R&B / Soul: Fall 2025

Monarch R&B/Soul Recommendations

ANGELIQUE FRANCIS
Not Defeated

With Not Defeated, award-winning soul and blues powerhouse Angelique Francis delivers an album brimming with resilience, passion, and unapologetic truth. Known for her commanding voice, multi-instrumental talent, and magnetic stage presence, Francis crafts songs that merge classic soul traditions with contemporary urgency.

The project’s title reflects its central message: survival and triumph through adversity. Layering gospel-infused vocals, driving blues riffs, and modern grooves, Francis honors her musical roots while pushing forward with bold originality. Not Defeated is more than an album—it’s a statement of strength, identity, and hope, affirming Francis as one of soul music’s most compelling rising voices.

KAREN BERNOD
Iris

With Iris, acclaimed soul singer and songwriter Karen Bernod returns with a project that radiates vulnerability, strength, and deep musicality. Known for her rich harmonies and empowering anthems, Bernod blends classic soul with contemporary R&B, crafting songs that explore love, self-discovery, and spiritual renewal.

The title Iris symbolizes vision and clarity—reflecting an artist who sees both the struggles and beauty of life with unflinching honesty. Through lush arrangements, expressive vocals, and thoughtful lyrics, Bernod delivers an album that uplifts while inviting listeners into intimate reflection. Iris confirms her place as a fearless voice in modern soul, uniting tradition with evolution.

DARRYL ALEXANDER
Morning Calls

In Morning Calls, soulful vocalist Darryl Alexander unveils a project that greets the day with warmth, reflection, and inspiration. Known for his smooth delivery and heartfelt storytelling, Alexander blends classic soul with contemporary R&B textures, creating music that feels both timeless and fresh.

The album’s title reflects the quiet power of beginnings—those early hours when clarity, hope, and resilience rise. Through tender ballads and groove-driven tracks, Alexander captures the complexities of love, healing, and personal growth. With Morning Calls, he reaffirms his place as a dynamic voice in modern soul, offering songs that comfort, uplift, and resonate deeply.

ERIC ROBERSON
Beautifully All Over

With Beautifully All Over, Grammy-nominated indie soul icon Eric Roberson delivers another masterclass in storytelling, groove, and heartfelt emotion. A pioneer of independent R&B, Roberson has long been celebrated for his ability to craft songs that speak directly to the soul.

This project deepens his legacy, weaving narratives of love, vulnerability, and self-discovery into lush arrangements and irresistible melodies. The title suggests both wholeness and transformation—an embrace of life’s highs and lows with beauty and grace. Beautifully All Over stands as a testament to Roberson’s artistry, reaffirming his role as a defining voice in contemporary soul music.

AMBER MARK
Pretty Idea

With Pretty Idea, genre-blending singer-songwriter Amber Mark unveils her most expansive vision yet. Known for fusing R&B, soul, pop, and global influences, Mark channels her radiant vocals and sharp lyricism into an album that explores vulnerability, transformation, and empowerment.

Pretty Idea is both personal and universal—an exploration of the ideals we hold versus the realities we face, set against lush production and irresistible rhythms. From introspective ballads to groove-rich anthems, Mark delivers a body of work that feels daring yet intimate. This project confirms her as one of contemporary soul and R&B’s most innovative and emotionally resonant voices.

SEPTEMBER GRAY
Proprietor of September Gray Fine Art Gallery

BIO 

Gray’s life’s work is a reflection of her enduring passion for the arts. Following a noteworthy career in the performing arts, Gray launched a successful fine art consultancy practice wherein she was celebrated for her ability to assist corporate and private collectors with articulating and executing single acquisition and long–term collecting strategies. Gray’s career in the arts and decade as an art consultant inform her role as gallerist. An avid collector, Gray has a talent for “speaking the language” of both artist and collector and a knack for connecting the gallery’s clients to works by artists whose vision and methodologies resonate with their individual tastes, complement their existing collections and honor their overall investment strategy and appetite for risk. Gray holds a B.A. in Art History from DePaul University. A committed art education advocate, Gray serves on a number of non-profit boards and is co-founder of The Gray Foundation, an organization committed to building a world of enriched life options for youth through the promotion of art and education. Gray shares art news and collection strategies in her electronic quarterly journal, The Gray Book.

https://septembergrayart.com/

JUSTIN SULIVAN, CFP
Senior Vice President Market Leader

BIO 

Justin oversees a team of professionals striving to achieve the highest level of client satisfaction. His top priority is that the team not only meets, but also exceeds the client’s expectations. Through Justin’s leadership and commitment, he helps ensure that the client benefits form a full complement of investment, trust, financial planning and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals.

XAVIER DANIELS

BIO  

Paintings are influenced by his experiences with brotherhood at both Morehouse and as a firefighter. In creating his art, he is actively thinking about the perception of black men and attempting to be a catalyst for a different view on the black male experience. According to Daniels, the conversations happening in popular culture about black males leave them invisible in discussions about themselves. The portraits of black men Daniels creates are large in an effort to symbolically assert black male presence into those conversations. His work has been shown around the world through Almine Rech and Richard Beavers Gallery. Xavier lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://xavierdaniels.com/

MARRYAM MOMA

BIO

A Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist based in Atlanta, GA, is renowned for her prolific exhibition history. Moma’s dedication to her art has earned her prestigious residencies at The Migration Artist Residency, Atlanta, GA, and a blended residency and teaching opportunity at The Swimming HoleFoundation in Upstate NY. The Hambidge Center for the Arts awarded her a Distinguished Artist Fellowship, enriching her narrative-driven solo exhibitions like “ICONoclasts.” This showing intertwines paper cut elements to celebrate and empower revolutionary Black figures. Moma continues to innovate within her practice, expanding her presence through murals, public art installations and exhibitions including an indoor mural for Clark Atlanta universities student innovation lounge sponsored by Dell Technologies and Home depot, ICONoclasts Atlanta building-wide public installation sponsored by Dashboard and If Not Us then Who public digital art mural sponsored by A&E Atlanta. 

https://www.marryammoma.com/

DL WARFIELD

BIO

Atlanta-based artist DL Warfield, a veteran artist who has consistently proven himself a talent of the highest caliber – one who has delivered at the highest levels repeatedly throughout his life and career. Yes, many artists are talented; DL Warfield is prolific.

Warfield’s body of work proves his instinctive knowledge and understanding of pop culture and has given him a permanent place at the cutting edge of the new and next. From St. Louis to New York City, Atlanta and worldwide, his talent, skill and endless creativity have taken him to the top of his field again and again, and he intends to push forward wherever a path to artistic excellence can be forged.

The following is a snapshot of his works and clientele. 

Nike, Sprite, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Geffen Records, Sony Entertainment, DreamWorks, Sony Music, OutKast Inc., Universal Records, Boys & Girls Clubs, HBO, Virgin Records, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Vibe Magazine, automotive giant Ford Motor Company. He designed the branding for the City of Atlanta’s Film and Entertainment office and at the same time, His fine art has been featured at national landmarks, including the Time-Life Building in New York City, and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY, which he loaned two original pieces for three years.

https://dlwarfield.com/

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region. 

www.eddiefontno.com

RSVP

We are no longer accepting RSVPs for the Art of Luxury Lifestyle Dinner, but you are welcome to RSVP Here for the Portrait Reveal Event from
9:30PM to 11:30 PM!

ROBERT KOOL BELL| LE KOOL CHAMPAGNE

BIO

For many years, Robert Kool Bell, Leader and Co-founder of Kool & The Gang, sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot a Multi-Vintage producer since 1884. Voila The Celebration Champagne was born! 

https://lekoolchampagne.com

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region.

Website: www.eddiefontno.com