SUAVE groove; deep, profoundly bass vocal hooks, a smooth and implicit funk that crosses over into indie with a twanging hook – is that your bag?
If so, please gather round for the first offerings for 2021 from London’s Attawalpa, “Please Take Care”, the video for which you can watch below.
Attawalpa is the way the capital’s Luis Felber is choosing to present his personal musical vision to the world. Previously he’s been out there plying his musicality in the service of others – he was Jamie T’s guitarist for five years from 2006; he’s one of the founders of Young Turks Records which, y’know, Jill Scott, The XX, SBTRKT, FKA Twigs; he’s also dabbled and crossed musical swords with the likes of Loyle Carner, Shame, Wolf Alice. No slouch, then.
And with the smoky atmospheres of this first drop from his Patterns EP, due on July 2nd, he’s gotta be one to watch. I doubt I’m alone in getting the effortless sonic multivalency of a certain Prince Rogers Nelson from the track.
“‘Please Take Care’ is song about being kind to yourself,” Luis explains.
“It touches upon the endless pursuit of stable mental health, along with the acceptance that our demons and crutches are immobilising assholes.
“Written from a place of frustration, it’s about a few people and situations, including my own experiences during a period of reflection on feeling numb for most of my life.
“This song came from the realisation that I could be myself without being toxic. Taking care of myself was the key.”
The video was directed by friend and collaborator Emma Chitty. Luis says of the visual string to the song’s bow: “There is a misalignment in looking outside yourself for completion.
“What we are searching for is already within us. There is magic in alignment. Aligning to who we are, letting ourselves be like water, flowing like a river. Taking care of oneself is saying yes to existence.”
We’re told the Patterns EP has an overarching theme of healing, all drawn together with musical chops and a personal approach to tunesmithery.
Attawalpa’s “Please Take Care” is out now across all digital streaming platforms.
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