Ready or not, โhot girl summerโ is here and itโs time to jump into these cool soundwaves. Here are a couple of new releases from Portland-based artists, and a few shows to get you through to mid-July.
โTruth,โ Mark Ronson featuring Alicia Keys, The Last Artful, Dodgr
Portland-based artist the Last Artful, Dodgr has been teasing her collaboration with Mark Ronson since 2017, when she posted a video on Instagram of them in the studio together. Finally, weโre able to enjoy the fruits of their labor: an upbeat R&B-pop song about perseverance called โTruth,โ from Ronsonโs Late Night Feelings album of โsad bangers.โ Dodgrโs distinct voice is the highlight and driving force of the songโwhich is saying a lot considering sheโs sharing the spotlight with prolific soul singer/pianist Alicia Keys. With two verses sung by Dodgr, the catchy chorus features the voice of both her and Keys: โHow bad do you want it?/This way to the truth/I put everything on it/This way, follow suit.โ After Dodgrโs almost unrecognizable feature on Anderson .Paakโs excellent โAnywhere,โ featuring Snoop Dogg, itโs nice to hear the artist lean in to her unique voice for this track.
โGlory Glory,โ Rasheed Jamal
Iโve been waiting for Rasheed Jamal to drop new music ever since 2017โs Indigo Child (and since Jamal teased new music during his Pickathon set last year). But Jamal has remained quiet up until June 21, when the rapper finally dropped โGlory Glory,โ the first single from his forthcoming album. As with much of Jamalโs material, the song is raw and his delivery is on pointโhe holds nothing back as he makes vivid testimony about the things heโs been through, from gentrification to losing loved ones to crack addiction and overdose. Jamalโs output isnโt exactly the kind of stuff you party or get inebriated to, but itโs pretty much guaranteed to be a banger when performed live. (Fri July 12, 10 pm, Jack London Revue, 529 SW 4th, $10-15) ย ย ย
The Thesis: Sqvtch, Amenta Abioto,
[E]mpress
While the Thesis usually happens every first Thursday, July’s showcase was moved to Friday to avoid clashing with downtown’s Independence Day festivities. This rare Friday-night Thesis has lots of allure: in addition to Sqvtchโwho recently released his full-length project Whatever Makes You Happyโthe multi-talented musician Amenta Abioto will surely stun the Kelly’s crowd with her melodic, loop-based live renditions of songs like “Revolution,” “Plant It,” and “I Would Like.” The bill gets even more stacked with the addition of MC [E]mpress, and special guests to boot. (Fri July 5, 9 pm, Kellyโs Olympian, 426 SW Washington, $10, w/JxJURY, Veana Baby)
Speaker Minds, Adebisi, Arietta Ward
Behold: two Portland-based hip-hop bands on one bill. Thereโs hip-hop/funk/soul six-piece Speaker Minds, which includes MC Randal Wyatt, and seven-piece neo-soul outfit Adebisi, led by singer Bisi Ashley. (Check out Adebisiโs lovely song and accompanying video โHere it Comes,โ featuring Mal London.) Hold onto your edges: With added support from singer Arietta Ward AKA the โfirst daughter of funk and R&B,โ this bill is set to slay. (Sat July 6, 9 pm, Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, $10-12)
Brown Calculus
Thereโs no better time than the present to see post-soul/space-jazz duo Brown Calculus. Led by vocalist Vaughn Kimmons (AKA Brown Alice)โwho recently garnered an invite to become a voting member of the Recording Academyโand anchored by Brown Calvinโs interstellar keys and production, the celestial R&B outfit puts on one of the most cathartic live shows in town. Come take refuge in Holoceneโs air-conditioned warehouse, and bask in songs like โSelf Care,โ and โGood Jobโ while you sip on a slushy. Youโll be glad you came out to a Brown Calculus show while theyโre still cheap. (Wed July 10, 8:30 pm, Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, $8-10, w/Just Pretend, Omari Jazz, Reliqs)
Hustle and Drone, ePP, Fountaine
Electronic trio Hustle and Drone are celebrating the release of new single “Stranger,”ย from their upcoming full-length What an Uproar, by hosting a mixed-genre show that promises a secret act and some special collaborations. MCs ePP and Fountaineโartists that landed on Willamette Week‘s Best New Band 2019 list, at numbers seven and four, respectivelyโprovide support for the bill. The local accolade was well deserved as Fountaine is one of the city’s most active, talented, and entertaining MC/producer/DJs, and ePP’s recently released sixth album Thereโs a Place for People Like You, is his most impactful yet. (Sat July 13, 9 pm, the Liquor Store, 3341 SE Belmont, $8)
