Alabama-based producer and master of melodies Byron The Aquarius has released a new double A-side single, Just A Beat / Kitty Kat, on Higher Ground Records.
Never one to be pigeonholed into one genre, the latest release is a house music stomper that was inspired by his recent tour. As he puts it, “For ‘Just A Beat,’ what else can I say! It was a vibe. Was coming back from a Europe tour, and the layover got delayed in LA, so I was like might as well kick it with the homies. Jean-Michel Lapointe and I hit Elton John’s keyboardist’s spot with Kim Burrell in the hills.
“For the track, Jean and I were going through some stuff we had on our hard drive, took loops we made, and put it together like a surgery. Merged both our styles, it was legendary that’s where the name Just A Beat came from. Jean Michel is the truth, a great producer from Montreal that knows his shit, and our collaborations come together so organically, always go time with him in the studio.”
Byron The Aquarius learned jazz and classical piano from one of the teachers (Frank E. Adams) of experimental composer Sun Ra, has produced hip hop for Eminem-led group D12, and released his debut album on Jeff Mills’ label Axis Records – showcasing his musical dexterity. He’s also just as comfortable performing in a jazz quartet – as he did at the London Jazz Festival – as he is behind the decks.
In 2022, he founded his own label, Talknoi$e, influenced by the avant-garde sounds of Warp/Brainfeeder Records.
Byron The Aquarius – Just A Beat / Kitty Kat is out now on Higher Ground and can be downloaded/streamed here.
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