We booked NYC duo Blonds two years ago for our CMJ 2012 Rootsy Stage – we remember the band complained that they weren’t really a rootsy band. Well, maybe they weren’t, but we must have detected some of those soul influences that are now pouring out of the band’s male half Jordy Asher’s new solo project BOOTS. (For the record, soul music belong to the roots music umbrella). The young musician and producer suddenly rose to relevance (rather than fame) when in 2013 he signed to Jay-Z’s entertainment company and Sony Music Entertainment imprint, Roc Nation, and produced the big majority of Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth studio album, released in December 2013. He’s now focusing on his solo material, which – from single Mercy (streaming below) – sounds extremely soulful and intensely mellow. Boots will be touring with FKA Twigs in November, see him at Baby’s All Right on Tuesday 10.28.
