(August 17, 2026) European music fans have deep affection for R&B music. American artists enjoy performing in Europe because of the love and knowledge that fans there have for the music. Countries such as England have a vibrant soul, R&B, funk, and neo-soul that has produced great music for 50 years.
Zed Soul, the UK based band that is the brainchild of British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Amar Naik, looks to continue that trend with the release of an album that captures the smooth and sophisticated R&B that fans heard in the late 1980s and early 1990s on their new album Those Words, which dropped in May.
While all the tracks are originals, the track featured in this First Listen is a heartfelt remake of one of Babyface’s early hits. The song “I Love You Babe” appeared on Babyface’s 1986 debut album Lovers. It was an up-tempo ballad that had a bumping bass line and drums that had you tapping your feet, bopping your head, and dancing in your feet. Face’s soft and buttery tenor ably handled lyrics that told the story of a man willing to do the work make a relationship work and who is trying to convince his woman to do the same.
Zed Soul’s remake captures the sonics of that original both from an arrangement and vocal standpoint, while going in deeper on the improvisation on the saxophone. Singer Bobby Bonev’s tenor has the same youthful quality, and he has the range to move into falsetto territory. Check out Zed Soul’s remake of “I Love You Babe” here.
By Howard Dukes
