An Evolution In Pop Music
“Respect Their Words, Take Them With You”
Another stellar Friday of new music is upon us! There are so many great records dropping on Friday, July 10th, but please don’t overlook Memory Palace, the latest EP, by Bristol-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist James Humphrys.
In 2017, he burst onto the scene with his debut EP Sun Matra that featured pop, jazz, and island-R&B influences. The jolliness of these early tunes were the perfect match for a bright Summer day. While a bit of an outlier from his overall sound, the title-track has brief moments that bring to mind The Beatles. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you hear it.
Since Sun Matra, Humphrys has dwelled within the recent age of artists who primarily drop one-off singles. With each release, the polish and R&B influences have steadily increased, as well as the bounce of disco-esque beats. This includes the stellar 2020 track “Tongue Tied“ that features Conal Kelly, that is unfortunately not present on Memory Places.
What you will find, though, are 4 bombastic tracks perfect for driving around with your windows down. Checking in at a shade under 15 minutes, Memory Palace is the perfect length for a trip to grab some curbside chow.
The lead single for Memory Palace, “Colour,“ dropped in May and was my introduction to James Humphrys. The horns that accompanied his R&B grooves foreshadowed a level-jump from an indie pop artist to a future pop icon. I was hooked and took a dive into his previous catalog, that started with the aforementioned Sun Matra. Through this journey, I witnessed the evolution of his music, and I’d put the current iteration of his sound somewhere between Real Estate, Marsicans, Foals, and Bruno Mars.
Recent single “All The Same“ has rooted itself as one of my favorite songs from 2020. On the track, Humphrys reminds us that it’s okay to feel good about things and not to be afraid to believe in something that feels right. A message we all need during the turbulent times we find ourselves in.
Memory Palace drops tomorrow, Friday, July 10th, and I’ll save the final two songs for you to discover yourself. Trust me when I say that you won’t be disappointed!
Tune In & Tune Out,
-Josh
Level-Up with “Colour“ from memory Palace
A Live Session of the infectious “Tongue Tied“ (ft. Conal Kelly)
See if you hear what I was talking about with “Sun Matra“ below
Bonus Track - Travis recently mentioned Sofar Sounds, and here’s a Sofar performance of “Alone“ from Sun Matra
