Yearning is one of the emotions that lives at the core of R&B music. It is the willingness to be emotionally exposed, to take risks with your heart, and to admit when love is worth fighting for. For generations, R&B artists have shown us that vulnerability is not weakness; it is the heartbeat of some of the most timeless love songs.
From Blackstreet expressing the desperation of holding onto love in “Don’t Leave Me” to the tenderness of asking for a kiss in “Before I Let You Go”, yearning has always had a place in R&B. Another classic hit that comes to mind is Tank’s “Please Don’t Go” and how it captures the feeling of begging for forgiveness, and let’s not forget Anthony Hamilton gave us one of the most recognizable examples of longing with his plea for Charlene to come home.
And yearning has never been limited to men. Women in R&B have also given us the courage to hear what it sounds like when a heart is open. Jazmine Sullivan introduced herself with “Need U Bad”, a vulnerable expression of wanting and needing her lover back. Tweet shared the same honesty in “Complain,” saying that if her lover would just return, she wouldn’t complain at all. And we can go all the way back to Anita Baker’s “I Apologize”, whose powerful vocals and lyrics reminded us that admitting mistakes and opening your heart is also an act of love.
However, yearning in R&B music is not just about begging. It’s about revealing the truth of your heart, embracing exposure, taking risks, and having the courage to say what you want and need, and even to admit when you are wrong. Openness is what allows R&B lovers to see themselves and connect it to their own experiences. Love isn’t easy, but love can be healing when two people are willing to fight for each other, remain open, and refuse to hide their true feelings.
Many feel that emotional vulnerability and yearning are becoming a lost art in today’s music. Today’s music can feel more toxic, self-serving, emotionally distant, and more closed off. It has also become more sexually driven, sometimes without the emotional connection or conversations about building intimacy mentally, emotionally, and spiritually before physically.
Caleb Minter, an R&B artist from Bolivar, Tennessee, now based in Los Angeles, believes we have lost something important: the ability to communicate with each other. For him, it’s important to create music that gives us the courage to feel our emotions, allowing it to be a bridge to a deeper understanding of one another. During my conversation with Caleb, it became clear that his purpose extends beyond writing songs and creating music. It’s rooted in his faith and his desire to help restore love's true intention. It’s evident that for him, music should reflect honesty, tenderness, devotion, and the willingness to show up fully. “People don’t go the extra mile. I want to bring back music that brings back going the extra mile”, Caleb shares.
In Caleb’s new single, “Southern Love”, he’s not just bringing us back to the art of yearning; he’s introducing the world to a culture. Southern Love is an experience. It’s a love that is generous, devoted, hospitable, protective, soulful, and reflective. It is shaped by honoring heritage, family, and community. Caleb’s rich, bold, and heartfelt vocals bring those qualities to life in this record. His voice pulls on our heartstrings and invites us into a story that moves us and draws us closer to one another. The song makes you want to slow down and be patient, like enjoying a nice glass of lemonade on a hot Southern summer day.
Tierra Whack recognized that same emotional resonance when she reviewed Caleb’s “Southern Love” NPR Tiny Desk submission. Her response echoed what R&B music lovers have been searching for: music that feels familiar, intentional, and reflective of the heart. “...he just gives me a feeling like we’ve been missing”, she shares. She compares Caleb’s artistry to Musiq Soulchild, an artist also known for creating music that encourages openness and raw emotion. Tierra adds, “the song highlights simple times, good food, and comfort. You just can’t beat that”.
Caleb’s not new to being transparent and using music to help himself and others heal, learn, and grow. Recognizing the power of his gift, Caleb shares, “I have a gift of making people feel through song”. That gift became evident in 2015 with his record “Gone Too Soon”, where he walked listeners through tragedy and the process of grieving after losing his brother to gun violence in 2014. “That’s when I felt like I had something to say”, he reflects. Caleb identifies this moment as the moment that changed the trajectory of his life.
In 2019, Caleb’s journey led him to Los Angeles, where he continued to expand his gift by joining Kanye West’s Sunday Service choir. The move challenged him in new ways, but it also revealed another layer of his purpose. While Caleb shares, “sometimes I feel like I’m on an island by myself. I miss the Southern hospitality, culture, and food”, he reminds us not to focus on the place, but to focus on the purpose.
That purpose has carried Caleb across stages and experiences, from honoring Jon B by performing his hit songs in front of the legend himself to performing during Major’s “Why I Love You” 10 Year Anniversary Tour stop in Memphis. In 2023, his hometown of Bolivar, Tennessee, honored him with Caleb Minter Day, celebrated every July 1st. These blessings and achievements also reflect Caleb’s heart and his desire to inspire youth to live wholeheartedly and with divine direction.
Following the release of “Southern Love”, we can expect Caleb to continue bringing us back to the roots of who he is: his church foundation, his soulful singing, and his deep love for R&B music that keeps us yearning. That same intentionality will continue on his upcoming EP, Love Letter from the South, with the next single, “Transparency”. The record explores the many layers people carry into love, from trauma experienced through church, America, and childhood. The song highlights that we are all layered, and to build healthy relationships, we must be willing to be transparent and to understand the layers and experiences each person brings to a relationship.
Through this EP, Caleb hopes listeners will truly grasp what Southern living and loving represent. As Caleb states, “I want people to want to go to the South. I want women to want a man from the South”.
From live performances across Los Angeles to performing at weddings around the world, you can continue to experience Caleb operating in his gift and calling people back to a place of presence and togetherness. Yearning isn’t a lost art, and through Caleb’s artistry, it will continue to live on.
This was a great article! Thank you for sharing Courtney, and congratulations Caleb! 🎉🎉🎉