Brimming with excitement as the debut of the Saint Heron and Microsoft 2,346 1MSQFT collaboration nears, we here at Saint Heron wanted to highlight the innovators who brought this vision to life. From singers to visual artists; from L.A. to Brooklyn, each creative brings a distinct spirit and brand to this cultural initiative to forge a cohesive and innovative statement about the state of modern R&B. Read below to find out more before Wednesday’s big reveal….
Kelela
Photo courtesy of Dummy Mag
Once purported as the “make-out album of the year”, Kelela’s LP, “Cut 4 Me,” which debuted to rousing success last fall, is a sweeping, contemplative, sensual undertaking. With her absorbing vocals—each coo she releases reminiscent of Aaliyah and each belt delivered akin to SWV’s Coko—set against the moody, futuristic production from Fade to Mind/Night Slugs crew, the listener sinks quickly into Kelela’s work and eagerly responds to the singer’s innovative mash-up of the R&B sound. It is this same spirit Kelela infused into her Saint Heron compilation contributions, “Bankhead” and “Go All Night”, and will surely employ to amplify the evening’s collaborative live performance with “one man soul orchestra”, Moses Sumney.
Moses Sumney
Photo courtesy of SoulBounce
Celebrated as the “one man soul orchestra”, Moses Sumney has conceived a sound befittingly his own diverting the burden of comparison. Performing with a nearly ventriloquist flair, Sumney contorts his voice masterfully to create a layered sound of overlapping vocal melodies and harmonies. Fulfilling his epithet, Sumney brings to life warm yet unrefined melodies and harmonies married to a voice deeply rooted in the spirit of soul and folk music. Exemplified in his production, “Replaceable”, his unapologetically candor filled lyrics stratify fearless loops. Together they piece together a contemporary composition of heartbreak accentuated by charming falsettos and a buoyant tempo. He pulls the listener in with curiosity. He holds them with effortlessly emotive content. The self-taught musician has warranted the backing of Questlove and KING to name a few. In his first ever New York performance, accompanied by Kelela, he undoubtedly will amass a unique following.
Terence Nance
Photo courtesy of Down & Dirty DV
Moving seamlessly between artistic mediums, Terence Nance has mastered the rendering of visual, performance and musical art into his own nostalgically tattered notebook full of stop motion fantasies, vibrantly colored vulnerability and cinematic creativity that transforms his moving pieces into authentic and relatable narratives – pregnant with introspect and void of subterfuges. His first feature film, AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY,does just that, becoming the quintessential story of boy meets girl in contemporary society. The film has garnered Terence recognition from Filmmaker Magazine, where he was selected as one of the 25 new faces of independent film.His addition to 1MSQFT is sure to heighten the multi-interactive space Saint Heron aims to create for a culturally progressive global audience.
Hisham Bharoocha
Photo courtesy of Japanese Noise Project
A polymath of a creative, Hisham Bharoocha’s talents stretch from the canvas to the mic. Moonlighting as both a musical performer in bands such as Lightning Bolt, Black Dice, and his current solo project, Soft Circle, while producing his signature kaleidoscopic collage pieces that focus on the cognitive response to imagery, the artist always brings a vibrancy and surrealist tinge to his work. You’ll be able to identify this striking trademark in the very visuals that accompany the evening’s R&B karaoke. As you sing along to classic hits, Hisham’s dizzying and eye-popping artwork will serve as the perfect backdrop to your turn as a R&B crooner, and envelop you fully into the experience.
