sons of the james: everlasting
Francisco Espregueira
Sons Of The James is a brand new collaborative project comprised by singer and songwriter Rob Milton and producer/musician DJ Harrison. Their debut record entitled Everlasting, just released by Fresh Selects, is sonically inspired in Harrison’s context living in Richmond, Virginia, which has been a great source for the producer’s prolific instrumental work. Blending classic gospel music and early 2000's Soulquarians-era r&b and soul, Everlasting takes in cues from D’ Angelo, Glenn Lewis and Bilal, but is emotionally connected to Donny Hathaway and his music, here covered by the duo in “Thank You Master (For My Soul)” .
Written in 2015, Everlasting is a response to Milton’s experiences with the Black Lives Matter protests. It contains a strong message and a special groove, with Milton’s dreamy tone and lush harmonies melding beautifully with Harrison’s inventive production. The album sounds fresh and contemporary and at the same time connected to the African-American musical tradition. Everlasting is a powerful slice of rich, world-weary soul music, now available in Bandcamp via Fresh Selects.