Mr Jukes and Barney Artist announced their collaborative album, The Locket, out July 2nd via their own label The Locket Records. The pair, who were instantly bonded by a mutual love of the ever-changing landscape of modern hip-hop also just shared their new single Vibrate along with a video that sees them take over UK amusement park Alton Towers.
Vibrate is the second single from the album, following last month’s Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind). The Locket features ten sunshine-dappled, psych-tinged, hip-hop flavoured, leftfield pop tracks cut from sessions that span over eighteen months. Beats, bars and a unique sort of retro futurism that zips from sepia-tinged to full technicolour almost as fast as Barney’s flow.
The Locket’s title track refers to memories of happier times: “we fill a locket with memories we protect, and don’t forget to keep it round your neck“. It’s a reminder to focus on positivity in the face of adversity. A collaborative project designed to be enjoyed together. A celebration of music, unity and looking ahead. “The aim is to bring hope to people after the maddest year“, Barney says. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
During a period of prolonged inactivity, Jack Steadman, best known as the frontman for the celebrated UK band Bombay Bicycle Club, scratched an itch to do something new with the release of God First. We say ‘by himself’ but it was very much an open-door policy, resulting in a collaborative record that brought contributions by legends such as Charles Bradley, De La Soul, Horace Andy, Lianne La Havas and BJ The Chicago Kid. The album also features the first Jukes x Barney collab with From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew which also featured Lalah Hathaway.
Barney’s music takes the vibrance of jazz infused hip hop but with a London feel. Growing up in Forest Gate, East London, Barney touches on conscious themes by way of lively, dynamic delivery to create something instantly likeable, like the artist. He’s a larger than life presence, fun to be around and a searing, peerless talent too. A collaborator by nature, Barney grew up around Tiana Major9 and Jay Prince and has made music with close friends Tom Misch, Alfa Mist and Jordan Rakei.
Tracklist:
01. The Locket
02. Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)
03. Poems
04. Déjà Vu
05. Vibrate
06. Autumn Leaves (feat. Lex Amor)
07. All For You
08. Check The Pulse (feat. Kofi Stone)
09. Leaving Us In Light 10 – Gratitude
Mr Jukes
- https://soundcloud.com/mrjukesmusic
- https://www.instagram.com/mrjukesmusic/
- https://www.facebook.com/mrjukesmusic
- https://twitter.com/mrjukesmusic
- https://open.spotify.com/artist/1y71H4hNtnHG7LeU1Y47FO
Barney Artist
- https://soundcloud.com/barneyartist
- https://www.instagram.com/barneyartist/
- https://www.facebook.com/BarneyArtist
- https://twitter.com/barneyartist
- https://open.spotify.com/artist/5iRM7qYip6UNfQaPe2reCz