Hey, there! It's been a couple weeks since I’ve cued up some tracks, I hope all is well. I'm back fresh off a 3 city DJ tour overseas and while I was gone there have been new releases I'm excited to share with you.
Moonchild – “Too Much to Ask”
I've been following this Los Angeles jazz trio's career from the beginning. It's amazing to see their growth and the prominent fans they've gained during that time. Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff and KCRW favorites Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and Tom Misch are all fans. "Too Much to Ask" beautifully illustrates the emotional honesty behind their forthcoming album, and is the perfect prelude to Little Ghost, due out Sept 6th. Lead singer Amber Navran explains that lyrically, it's "the person you love, doesn't love you like you love them."
Tess Henley – “Same Girl”
I first discovered Tess Henley in 2015 when a series of competition wins brought her the attention of legendary producer and president of Blue Note records, Don Was. He was so impressed with her talent the he ended up producing her Wonderland EP that same year. Shortly thereafter, she sort of disappeared; that is until she released what turned out to be the title track for her new EP late last summer. In a post on her Facebook page last Friday, she announced, "BETTER EP is out." She also addressed her hiatus:
It's taken years to say that and I think I'm in shock a little bit. Four years ago, I needed change. I made a decision to press refresh in many areas of my life...Luckily my desires were heard and I found a safe place to do just that.
As a fan of hers, I am beyond pleased to welcome her back because though her talent was never in question, Henley has discovered a sound which perfectly combines her excellent writing skills, her soulful pop vocals and retro production. Check out the visuals for my favorite song "Same Girl."
Ghost Orchard – “Bunny”
Ghost Orchard is a recent discovery and the brainchild of Sam Hall. The Grand Rapids native has been making beat heavy, bedroom pop for several years now. His sound is familiar, yet new and fresh at the same time. "Bunny" is the title track from a forthcoming album, due to drop 2 weeks from today. It's a unique mix of electronica, folk and hip hop all in one. In fact, FADER describes it as an "intimate Elliot Smith-inspired acoustic sketch and a smoked-out MPC jam after listening to [J Dilla's] Donuts front to back."
Now if that doesn't intrigue you, I'm not sure what will.
Taylor McFerrin – “Love and Distance”
I've been a big, big fan of Taylor McFerrin since he burst onto the scene in 2006 with his fantastic Broken Vibes EP. He has been showcasing his prolific production and beatboxing skills for well over a decade now and has collaborated with everyone from his famous father to Robert Glasper, Anderson Paak.,Haitus Kaiyote, Jose James, Corrine Bailey Rae and more.
Though he began experimenting with singing on his last album, McFerrin's sophomore release Love's Last Chance marks a new direction of his artistic expression, as his vocals are featured on 7 of the 10 songs. In an interview he explains that, "Over the years, I'd learn how to convey myself well through my instrumentals but singing brings me closer than ever to being able to share everything that's going on inside me." "Love and Distance" is the third and final single from the forthcoming album that comes out one week from today.