R&B group Brownstone, consisting of original member Nicci Gilbert, Arin Jackson, and Alexis Jones, is back with their new single, “Stand By Me.”
Over a knocking drum beat, helmed by Soulshock, the vocal trio asks their respective lovers for grace during a rocky time in their relationship.
“I never said it’d be easy / I know I trip for no reason / Don’t let me push you away / ‘Cause baby I’m done playing games,” they harmonize on the hip-hop soul production.
“Stand By Me” is Brownstone’s first musical release since their 2023 cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s iconic hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
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In 2022, the trio released “All I Want,” their first single in 25 years, and “I’m Not Giving Up.” The latter track was dedicated to founding Brownstone member Maxee Maxwell, who tragically passed away in 2015.
“The song is a record I first heard a few years after Maxee died. I felt like she wanted me to record this song because she knew I was on the verge of giving up on music,” Gilbert explained. “It’s beautiful how when you quiet the noise and center your mind, how your spirit can change your heart.”
Circling back to “All I Want,” the song was dubbed the lead single from Brownstone’s third album, Back Again. At this time, a release date for the project has not been revealed.
Back Again will follow Brownstone’s 1997 sophomore album, Still Climbing, which included the hit single “5 Miles to Empty.” The latter song peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart (now called Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs).
On June 8, Brownstone will join TLC as a special guest at their concert at Stockbridge Amphitheater in Stockbridge, Georgia.
In other news, Brownstone appears on Future and Metro Boomin’s new album, We Still Don’t Trust You. The R&B group’s signature single “If You Love Me” is sampled on “Luv Bad B*tches.”
Stream Brownstone’s new song “Stand By Me” below.
