[FEATURE] THE FLAVR BLUE - NEW KIND OF VIBE

WRITTEN BY LACE FROM THE FLAVR BLUE

I'm all about vibes. Throughout my life, I've always felt deeply connected with music: my first memories are listening to old funk and soul vinyl; I started going to live grunge rock shows on Capitol Hill from the age of seven on, and finally picked up the drums and started playing my own music when I was twelve. Music is universal: we've all experienced space and emotion change through the literal vibrations that music makes. 

As The Flavr Blue, we tend to write from our life at the moment, off the cuff. This song came about when we were in Los Angeles, both Parker and I taking a breather from and some perspective on what was happening with us personally at the time. Our friend Sebino, who is a senior engineer at the legendary Paramount Studios on Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood, called us after a session and welcomed us to slide through late night. Walking into Paramount is like living history: countless platinum plaques on the walls, knowing that top tier artists are working in various rooms on any given night. Every song is a vibe, and this time the vibe was right. Two hours later, "New Kind of Vibe" was born with Sebino on co-production. 

So often we forget to consciously let go of the past, appreciate the current moment, and make space for what's to come. That's what "New Kind of Vibe" is all about. Hope you enjoy.

-- Lace 

[FEATURE] THE FLAVR BLUE - BITTERSWEET

WRITTEN BY PARKER FROM THE FLAVR BLUE

Human beings are survivalists. I think almost every action we take ties itself back to one of these basic functions of your desire to live and experience happiness in its many forms. A good love approaches you quickly and leaves a strong mark on your life long after it's "gone" or in my experience subsided to a manageable emotional level, a strong chapter of a book you once wrote. I think at the heart of things we're talking about connecting with another person and realizing you genuinely care about their wellbeing and happiness, and want to see them winning beside you. You start seeing double, asking for plus ones for the shows you go to, picking up your other half from work, actually using both sides of your bed (I like to be in the center of the room and not in the corner).

To quote one of my favorite Kanye West songs: "Bittersweet, you know you gon' be the death of me." At some point things might no longer make sense for both of you, and large changes happen really slowly in a deep relationship. You have days where you think you've found a lot of clarity, but you know in a few hours you will slip back into your "feels" and not be able to figure out how you arrived at that moment. This to me is the "Bittersweet" part of love. This song is the conversation you have with a lover once you've put all the cards on the table and they don't add up. Once you've realized you are repeating yourself and trying to repair a relationship that is no longer serving everyone equally, and you've managed to step out of your own survival instincts for long enough to see that. To endure your strongest pains, you must understand them. My mother always says, "Don't fight it, it just wants to be acknowledged. Let it have its moment, and then it will leave you be."

Please enjoy, "Bittersweet."

- Parker

[FEATURE] THE FLAVR BLUE - NO OTHER LOVER

WRITTEN BY HOLLIS FROM THE FLAVR BLUE

It can be tempting to be elusive as a singer and songwriter, channeling mystery, in hopes of captivating the intrigue of your listener. A step beyond, a degree removed, just out of reach. But as the saying goes, the best writing comes from when you “write what you know.” For the last five years, I've had a love in my life that has believed in me, grounded me, made me laugh, made me think, made me dance, and has proven himself in moments of crisis and action. He was present for the birth of The Flavr Blue, and his support of each of us in the band has been indispensable through our journey. And so, even though it made me blush all the way through writing it, "No Other Lover" is an unabashed ode to my boyfriend (and TFB's BFF) Jeff. The veil is lifted. The real me is revealed. All of the quirks in my voice, my earnest love note to bae. I'll admit, it still makes me blush sometimes.

I love this song beyond its truth in my life because it spotlights our band’s collective love of classic R&B and soul; it hums with vinyl textures with a clean finish, like a whisky served neat. We had Elan Wright and Brian Chinn bless the track with a guitar and bass performance that made the song sparkle, and performing this live with Parker on guitar and Lace on bass now is truly a delight.

Love Notes is all about the love and this song is the realest for me. And, we managed to sneak a Seahawks shout-out in there... ;) 

Hope you enjoy "No Other Lover." 

<3 Hollis 

THE FLAVR BLUE - OXYGEN FT. JARELL PERRY

I really don't know how this one slipped by me this week! I kinda love The Flavr Blue - they are a great electronic pop dance band from the west coast -- soon to be one of your favorites! I first met these legends a few years back where they played a very small show of mine when I was first starting to play the promoter game.  They're like family! I was lucky enough to catch their set at TBD Fest (which was amazing) and do some hangs! We even got my golf cart stuck in the sandy back lot at the festival and had to have Toro Y Moi help us push it out! Good times! The Flavr Blue's latest single "Oxygen ft. Jarell Perry" is disco-licious with beautifully eerie synthed out vocals and dance floor beats! You can download this gem for free HERE! Listen and love!