Exactly a year ago, Silas Short was selected as one of the 20 Emerging R&B Artists You Need to Watch in 2025, and I am so happy we did that. An exceptionally talented young artist, and from what I can tell online, a humble and positive human being.
2025 saw the release of his magnificent debut album, LUSHLAND (via Stones Throw Records) - a smooth bridge between classic a-la-Soulquarians sound and a contemporary energy. The record unfolds like a sonic diary, tracing Silas’ recent move from Chicago to LA, with every track carrying a piece of that journey’s raw energy and personal revelations.
Silas Short is one of the people that I consider at the forefront of today's modern neo-soul sound. Packed with wonderful collaborators, ranging from Ryan James Carr and Luke Titus to The Roots' James Poyser, in just 38 minutes and 49 seconds, he manages to travel through time, emotions, and genres. Short gently taps into the full spectrum of r&b's glow, channeling the tender, heart-melting ballads of the early '70s while effortlessly weaving in the head-bopping hip-hop soul and buttery neo-soul textures that defined the '90s. All of which sounds very 2025.
What makes LUSHLAND particularly special is how naturally the personal narrative sits alongside the music. From the introspective "PH0NECALL" and vulnerable "GUY" to the jazz-injected "LIKE A CHARM" and the playful groove of "L-TRAIN", Short keeps reshaping his sound without ever losing that warm, unmistakably human core.
My favourite tune off the record is "ILIKEU" - a neo-soul gem wrapped in funk influences, thus offering us a groovy experience instrumentally while we're comforted by the soulful allure of his vocal performance. This is the kind of track that romanticizes love and has us as listeners eager to be with that special someone.
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Not many people can do that, and that's why I appreciate being a contemporary of such an artist.
