Emanuel Harrold shares new single “I Think” ft. Gregory Porter
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Announces new album “We da People”
Out 20th January via Gearbox Records
Today, multi-GRAMMY Award nominated and winning drummer, producer, and educator, Emanuel Harrold, has announced details of a new album titled “We da People”. The album follows his recent EP “Funk La Soul” and will be released via London tastemaker label and analogue specialists Gearbox Records (Binker Golding, Roland Kirk, The Cookers, Abdullah Ibrahim). Alongside the announcement, Harrold has shared a new single titled “I Think”, which features two-time GRAMMY-winner, Gregory Porter.
Having made a name for himself both live and record collaborating with the likes of Damon Albarn, Keyon Harrold, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, De La Soul, and Gregory Porter, “We da People” marks a new chapter in Harrold’s solo career. The LP is a positive combination of uplifting messages and improvisational sounds that transcend R&B, jazz, soul, gospel, and funk. The release also sees Harrold bring in a number of estimable guest musicians including Gregory Porter, Charles Ransom II & Crystal ‘Crissy’ Ransom, Jahmal Nichols, Carlos “Scooter” Brown, Tivon Pennicott, Joel Holmes, Brian Owens, and more.
Featuring lead vocals from his long-time friend and collaborator Gregory Porter, the new single and album opener “I Think” perfectly encapsulates the sound of the album by combining gospel-tinged soul vocals, with jazz-funk inflected guitars, uplifting orchestral strings, groove heavy bass that is interweaved with Harrold’s precise, high energy drumming.
Emanuel Harrold was born into the artistry of music by way of St. Louis, USA. Harrold’s appetite for singing & playing instruments grew from an early age with his father being a pastor in an African American Church. He is a graduate of The New School University in New York and has performed / recorded – in no specific order – with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper, Keyon Harrold, Damon Albarn, James Spaulding, Stevie Wonder, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Ben l’Oncle Soul, Jonathan Baptiste, Ambrose Akinmusire, and many other influential artists – you can hear Harrold’s most recent drumming contribution on Gregory Porter’s GRAMMY-nominated album “All Rise”.
The new album “We da People” marks an exciting and important new chapter for Harrold, perfectly exemplifying his soulful and future-thinking sound. Despite their proximity, his recent EP “Funk La Soul” and the new album showcase both an evolution and at times an entirely different insight into his musical direction. The title track “We Da People” combines elements of R&B, jazz and funk, with effected synth, minimal guitars and bass, alongside a powerful spoken word verse by GRAMMY-winning actor and musician Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Elsewhere, tracks such as “Fight Harder” highlight Harrold and his cast of guest musician’s jazz chops with his brother Keyon Harrold on trumpet and epiphanic soul-led backing vocals from Crystal ‘Crissy’ Ransom & Charles Ransom II. The album is untapped catalogue of all the creativity that Harrold possess and has been working on in his many years of collaborating with high profile artists. It thoroughly explores an eclectic range of styles and genres, but importantly it does so without ever feeling disconnected.
For those who have heard Emanuel Harrold’s playing in the past, this release will arrive as an exciting exploration of Harrold’s musical mind, and for those who have yet to hear him, there is no better time to discover his work.
“We da People” is out via Gearbox Records on 20th January 2023 – Stream / Order HERE
Tracklisting:1. I Think2. We da People3. See4. Brighter Day5. Fight Harder6. Good Word7. Shine Light8. Mr. Brew [Instrumental]
FOLLOW EMANUEL HARROLD
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
