When you hear the names Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway or Ashford and Simpson, timeless duets and everlasting love songs instantly come to mind. The art of duet magic has not been lost on Hil St. Soul (pronounced Hill Street Soul) and Noel Gourdin, who will release their new collaboration “Blessed” on Shanachie Entertainment on July 16, 2021. The striking Zambian-born, London raised Hilary Mwelwa (Hil St. Soul) burst onto the UK music scene in the early 2000s and has not looked back. She has shared the stage with D'Angelo, Kelis, Macy Gray and Angie Stone, among others. Singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin, who is influenced by iconic voices like Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, exploded onto the scene in 2008 with his unforgettable soul-charged hit “The River.”
Hil St. Soul and Noel Gourdin collaborated in 2014 on the song “No Worries.” When producer Lorenzo Johnson sent Hil St Soul the track for “Blessed,” she instantly knew that Gourdin was the perfect fit to work with on the tune. “The song talks about that feeling of completion you get when you are blessed with a soul mate or special person in your life. It’s a universal theme that everyone can relate to,” shares Hil St. Soul. “When Noel came up with idea, he had Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in mind and wanted to capture that same sentiment and vibe. Hopefully we’ve achieved that.” Noel Gourdin adds, “My feelings on the opportunity to work with my talented Soul Sister once again, can only be described with one word ‘Blessed.’ We made magic once again.”