Alanna Royale

Trouble Is is Nashville vocalist Alanna Royale's full-length statement, produced by Kelly Finnigan of The Monophonics and released in late 2023 on a joint ticket between Colemine Records, Soul Step, and Trash Casual. It's a cinematic, deep-soul record — heavy strings, tight horns, and Finnigan's analog-leaning studio touch underneath a voice that leans more confessional balladry than party-starter throwback.

Royale had spent the better part of a decade on the Nashville soul-and-funk circuit before this one, and Trouble Is is the record that finally sat her down for a long, moody, album-scale story about heartbreak. Finnigan produced it at his own Transistor Sound in San Rafael, California, which is where a lot of the current Colemine roster ends up tracking.

Cool stuff:

• Produced by Kelly Finnigan The Monophonics frontman has become one of the go-to producers of the modern deep-soul resurgence; this is one of his fullest-sounding records.
• Triple-label release Came out jointly on Colemine, Soul Step, and Trash Casual — which is why there are multiple vinyl variants floating around, including Soul Step's Wax Mage editions.
• Transistor Sound sessions Tracked in San Rafael at Finnigan's own studio with the Monophonics crew backing her on most cuts.
• Album, not a revue Where a lot of the retro-soul scene leans on upbeat 45s, this one is an LP-length breakup story that asks to be played front to back.

Spin it for: cinematic modern deep soul with heavy strings, a knockout lead voice, and the best of the Colemine/Monophonics production sound.

Standouts: "Trouble Is" · "Never Go Back" · "If I Could" · "Got It Wrong"

Sources: Colemine Records · Soul Step Records · KMUW feature · The Rodeo Magazine interview · Nashville Scene Q&A