Son Little Premieres Via NPR First Listen
“Little doesn't strive to reproduce his influences; he recombines them into something new” proclaims NPR Music’s First Listen when introducing Son Little’s brand new self titled album.
The word about this soulful innovator has been growing with each release and you can now stream his album in its entirety care of NPR Music. Son Little will be performing at Austin City Limits this October 9th and 10th.
Listen to Son Little’s Son Little care of NPR Music here: http://www.npr.org/2015/10/07/445022550/first-listen-son-little-son-little
This record is, in its purest form, American music. The artist formerly known as Aaron Livingston knows his nation and its sounds well. Born to a preacher and a teacher in Los Angeles, where he learned how to listen and how to play before moving east to New York and New Jersey. He dropped in and out of schools and scenes in Manhattan then Philadelphia, and there he collaborated with acts like The Roots and RJD2. He first planted his flag as Son Little with last year’s highly praised EP, Things I Forgot, a small collection of big songs that showcased his ability to hop across genres as well as he does state lines.
“A well-made song can bring on a pause. A brilliant song brings all of life to a stop,” Okayplayer says of the song “Lay Down.” Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zilN0KCkhRA
The songs on Son Little’s full length teem with small moments creating a bigger picture, a pointillist art piece made from junkyards and viewed from space. Pulling inspiration from the color wheel diaspora of American music, Son Little draws from a deep well, using different buckets to visit and revisit, finding flourishes to add to the core of his songs. There, at the end of “Doctor’s In,” is a roving banjo; there, at the start of “Go Blue Blood Red,” is a keyboard riff culled from a kid’s Blue Man Group keyboard; there, in “Carbon,” is an electric Howlin’ Wolf stomp and start. For Son Little, studio time is a joy, where every good idea leads to four more.
“The music had roots, but wasn’t looking back.” - New York Times
Son Little Tour Dates
Oct 08 San Jose Hotel Austin, TX
Oct 09 Austin City Limits Austin, TX
Oct 10 Lambert's w. Lanze Pierce Austin, TX
Oct 13 Rockwood Music Hall NYC
Oct 18 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest New Orleans, LA
Oct 31 The Drake Toronto, Canada
Nov 02 Schubas Chicago,IL
Nov 03 7th St. Entry Minneapolis,MN
Nov 04 The Village Theater Davenport, IA
Nov 05 Zanzabar Louisville,KY
Nov 06 The Bishop Bloomington, IN
Nov 07 The High Watt Nashville,TN
Nov 09 DC9 Washington,DC
Nov 11 Middle East - Upstairs Cambridge,MA
Nov 12 Baby's All Right Brooklyn, NY
Nov 13 Johnny Brenda's Philadelphia,PA
Nov 29 The Wiltern w/ Foals Los Angeles,CA