Dome Records has just rush-released a brand new single from Portland’s popular soulman Jarrod Lawson, with plans in hand to follow it up fast with an entire album this autumn.
The tune, Embrace What We Are, was inspired by the long lineage of police brutality in the US: Jarrod actually began writing in response to the death of Eric Garner back in the summer of 2014, but of course it correlates to the recent murder of George Floyd, the event which has ignited a firestorm of protests across the globe.
Says Jarrod:
“The original idea for the song came from a while back, when we were going through a period of many of these incidents happening – including, as you say, Eric Garner. I started recording the original demo several years ago too, with a different bass player and drummer. These last couple of years I have been touring with a different band – I have Cory Limuaco on drums, I have my old bass player back, Chris Friesen, I have the legend that is Sammy Figueroa on percussion and also Trent Baarspul on guitar. As soon as we performed the song with this quintet I knew we had to go back in and re-record it. It sounded like everyone was so much more invested in it. It’s a much clearer representation of the song. Aside from the central message, the musicianship is ridiculous.”
Jarrod confirms that the song will appear on his upcoming album, which has been recorded and is currently being mixed, with a projected release date in mid-to-late September.
“You know me: I try to put messages into my music that I think are relevant and that people can grab a hold of. This next album will be no exception to that. Not all the songs are as politically charged as Embrace is, but there’s definitely plenty to talk about.”
Proceeds from the sales of Embrace What We Are will be donated to COLOROFCHANGE.ORG, an organisation whose goal is to empower and amplify black voices and their allies, make government more responsive to the concerns of Black Americans, and bring about positive political and social change for everyone.
Buy the single here: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/embrace-what-we-are-single/1517994825
