Little Ghost marks the return of LA-based trio Moonchild with their most thoughtfully crafted and complete album to date. Led by first single “Too Much to Ask” (out 19th July), the release sees multiinstrumentalists Amber Navran, Max Bryk, and Andris Mattson channel boundless sonic energy as they explore some of the most personal aspects of what it is to be in love and to believe in who you truly are.
Opening track “Wise Women” sets the tone of the LP; with production,
beats and lyrics coming from Navran as she offers hope to any woman who has ever
felt undervalued or dismissed. Speaking of the influences behind the track, she
adds; “Women are underestimated, especially women of colour. I think a wise
woman, someone who’s dealt with and conquered that feeling, doesn’t wait
for the opportunities to come to her. She re-invents the game, finds a way to be
heard and helps normalise the image of a strong, badass, talented woman to the
people who underestimate her and the women around her”.
Lead single “Too Much to Ask” beautifully continues the emotional honesty
behind ‘Little Ghost’. “Lyrically, it’s about realising the person you
love doesn’t love you like you love them”, Navran explains. “We all want
to be loved the way we love, right? Sometimes you reach a point of: is it too
much to ask to be in a relationship with a person that feels balanced? That
feels like both people are in it, in love to the same extent”. As her voice
shines softly over Nonameinspired production from Mattson, interwoven with an
electric piano patch, a charming dash of guitar and a touch of ukulele, a sound
is created as pure as the question asked.
Since the release of their critically acclaimed ‘Voyager’ album,
Moonchild have toured the album across the world, with headline tours in North
America, Asia and Europe as well as opening for The Internet and Kamasi
Washington. Whilst travelling, the band wasted no time working on ‘Little
Ghost’ as they started putting together beats and production ideas on the
road; “Eventually we were able to spend time solely on the album, going to
Lake Arrowhead for writing retreats and meeting up at each other’s houses
back in LA” says Bryk. Channelling this collaborative spirit, the LP is
undoubtedly a continuation of the Moonchild
story as the trio work together to achieve the sound they feel represents the
band; “Moonchild has been a project between the three of us where we work to
achieve sound we all have in our heads, but can’t articulate into words”,
Bryk summarises.
This fondness for experimentation and teamwork follows across the release, particularly through the instrumentation with band members coming together to form harmonies and horn solos; as shown in the funk-fuelled “Come Over” features three separate horn solos back-to-back-to-back from Moonchild with Bryk on Clarinet, Mattson on Flugelhorns and Amber on flutes showcasing their otherworldly musical talent and respect for one another. Speaking of “What You’re Doing”, Bryk talks through their symbiotic writing process; “I love the way everyone collaborated on this track. I wrote the verse, then Amber wrote the chorus, Andris chimed in with the clutch intro/outro and we wrote the bridge as a group”. Navran adds, “As I get older I feel more confident, more comfortable in my own skin, less socially anxious, but this track is about those charmers who still get to you”.
With a unique style of alternative R&B, soul and new-school jazz that has cemented their spot in today’s music scene, Moonchild continue to intertwine lyrical concepts with expansive glistening melodies, harmonies and irresistible interludes. Taking its name from the most emotional of celestial bodies (in the eyes of the band), ‘Little Ghost’ follows the widely-praised ‘Voyager’ [2017], ‘Please Rewind’ [2015] and ‘Be Free’ [2012] which were shown love by DJs like Gilles Peterson, Don Letts and Huey Morgan (BBC 6Music) to Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1XTRA) and Anthony Valadez (KCRW) alongside Jazz FM who named the band Soul Act Of The Year 2018. The releases garnered press and online praise from The Fader, Echoes Magazine, Saint Heron, Kick Mag, KCRW and Okayplayer, with ‘Voyager’ racking up 45 million streams on Spotify whilst the video for single “The List” has gained 7+ million views on YouTube.
Moonchild have collaborated and toured with highly-respected names from across music including Kamasi Washington, Stevie Wonder, The Internet, Jill Scott, been compared to the likes of Tom Misch and Jordan Rakei and built up a host of iconic supporters from Robert Glasper (who collaborated with Navran on his latest release with R+R=Now) and Laura Mvula to James Poyser, Jazzy Jeff, 9th Wonder and Tyler, The Creator.