Ahead of the release of his upcoming independently released jazz/soul album ‘Flying Broken Form’ (out on April 4th), Sean Haefeli presents three songs: ‘Drop’, ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Ride to the Beat’.
Born in Indianapolis and now based in Berlin, Sean Haefeli is a vocalist and musician who represents a new breed of artist, schooled in jazz, soul and hip-hop, able to execute with an emcee’s sense of flow, a singer’s melodic sensibilities, and a jazz pianist’s deft improvisations. His forthcoming, independently released fifth album ‘Flying Broken Form’ bridges the gap between classic and cutting-edge, commanding a creative space that’s all his own.
‘Drop’ announces Sean Haefeli’s reemergence, in full control of his dynamic skillset. He melodically raps, laying down colorful chords, while the drummer plays a bossa-funk inspired beat over soulful bass lines. Punctuated by background vocals building into a piano solo, the track climaxes as the vocals return, “they keep saying next time, maybe it’s the best time,” before shifting into the coda’s hypnotic groove.
Harkening back to Sean Haefeli’s earliest musical experiences, ‘Battle Cry’ opens with a deep gospel feeling, the organ filled in by an analog synth and stripped down beat. The lyrics express gravity and longing, “amplified future, disembodied past, a handful of sutras, hope I’m up to the task to last and go the distance.” The track escalates into a denser sonic texture, arpeggiators, delays, and layered background vocals over a driving bass, before again quieting into the contemplative closure, “lead me to the water, lead me to your battle cry.”
An uplifting anthem, propelled by tight horn riffs, a booming chorus of vocals and smooth lyrical flow, ‘Ride to the Beat’ represents Sean’s fresh interpretation of a track he recorded with DJ Vadim almost a decade ago. The dubby bassline, simple harmony and warm keys, wash over with a light-hearted summertime feel, inviting the listener to journey, “six gears on a cosmic ride.”
Listen to ‘Drop’, ‘Battle Cry’ and ‘Ride to the Beat’ here
Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff
