to me when I want to listen to a polished singer handle some great material.
Roderick’s prowess as a vocalist and a songwriter kept her busy. She’s worked with a who’s who of soul, pop, and indie soul luminaries, including Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Barry White, Quincy Jones, and Rahsaan Patterson. Roderick co-wrote Tevin Campbell’s song “Back to the World,” and she’s acted on stage and screen.
James Day, songwriter and producer, was attracted to the vocal qualities that made me a fan of Roderick’s music. He asked her to sing on the inspirational song “Speak Love,” which was featured on his 2009 project Natural Things. That intimate version featuring a laid-back, pace, jazzy guitars and saxophone flourishes, provided a lot of space for Roderick to display the vocal chops that she first honed by listening to the greats of R&B, jazz, pop, and blues.
Day has returned to “Speak Love” in 2026, as part of his two volume 20th anniversary collection. This time he gives the tune an up-tempo steppers melody that features a full horn section, and… yes, some saxophone creativity. Day uses Roderick’s original vocal in this lush version of a song that is about the power of using words to help create a loving world. Check out the World Premiere here.
By Howard Dukes
CLICK HERE to pre-save “Speak Love”
