If you love Jamie Miller’s “Babydoll”, start with Leon Bridges, Bruno Mars, Olivia Dean, Jalen Ngonda and Thee Sacred Souls.

These artists capture different parts of the recording’s appeal. Some combine expressive vocals with vintage soul instrumentation. Others have warm romantic melodies, strong grooves and the polished sound of contemporary pop.

“Babydoll” has become one of Britain’s defining hits of late 2026, spending three consecutive weeks at No. 1.

But its sound is noticeably different from many contemporary chart hits.

The recording draws heavily from classic soul and R&B, placing Miller’s voice at the centre of an arrangement featuring guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and brass.

If you’ve already read Radar’s explanation of the meaning behind “Babydoll”, these fifteen songs are an excellent way to explore the music that makes it so appealing.

What makes “Babydoll” distinctive?

The recording sounds nostalgic without being entirely old-fashioned.

Miller has discussed his admiration for artists such as Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway.

Those influences help explain the recording’s warm musical character.

The rhythm is playful, the vocal is expressive and the central message is romantic.

Unlike some of Miller’s earlier heartbreak songs, “Babydoll” celebrates the possibility of falling in love.

That makes it particularly suitable for listeners who enjoy optimistic soul-pop rather than melancholy piano ballads.

1. Leon Bridges – Beyond

One of the strongest recommendations.

“Beyond” combines an expressive vocal with a warm, soulful arrangement.

The song explores the excitement of meeting somebody who might become an important part of your life.

That optimism connects naturally with “Babydoll”.

Both recordings communicate affection without requiring enormous electronic production.

If you enjoy Miller’s melodic phrasing, Bridges is an essential next artist.

2. Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open

For a more theatrical version of romantic soul.

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak combine smooth vocals with elaborate instrumentation.

The production draws heavily from 1970s soul.

The rhythm is relaxed, the harmonies are polished and the performance is deliberately charming.

It’s an excellent recommendation if your favourite quality in “Babydoll” is the vintage character of the arrangement.

3. Olivia Dean – Man I Need

A contemporary British soul-pop favourite.

Olivia Dean combines intimate songwriting with polished arrangements.

“Man I Need” has a confident, melodic personality that makes it suitable for listeners discovering Jamie Miller’s more optimistic musical direction.

The vocal is expressive without becoming excessively dramatic.

Both artists draw from earlier soul traditions while creating accessible modern pop.

4. Jalen Ngonda – If You Don’t Want My Love

For something closer to classic soul.

Jalen Ngonda’s music draws strongly from the production and songwriting associated with the 1960s and 1970s.

His vocal performance is particularly distinctive.

“If You Don’t Want My Love” combines romantic frustration with an energetic rhythm.

It’s less polished than “Babydoll” in a contemporary-pop sense, but the musical connection is strong.

5. Thee Sacred Souls – Can I Call You Rose?

An excellent introduction to modern retro-soul.

Thee Sacred Souls create music that sounds closely connected with older American soul recordings.

The arrangement is restrained.

The vocal is gentle and intimate.

And the melody communicates romantic attraction without unnecessary production detail.

This is a particularly strong recommendation for listeners who want to explore beyond mainstream chart music.

6. Michael Jackson – Rock with You

A classic example of sophisticated romantic pop.

Produced by Quincy Jones, “Rock with You” combines a smooth vocal with a warm disco and R&B rhythm.

The recording is considerably more dance-oriented than Miller’s single.

But the musical confidence and melodic accessibility are closely related.

It’s an excellent introduction to the older pop traditions that helped influence contemporary soul-pop.

7. Yebba – Evergreen

A more emotional recommendation.

Yebba’s vocal ability is extraordinary.

“Evergreen” combines intimate singing with a gradually expanding arrangement.

The recording is much more melancholy than “Babydoll”.

But listeners attracted to Miller’s expressive vocals may enjoy Yebba’s ability to communicate emotion through relatively small changes in performance.

8. Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)

One of the most important historical recommendations.

The recording combines romantic commitment with an energetic Motown-influenced arrangement.

The rhythm is immediate.

The vocal is playful.

And the message is wonderfully direct.

Miller has identified Wonder as a significant inspiration, making this a particularly useful song for understanding the musical foundations of “Babydoll”.

9. Teddy Swims – Lose Control

For powerful contemporary soul vocals.

“Lose Control” is emotionally much darker than “Babydoll”.

But Teddy Swims combines R&B, soul and modern pop in a similarly vocal-focused way.

His performance is raw and intense.

Listeners who particularly enjoy Miller’s vocal range and expressive delivery should find plenty to appreciate.

10. October London – Back to Your Place

A smooth, nostalgic soul recommendation.

October London’s music incorporates strong influences from classic American R&B.

“Back to Your Place” has a relaxed rhythm and warm instrumentation.

Its musical atmosphere is more understated than “Babydoll”.

But both recordings demonstrate the continuing appeal of traditional soul songwriting within modern music.

11. Cleo Sol – When I’m in Your Arms

A particularly intimate recommendation.

Cleo Sol combines soul, R&B and restrained production.

Her singing is gentle but expressive.

The recording creates a feeling of reassurance and emotional closeness.

It’s an excellent choice for listeners who prefer the romantic warmth of “Babydoll” over its more energetic sections.

12. Bruno Mars – Treasure

A brighter, dance-oriented recommendation.

“Treasure” combines disco, funk and polished pop songwriting.

The rhythm is infectious.

The vocal is playful.

And the production deliberately references earlier musical styles.

It’s particularly suitable for listeners who enjoy the upbeat character of Miller’s recording and want something more energetic.

13. Lawrence – Don’t Lose Sight

A more contemporary funk-pop recommendation.

Lawrence combine powerful vocals with horns, keyboards and energetic rhythmic arrangements.

“Don’t Lose Sight” isn’t primarily a romantic song.

But its musical character makes it an excellent recommendation.

The production feels lively and performed rather than heavily synthetic.

That connects naturally with Miller’s new direction.

14. Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R. – Best Part

A gentle romantic R&B recording.

“Best Part” places the vocal relationship between the performers at the centre.

The arrangement is restrained.

The melody is intimate.

And the production allows the emotional message to remain clear.

It’s an excellent choice for listeners who want something softer than “Babydoll” without leaving contemporary soul.

15. Sam Cooke – You Send Me

Finish with an essential classic.

Sam Cooke’s recording helped establish a tradition of romantic soul-pop that influenced generations of singers.

The melody is simple and immediately recognisable.

The vocal has extraordinary warmth.

Listening to Cooke provides useful context for the musical tradition Miller is drawing from.

Sometimes the best way to understand a new pop song is to explore the recordings that made its sound possible.

What genre is “Babydoll”?

Soul-pop is the most useful description.

The recording also incorporates contemporary R&B and retro-pop influences.

Its arrangement includes live-sounding instrumentation and a prominent brass section, creating a musical identity closer to classic soul than minimalist electronic pop.

That doesn’t make it a historical reproduction.

Miller combines older influences with contemporary production and songwriting.

Why has the song become so popular?

Its warm, romantic character makes it immediately accessible.

The recording also developed momentum through a social-media dance trend and a version featuring actor and singer Antonio Cipriano.

But the song’s appeal extends beyond a short viral moment.

Its melody is strong enough to work independently.

And its musical style appeals to listeners interested in both classic soul and contemporary pop.

Which three songs should you listen to first?

Start with Leon Bridges’ “Beyond” for romantic soul-pop.

Then Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” for vintage production.

Finally, Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” for a contemporary British interpretation of similar musical traditions.

Those three capture different qualities of “Babydoll”.

What should you listen to next?

Explore Jamie Miller’s earlier “Here’s Your Perfect” to hear how his sound has changed.

Then move towards Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Leon Bridges.

For more contemporary discoveries, try Olivia Dean, Cleo Sol and Jalen Ngonda.

“Babydoll” is a particularly good starting point for exploring modern soul because it connects classic influences with an accessible chart-pop sound.