Tag: Brijean Moody

Brijean shares Buscabulla’s remix of “Moody” from upcoming EP.

Photo by Mancy Gant

Earlier this year Oakland-based duo Brijean released Feelings, “an album that’s as soothing as it is grand” (Bandcamp). Today, Brijean announces the Feelings Remixes EP coming out August 13th on Ghostly International, and presents the “Moody (Buscabulla Remix).” In addition to the Buscabella remix, the EP extends the relaxed reverie of Feelings with contributions from Sam Gendel, DRAMA, and Rick Wade. Brijean Murphy and Doug Stuart’s deep roots in jazz, pop, electronic and Latin spheres inform the music they make as Brijean, and these influences are reflected in the diverse group of remixers they tapped for this project.
 
Puerto Rican synth-pop duo Buscabulla accentuate the percussive downtempo flair of “Moody.” Keeping Murphy’s stream-of-consciousness lyrics at the forefront, the polyrhythmic percussion is sparing and, well, moody. Sprinkles of subtle yelps, harp flutters, gauzy synths, and sinuous synth grooves give this rework a unique neo-tropicalia vibe. Murphy elaborates, “I first heard of Buscabulla from a club poster at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. I was playing at that venue with a band I was touring with around the same time and fell in love with their music. They play with time signatures, levels and expression in an enveloping and inspiring way. They are insanely talented artists and I’m so so stoked to have their lush, experimental and moving touch on our song ‘Moody.’“
 
Buscabella adds, “We had plans to meet Brijean the next time we swung by San Francisco on tour before the pandemic hit. We love their vibe and doing this remix is as close as we can get to jamming together in the same place. We aimed to deconstruct the original and to explore the point where our separate influences converge. Fusing together the futuristic synthesized drums and bass with organic syncopated Caribbean percussion. Here’s to a jam in real life.”

Buscabilla photo by Quique Cabanillas

Rhythm is the driving force of Feelings; each featured remix plays with that force, adding, subtracting, and altering percussive elements to build a range of sonic environments — true to Brijean’s mission of encouraging uninhibited imagination and new possibilities.
Stream “Moody (Buscabulla Remix)”

Feelings Remixes EP Tracklist:
1. “Moody (Buscabulla Remix)”
2. “Ocean (Sam Gendel Remix)”
3. “Hey Boy (DRAMA Remix)”
4. “Day Dreaming (Rick Wade Remix)”

Watch/Share/Listen:
“Wifi Beach” Video
“Hey Boy” Video
“Ocean” Video
“Day Dreaming” Video
“Moody” Stream
Purchase/Stream Feelings

Keep your mind open.

[I’ll be moody if you don’t subscribe.]

[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Brijean’s “Moody” might put you in the mood.

Photo by Jack Bool

Brijean – the Oakland-based duo of Brijean Murphy and Doug Stuart – announces signing to Ghostly International and shares new single “Moody.” The easy-grooving, ephemeral cut “Moody” captures Brijean’s signature sound in just over two minutes: the dazzling, golden-hued haze of percussive beats and honeyed vocals. Stuart says the track is “a quick gentle trip” that started in a living room — recording with Murphy’s drum mentor Pepe Jacobo — windows open, stream-of-consciousness lyrics flowing.

Murphy, an accomplished DJ, session and live player in Oakland’s diverse music scene has emerged as one of indie’s most in-demand percussionists (Poolside, Toro Y Moi, U.S. Girls). In 2018, she began recording songs with multi-instrumentalist and producer Stuart, who shares a background in jazz and pop in bands such as Bells Atlas, Meernaa, and Luke Temple. Murphy’s musical talents are family heirlooms: her father, percussionist and engineer Patrick Murphy, taught Brijean her first patterns on a pair of congas that she inherited from the late Trinidadian steel drum legend Vince Charles (Neil Diamond). Growing up in LA’s Glassell Park, Murphy was raised by a cadre of honorary aunts and uncles – a deep bench of jazz, latin and soul musicians in their own rites. This meant she grew up regaled by musical lore – larger than life tales of jazz luminaries, psychedelic trips and obscure cultural enclaves – sampling some of those family stories and weaving them into her work.

Growing up outside of Chicago, Stuart found his way into jazz clubs and festivals as a teenager, frequently going to hear Jeff Parker, Fred Anderson, and other members of the AACM. While attending the University of Michigan, he studied under Detroit jazz royalty, Robert Hurst and Geri Allen. After college, Stuart became intrigued by the music of J Dilla and Moodymann, and began learning production and exploring the connections between jazz, house, and hip hop.

Eventually dubbed Brijean, the project grew out of marathon sessions at their intimate home-studio, wedged between touring schedules that rarely-overlapped. Their first effort, Walkie Talkie (released by Native Cat Recordings in 2019), found Murphy taking the mic for the first time to deliver dreamy dance tracks that felt home-cooked and effortlessly chic. Her layered percussion and hypnotic, expressive vocals coupled with Stuart’s production and harmonic palette evoked shades of disco, ‘90s house, and a sly pop sensibility. Ghostly International has also re-released Walkie Talkie alongside “Moody” which is the first taste of new, forthcoming material.

Stream “Moody”:
https://ghostly.ffm.to/brijean-moody

Keep your mind open.

[Why not subscribe while you’re in the mood?]

[Thanks to Patrick at Pitch Perfect PR.]