Various Artists - Brighter Days Ahead (Volume 2) [Colemine Blue]

In the spring of 2020, with the world shut down and their release schedule in pieces, Colemine Records started dropping a new digital single every Thursday night and called the campaign Brighter Days Ahead. Those weekly tunes, along with virtual listening parties and YouTube DJ sets, became a 2LP compilation in 2021 and a small lifeline for soul fans stuck at home.

Volume 2 flips the idea around. Where the first collection looked back at what the Loveland, Ohio label had already released, this one looks ahead. Label owner Terry Cole describes it as a crystal ball pointed at Colemine's 2027 schedule: a preview of new music from across the Colemine family of artists, including songs that haven't been released digitally, rough mixes, and tracks so fresh their titles aren't final yet.

That makes the record itself the point. For now, this LP is the only way to hear these songs, a run of modern soul, funk, and deep groove from one of the most consistent independent labels working in the style today, run out of the office above their Plaid Room Records shop.

Pressed on Colemine Blue vinyl. Out November 27, 2026.