Photay’s new album, Windswept, out now; listen to final single ‘Global Wind Trade’

Photay‘s fifth album, Windswept, came out last Friday through Mexican Summer. Coinciding with the release, the LA based composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer released a new single called ‘Global Wind Trade’. Jazzy and more dance-driven, the track is unpredictable and catchy in equal parts. ‘Global Wind Trade’ comes with an accompanying video filmed and edited by Carson Davis Brown. Watch it below.

Photay announces new solo album, Windswept, and shares lead single ‘Derecho’

Photo: Carson Davis Brown

Photay, the alias of Los Angeles based composer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer Evan Shornstein, has announced the release of his fifth solo album. Entitled Windswept, it follows a string of collaborative projects, including improvisation albums with Niño and friends; More Arriving, the album he produced for London-based percussionist, producer and composer Sarathy Korwar, and WEMA, a supergroup of musicians from Tanzania and London. Slated for a September 20th release through Mexican Summer, the upcoming Windswept is an album about wind, sprouted from Photay’s intention to “mimic the ‘wind’”. As the press release describes, “the natural world had always been one of Photay’s calling cards, and now it had invaded the machine, and his writing.”

Alongside the album announcement, Photay has shared the first wondrous single, ‘Derecho’, named after a kind of severe wind storm. Speaking about it, he comments:

 “There are many types of wind. Some ebb and flow while others are so large that if you listen, you may hear a low howling drone that stretches for miles in all directions. A few years ago I started recording music during a period of high springtime winds. I found myself falling under the spell of this deep, unpredictable and often overwhelming force. “Derecho” was the first of many pieces created under the direct influence of these atmospheric conditions. After several gusty seasons, a whole album was created by listening to and reckoning with these larger spirits at play.”

‘Derecho’ comes with a visual accompaniment, watch it now.

Carlos Niño announces sixth collaborative album off his Carlos Niño & Friends series

Carlos Niño has announced a new collaborative album off his Carlos Niño & Friends series, entitled Bliss On Dear Oneness and slated for a November 22nd release through Leaving Records. On the same series, he had previously released Going Home in 2017, featuring a stellar cast of guest contributors. On the upcoming Bliss On Dear Oneness, the revered LA based producer, composer, ensemble orchestrator, percussionist, DJ and mentor assembled again an array of terrific collaborators, including Laraaji, Ish of Shabazz Palaces, Kamasi Washington, Atwood-Ferguson, Sam Gendel, Iasos, Jamire Williams, Deantoni Parks and Dexter Story, amongst others.

Ahead of the album’s release, we can already listen to ‘Forest Pulse’, featuring Laraaji & Photay. Check out the accompanying video below.