The list of young soul artists shooting for vintage authenticity at the expense of their own expression seems to grow by the year: however accurate their replication of sonic tics and impeccable the end result, something is ultimately lost. Thankfully, that’s not how [Joel Culpepper]() plays it on his debut. There’s no denying the Londoner’s 1970s R&B/soul and funk inspirations (Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, Shuggie Otis), nor the fact that Prince has left an indelible mark, but Culpepper's twist – executed with the help of several producers

Hailing from south-east London, Joel Culpepper is an artist who’s been on Mr Bongo's radar for some time now. With a unique soulful voice and explosive showmanship, Joel’s star is rising. His sonic palette blends an array of genres and influences, that looks back to the greats whilst simultaneously absorbing London’s contemporary musical landscape.

Joel's debut album, Sgt Culpepper, is an incredible modern soul album and the product of a two-year undertaking which saw him attract an array of respected producers and musicians from the UK and beyond, a testament to the reputation he had already built as a dynamic songwriter and performer among his contemporaries. With executive production from Swindle (Ezra Collective, Mahalia), mastering from Joker (Stormzy, Kojey Radical) and with co-productions that include the likes of legendary pop producer Guy Chambers, Raf Rundell (The 2 Bears), Shawn Lee (Saint Etienne, Kelis), and Tom Misch, Sgt Culpepper is a demonstration of the power