Next Wave R&B, Soul and All Things Jerome Thomas

How an East London-born artist is pushing the boundaries of genre and leading the evolution of emerging subcultures in the UK's music scene. Thomas does not just ensure that his listeners are hearing his music, but rather, experiencing the pulse of a generation. The Mic's Ellena Onyinah reports.

Upon his latest album release, Submerge, with producer Pitch 92, it is more than overdue to shed light on the genre-defying vocalist that is Jerome Thomas. This riffing and running between genres is precisely what makes him distinct within the bustling and ambitious London music scene. He embraces the acronym FOE (Fusion of Everything). This artist is certainly one to watch in the coming year.

The origin of Jerome’s soulful sound is centered within his family and upbringing. Any avid listener of the Hackney-raised artist recognises how he references timeless genres, such as Old School R&B and Soul. In an interview with Equate Magazine, the artist shares how growing up in a single-parent household, influenced by his mother’s music style, is reflected in his art. D’Angelo, Marvin Gaye, SWV, and Chico DeBarge are a few of the artists that inspired Jerome in his youth.

His vocal flexibility is explained by an absence of professional training growing up and an imitation of the artists that he was exposed to at the time. He wasn't taught to sing in any particular way, meaning he was able to cross boundaries and blur lines between genres. This creates a sound that is nostalgic, yet too nuanced to categorise. The UK-based producer Pitch 92, brings a blend of soulfulness to Jerome’s production with his feature on Submerge. Combined with his layered harmonies and playful melodies, this album maintains the improvisational ‘jam session’ nature of his sound. The 70’s soul-inspired beat on Sock It To Me is a perfect example of this, with a beat that is reflective of a 70’s soul song combined with Jerome’s R&B vocals.

On a sunny July evening in 2024, the Brixton venue Hootananny was lit up by the artist’s performance. With a cosy hall and social front garden, the space created a familial and relaxed environment for Jerome to occupy. Unlike larger or chain venues, the location discouraged the traditionally overpopulated and dawdling nature of concerts - creating an intimate atmosphere. The freedom to come and go, scout out the bar, and stand as close as you care to commit to worked to set the scene for the entrance of a bubbly and relatable Lizzie Berchie. She was the perfect opening act.

Jerome’s entrance reflected exactly what his music stands for and the way it makes his listeners feel. An explosion of energy, seemingly unprepared grooves, and a burst of red, yellow, and purple strobe lights continued to create the atmosphere onstage that feels as if Denzil Forrester's painting, Velvet Rush, came to life. He then went through his discography, maintaining this sense of energy and passion that is reflective of the true nature of R&B.

"This riffing and running between genres is precisely what makes him distinct within the bustling and ambitious London music scene."

The set lasted around 2 hours and was nothing like anything I had seen in a long time. During the bustling exit, I had heard praise and exclaims about how a multitude of feet were in pain from dancing. Prior to the concert, I hadn't listened to Jerome Thomas extensively, but became a huge fan after attending. If there’s one reaction that an artist should aspire to evoke in the crowd after their concert, it's that.

Ellena Onyinah

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Edited by Daniela Roux

Photo courtesy of Jerome Thomas, YouTube video courtesy of Jerome Thomas