Kindred’s latest release ‘Love Has No Recession’ is an incredibly focused and well executed example of what all artists should aspire to achieve. The subject matter is directly relevant to the state of affairs right now underlined by the nuances of human emotions and relations. While it gives you something to relate to and think on, each track tickles your ears. Varying feels on the production gives the album good “movement” from track to track. The project features guest appearances by a wide range of artists including Snoop Dogg, Bilal, and two of DC’s own; Raheem Devaughn and Chuck Brown.
In case you didn't know, this duo not only happens to be amazing musical partners but Aja Graydon and Fatin Dantzler are also marital partners of 13 years. That probably has a lot to do with the realness behind their lyrics and the genuine feel of the sound. “We’re an average African American, basically middle class family” Aja tells me during an interview arranged by Gypsy Soul and Soulcial Grind PR during a Soulcialize event. “You know what has happened to the middle class in this country over the last 2-5 years. We had to experience that with everybody else. Not just personally, but also watching other people from all backgrounds… some people going from making six figures to making nothing at all… We’re songwriters. There’s no way we could step to this album without addressing that”. Sprinkled throughout the album is the three part ‘Above Water’ suite. The lyrics lament: “Just can’t seem to keep my head above water. Just can’t seem to put this chaos back into order”. Aja’s alto starts out above an almost ominous ‘ooh’ in the background. The words sporadically rhythmic, the phrasing indicative of what the words are saying.
‘These times would have you second guess yourself your faith your dreams. Got children to clothe and shelter and feed. These times are when the desire for prosperity is fueled by survival not greed’ she sings in Part I. The recurrence of the theme seems to be a musical metaphor for the feeling of going three steps back for every one step forward, never quite breaking even.
“But as a thematic overview for the album, it was my husband’s vision” Aja says. ”He wanted to call it ‘The Great Recession’. We changed it because we wanted people to understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel”. To that Fatin, Aja’s husband of thirteen years and musical partner for twelve says that the revised name “turns the statement on its side that the ‘best things in life are free’”. On the title track, the hook says ‘we are creation…Love has no recession’. I asked him what is important. ”Things like unconditional love… It’s the intangible things during difficult times that get you through. Those are the things that last”. If you’ve read the newspaper, turned on the TV lately, perhaps even in some cases looked at (of for) your paycheck, this may be precisely the thing your soul needs to hear to persevere.
Employing an instrumental intro and outro, Kindred sets the tone for the album with a funky and jazzed up feel. But fear not, this is not some corny ‘too deep for most of us to get with’ neo-soul type stuff. Like I mentioned earlier, they keep a good feel and good movement on the album with a little bit for everyone. DC will be particularly proud of ‘We All Will Know’ guest starring Raheem Devaughn. Raheem comes thru to lend his smooth signature style on this mid-tempo track. Go-Go Godfather Chuck Brown and DJ Kool come thru to lend a helping hand and that go-go swing on the track ‘Going to the Go-Go’. Snoop Dogg makes an appearance on ‘We Got Love’, which has both the original and remix versions both included on the album.
To put it short and sweet, Kindred’s latest release is style meets substance at its finest. The album connects with you instantly and never lets you get bored with it so you listen all the way through. If you are an R&B/Neo-Soul fan, this project is a requisite for your collection.
Check out the Slide show on the left hand side of the page for a few exclusive pics from the Soulcialize event!
Follow Kindred on Twitter: @kindredthefam
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