D'Angelo sheds his 'naked guy' skin

For many here in New Zealand, the inaugural Soulfest will be a highlight of 2014's live schedule.

It brings together Maxwell, Common, Mos Def, Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild to Western Springs Stadium on Sunday, October 26. Though the bill is absolute quality, there's only one man that matters.

D'Angelo, the reclusive soul giant with only two LPs to his name, is the big draw card.

The man is a legend, not only to the fans, but to his fellow acts on the Soulfest bill. He was the pioneer of a unique brand of soul - some called it 'neo-soul', others said it was simply good music.

People say he's not relevant, but comb through the prominent artists of today, ranging from Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, James Blake, Frank Ocean and Pharrell to Panic! At the Disco (meh) and Chris Brown (ugh) and they'll tell you different.

He's made an impact on Aotearoa too: Six60, Fat Freddys Drop, Sola Rosa and basically any reggae or soul band consider D'Angelo a god. He's even been referenced him on American Dad and Perez Hilton, and butchered him on the The Voice.

Looking at various promos for Soulfest, there are blatant snapshots of D in the raunchy, seductive 'Untitled (How Does It Feel) video, a 25 year old with abs, white teeth and corn rows.

It's obviously tacked on to sell tickets and I don't blame the promoters, but that's not him anymore. He was, for a time, the archetypal, cliched sexy R&B guy. As far as today's general music consumers are concerned, D hasn't done anything noteworthy since the video, which is true.

Instead, he's become notorious for motivation issues, arrests, delays and no shows.

Besides Common, the Soulfest line-up seems based on nostalgia, a golden Mai FM era, afternoons spent watching Juice TV at the start of the millennium. When was the last time you heard a D'Angelo song on the radio outside of the occasional George/bfm weekend mix?

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D'Angelo sheds his 'naked guy' skin