South London-based jazz and neo-soul artist Monterey J paints a vivid, genre-bending portrait of his home turf with “South Side Fantasy,” the first single from his upcoming sophomore album Welcome 2 South London. Featuring an evocative verse from Southsidefinn and production by Grammy-nominated Teo Marangon, the track is a rich, atmospheric ode to the city’s sonic and cultural landscape.
“South Side Fantasy” is less a song than a living, breathing groove. Anchored by glowing keys, meandering sax lines, and warm, fluid bass, the track blends free-jazz experimentation with smooth neo-soul melodies and hip-hop rhythm. The result is a layered, cinematic soundscape that evokes the very streets it was inspired by—one moment bustling, the next reflective.
Monterey J’s silky vocals drift effortlessly across the arrangement, guiding the listener through different moods and boroughs with lyrical elegance. “It’s what I hear in my head when I’m walking along the Thames,” he says, and that intention shines through. Each section of the track transitions like a new neighbourhood coming into view: from the chaos of the intro to the tight groove of the verses, and finally to the introspective outro.
Southsidefinn’s verse adds grit and depth to the dreamlike setting, grounding the track in the realities of creative hustle and everyday struggle, perfectly mirroring Monterey J’s vision of “the art life.”
Recorded between Cable Street Studios and the famed Lightship 95, with contributions from top South London talent including Joey Robbins, Tay Harvey, and Dan McConkey, the track is a collective love letter to place, process, and possibility.
With “South Side Fantasy,” Monterey J doesn’t just introduce Welcome 2 South London—he invites us to walk its streets with him, to listen closely, and to feel the pulse of a city that’s always in motion.
