John Carroll Kirby announces debut album
Album release: 24th April 2020
Label: Stones Throw
More info: John Carroll’s website
Early praise for "Blueberry Beads"
"...lead track 'Blueberry Beads' is a phenomenal introduction...it's spacious synthetic arrangement carries a heavenly weight" - CLASH
"Jazz, funk, psych, and more come together on LA pianist/producer John Carroll Kirby’s riveting new song" - Brooklyn Vegan
LISTEN TO “BLUEBERRY BEADS”:
PITCHFORK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE | BANDCAMP
PRE-ORDER MY GARDEN:
STONES THROW | BANDCAMP
Pianist, producer and composer John Carroll Kirby has announced his new album My Garden will be released on April 24th via Stones Throw.
The album, which was written, recorded and produced entirely by Kirby, is a pure distillation of his sound — soulful, spiritual, and evocative. Demonstrating perfectly why Kirby is the go-to collaborator for artists ranging from experimental auteurs Bat for Lashes and Connan Mockasin to pop megastars Harry Styles and Kali Uchis, and R&B innovators Solange and Frank Ocean, My Garden is also a testament to the clarity and singularity of Kirby's vision.
A Los Angeles native, Kirby composes music as though traveling through time and space, warmly melting the seasons of his terrain from one mood to the next. The first single "Blueberry Beads" from the LP, which also serves as the album opener, begins with deep and punchy piano chords, easing into a soft electric synth-groove that floats and flutters as it builds into a bigger and brighter funk dream. The song was inspired by Kirby’s travels and spiritual teachings, specifically Kirby's guru, Sri Dharma Mittra, and his Rudraksha prayer beads that embody a playful yet devoted spirit, much like the artist himself.
"The song starts the album off upbeat, drawing inspiration from Japanese computer jazzer Yoshio Suzuk", Kirby explains of “Blueberry Beads". "I'm trying to find the depth in being playful, the humanity in technology. I recorded the piano with iPhone voice memos and the flutes are samples instead of a real player. Imagine late 60's Herbie Hancock played by Sophia, the humanoid AI."
Listen to “Blueberry Beads”, out now, and view the tracklisting for My Garden below.
