Randa & The Soul Kingdom will release their third and much anticipated new album ‘Put Your Hands Up‘ tomorrow, 24th February 2022. The album has been several years in the making. The followup to ‘What You Need‘ released back in 2011. So, it’s been a fair while since we have heard a long player from the West Australian Soul and Funk outfit.

Lead singer Randa Khamis was born in Jordan, the daughter to Palestinan parents. Fleeing Jordan when civil war broke out. Randa and her family were granted migration to Australia and found themselves landing in suburban Perth. A young Randa grew up on a diet of heavy Soul and Funk music listening to James Brown, Parliament, Kurtis Blow, Ann Sexton and Aretha Franklin. During her twenties, whilst living in London Randa sang with UK funk band Speedomter and toured supporting the legendry Eddie Bo.

Randa & The Soul Kingdom first emerged on the Contemporary Soul and Funk circuit back in 2009. Their self titled debut album was released on UK label Freestyle Records to much criticlal acclaim and a European tour followed. The album was produced by Lance Ferguson of The Bamboos.

Second album ‘What You Need‘ followed and was also produced by Lance Ferguson and released on Freestyle Records and the laudits just kept coming.

Fast forward to 2022 and the third Randa & The Soul Kingdom album is ready! Randa has been teasing her fans with a flurry of singles over the past couple of years, all of which feature on this new long player. Promises of a new album were floated and finally, finally it’s ready for everyone to enjoy.

We have been lucky enough to have a preview and have to say it’s classic stuff. If you are a fan of the first two albums then you won’t be dissapointed! There’s also some new influences. Rhythm and Blues and Sixties Psych are evident and can be heard along with the classic soul and funk that is synonymous with the Randa sound.

The album kicks off with a heavily influenced Sixties Rhythm and Blues number. ‘Gonna Get Love‘ slaps you in the face and announces that Randa is back!

Next up are two funk masterpieces destined to get your body moving ‘Is This I‘ and title track ‘Put Your Hands Up‘. Then we head into afrobeat-influenced territrory with the West Australian Music Award nominated ‘2048‘. Next up ‘Tisket Tasket‘ could well have been taken from the back catolgue of Marva Whitney. Pure, James Brown style sister funk with attitude.

The groove is slowed down slightly with ‘How’m Gonna Do That‘, and ‘Love Me Baby‘. The later having a groove that we would like to see get the remix treatment from the likes of Lack of Afro or Smoove.

A trio of tracks rounds the album out. ‘Find A Good Man‘ sends shivers down the spine, a future soul classic. Then there’s the groovy funk of ‘OTT‘ and finally another West Australian Music Award nominated track ‘Standing Strong‘.

Randa is defiently flexing her musical muscles and the wait has been more than worth it.

Download ‘Put Your Hands Up’ via Bandcamp.

Randa will be interviewed on The Low End Theory (Base FM) with DJ’s Ob and Shan on Thursday 24th February at 8am (AEST) / 10am (NZ). Listen live on the Base FM website or keep an eye on our social media for the catch up link.