Photo credit: Brandon Hines
UCLA alumnus and latest breakout star to come out of LA Moses Sumney is set to release “Seeds”, a dreamlike solo track now available on his Soundcloud, as a 7” for Terrible Records this summer. This news comes as his country-wide tour with multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens comes to an end, and spells an exciting summer for the artist, who is booked to play The Hollywood Bowl with legendary soul artist Erykah Badu and St. Vincent in August. The young up-and-comer, who hails from both Southern California and Ghana, is doubling down on his quiet, yet full-sounding musical style with this new single, which he has shared with the public prior to an official release.
The track is best described as stripped-down, cerebral, with almost-whispering vocals flowing into melodic hums. To accomplish his unique sounds, Sumney loops his own tracks while he plays, forming a one-man band of eclectic, earthy sounds. It is easy to imagine the artist staring down toward his feet, figuring out just how many tracks to layer for a didgeridoo-like background sound for him to sing over. This style has become the hallmark sound of the young artist, who gained a following in Los Angeles after he released his bedroom-recorded EP Mid-City Island in 2014, then nationwide as he toured with acts such as the Local Natives and Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). He has likewise become well known for popping up unannounced and playing “secret shows” at intimate venues, where his personal style of playing fits in with a bedroom-like setting.
The release on Terrible Records comes as no surprise, as the Brooklyn label, founded by Chris Taylor and Ethan Silverman, is well-known for promoting emerging artists through singles and EPs, as many young talents do not yet have an album ready to release. That being said, Sumney is working on an LP, although no release date has been mentioned. On top of that, he has been focusing on touring the country, and making a couple trips to London, with artists who find inspiration in his new approach to music-making. So far, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist’s total recorded output is thirteen songs, all of which are available on his Soundcloud. There is no question though that there is demand for more releases, whether it be singles, EPs or the much-anticipated LP.
Listen below to “Seeds”, Sumney’s latest single.
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