Getting Ready for Mood Valiant
Hiatus Kaiyote, your favorite artist’s favorite artist, is releasing a new album on June 25. Mood Valiant is the band’s third album and the first full-length release in six years.
Two weeks ago they dropped “Get Sun” featuring Arthur Verocai, a legendary folk-jazz composer from Brazil. It’s a hypnotic track starting from the jump with bombastic horns, a groovy bass line, and soulful harmonies. If you’ve never listened to them before, listening to this song will make you want to consume their entire discography.
‘Your favorite artist’s favorite artist’ was no stretch. Some of the biggest names in popular music sample Hiatus Kaiyote’s work. First, Anderson .Paak’s song, “Without You,” from 2016’s Malibu, samples “Molasses” off of 2015’s Choose Your Weapon.
Then you have Kendrick Lamar‘s “Duckworth” from 2017’s Damn, which samples “Atari,” off of the same Hiatus Kaiyote album.
Meanwhile, Drake was listening, too. His song “Free Smoke” from 2017’s More Life samples “Building A Ladder,” also from Choose Your Weapon.
Beyonce and Jay-Z are fans, as well. As The Carters, they dropped “713” from 2018’s Everything is Love which samples a live performance of “The World It Softly Lulls,” from 2012’s Tawk Tomahawk.
Getting to Know Hiatus Kaiyote
Hiatus Kaiyote is a two time Grammy-nominated band that can be described as neo-soul and jazz-funk. The members are Naomi “Nai Palm” Saalfield, Paul Bender, Simon Mavin, and Perrin Moss. They are vocals/guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums/percussion, respectively. The band formed in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. Shortly after forming, Sony’s sub-label, Flying Buddha, signed them. Then in 2012, they released their first album, Tawk Tomahawk.
After that, they released an EP, Live in Revolt. The following year, the band earned their first Grammy nomination. By 2015, they were signed to Sony’s major label and released their second album, Choose Your Weapon. Subsequently, they earned a second Grammy nomination and the band broke through and found an American audience.
At least, the American music industry audience. Hiatus Kaiyote still deserve more hype from casual listeners. Here’s hoping Mood Valiant will kick-start their take-over.
You can pre-save their new album here or preorder it from their online store here.
