I don’t know too many people who don’t love the sultry soulful voice of Amel Larrieux. You’ve probably heard her voice even if you don’t recognize the name. She was part of the duo named Groove Theory, which took the music scene by storm with their 1995 gold-selling hit single “Tell Me,” which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The other part of the duo was Bryce Wilson, a rapper she met through a mutual friend in NY. You’ve probably seen him too. He played the role of James in the 2005 film Beauty Shop.

We can thank that collaboration for birthing what we now know as the Neo-Soul genre, literally paving the way for artists like Jill Scott, India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild. However, after their one album in 1995 and a couple of appearances on movie soundtracks in the years following, the group slowly began to dissipate, resulting in Amel Larrieux beginning a solo career.

She released her first album Infinite Possibilities in 2000 and followed that with Bravebird, Lovely and Morning Standards. “For Real” has to be one of my all time favorite tracks by Amel as a solo artist (okay and “Make Me Whole“) but the classic soulful groove that was “Tell Me” still lives on as a 90s classic.

We now have the opportunity to relieve that dynamic collaboration that was Larrieux and Wilson as Soul Summer has learned exclusively that the two are back in the studio with executive producer Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond working on their reunion album. Excuse me while I go do my happy jig real quick.

Rosemond says, “It’s going well. They haven’t worked together in so long, and like most groups that break up, they’ve come into their own, so it’s almost like sharing that spotlight again, but it’s coming along. I’m excited.”

He’s not the only one excited. I know I sure am. The music business is dying for more of this type of music. Stuff that sounds good the ear, eases the soul and emits a certain element of groove that just can’t be ignored. Groove Theory gave us all of that and more.

With the mature sound of Amel Larriuex and the production genius of Wilson, we are in store for some music that will give us everything we loved from them in the 90s only sprinkled with a little of today’s currency that will surely make these two an instant hit once again.

Take a moment and reminisce on the past while waiting in anticipation for what Groove Theory will bring to us in the future. New material will be surfacing in about two months, so stay tuned to SKM Soul for updates.

Groove Theory – “Tell Me”