Two New Carlos Niño & Friends Videos >> Transcendental Bounce, Run to it >> Maha Rose North 102021, Breathwork
((( photo by Todd Weaver )))
“Niño’s narrative arcs lead the listener down one celestial rabbit hole after another, swathed in comforting washes of sound.”
– MOJO [★★★★ review of (I’m just) Chillin’, on Fire]
“The music drifts, floats and flows like the elements themselves...”
– Rolling Stone DE
Today we are happy to share two new Carlos Niño & Friends singles, “Maha Rose North 102021, Breathwork” featuring Laraaji and Photay, and “Transcendental Bounce, Run to it” featuring Maia, Deantoni Parks, and Nate Mercereau. Both tracks come with videos co-directed by Niño alongside his filmmaker child Azul Niño. The videos were shot and edited concurrently, featuring the aforementioned artists plus V.C.R, Mia Doi Todd, The Growth Eternal, Sibusile Xaba, and more (comprising, for the most part, all the musicians who performed in the recording of the two songs).
The tracks mark the third and fourth singles from Niño’s forthcoming album (I’m just) Chillin’, on Fire (out on 2xLP, 2xCD, Cassette, and digitally Friday September 15th). They follow the album’s lead single “Taaaud,” which Remezcla called “a balm of passion for those needing music to soothe the soul,” and the album’s second single “Flutestargate,” about which Treble Zine said: “It’s subtle, but there’s a great deal of beauty to uncover for those who seek it.”
(Photo by Edgar Gocobachi)
About “Maha Rose North,” Niño’s collaborator Photay says: “This excerpt marks a moment in the autumn of 2021 in upstate New York when my nerves cooled and I aligned with a new improvised spirit. Flowing with Carlos and Laraaji for our second ever performance together as a trio in a whirling chorus of trees, Kalimba, Buchla, 808, percussion, and flute.” Laraaji, whose electric kalimba soars across the whole track, recalls the sounds “invoking Images of an Afro Fusion Mega Jam.”
About “Transcendental Bounce,” Mercereau says: “This piece came to me in a complete state, with Carlos asking me to listen to his entire album and see if there were any moments I felt compelled to add to. What I heard in this music were these little flourishes, almost quick beams of sound that dynamically frame the "Run..." vocals. Micro sonic zoom-in moments. This song feels like an energetic encouragement to go further in...and keep going.”
The videos feature footage of Annelise and Carlos Niño, Cavana Lee, Deantoni Parks, Laraaji, Lionmilk and Ringgo, Maia, Mia Doi Todd and Joao, Nate Mercereau, Photay, Sibusile Xaba, The Growth Eternal, and V.C.R, all moving through their personal space to the sounds of “Maha Rose North” and “Transcendental Bounce…” Azul Niño edited all of the footage together into a dream-like commute through the various reality portals. About their work, Azul says: “We began production at a time in my life that intersected with the birth of my youngest sibling, Moss, who I'd like to dedicate these videos and these words to. The impetus started entirely with our father, Carlos. He had a vision that struck him immediately, and like any good producer or conductor, Carlos found a clear way to channel his vision through me and the participants/artists present in these videos. Now, I can say I've shared a piece of myself with a family I never really understood I had before. Who have always been here, helping me through it all. I am deeply honored to be a part of our family. Our diverse heritage, our community and our friends are all profound blessings to me. These videos are a representation of that abundance, and of the family we share with you. I hope you know, we are all so lucky to have you here with us.”
In the context of the full album, “Maha Rose North” and “Transcendental Bounce” are in direct sequence. On the digital version of the album they are tracks 5 and 6, respectively; and on the vinyl version of the album, the order of the two tracks is swapped. The interchangeability and interconnectedness of these pieces inspired Niño to create a single video concept for both tracks, and also to present both as a pair of singles, released on the same date. About the songs, and about the decision to present them this way, Niño says: "Both of these pieces have unique Rhythm Patterns and were broad fields to create Videos for. My idea was to get footage of everyone that contributed to either piece, where they were listening / responding to both pieces, and have everyone in both Videos, creating a community gathering, Video overlap…”
(The Audubon Center at Ernest E Debs Regional Park, Los Angeles)
(I’m just) Chillin’, on Fire
Los Angeles Album Release Show
September 13th @ The Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
Also today we have details of a Los Angeles album release show on Wednesday September 13th. For a very special outdoor performance at the Audubon Center of Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, Niño assembles a reliably epic and expansive ensemble to honor the musical energies of his new album, which will include many of the featured artists from the album. The event is curated and presented by our good friends at Floating, as part of their ongoing series of outdoor concerts and environment-embracing experiences. “Doors” for the show are at 4:44pm; the music begins with a special opening set by Ben LaMar Gay.
*announcing* IARC0067
Carlos Niño & Friends
(I'm just) Chillin', on Fire
2xLP, 2xCD, Cassette & Digital album out September 15th, 2023
An evolved, ecosystemic expression of Niño’s self-described “Spiritual, Improvisational, Space, Collage” sound – (I’m just) Chillin’, on Fire presents the prolific percussionist/producer’s most singular, intentional work and features the most vibrant, abundant gathering of Friends he’s included on record to date. Featured artists across 80+ minutes of music include LA-based synth/guitarist Nate Mercereau (who appears on most of the album's tracks), keyboardist and Alice Coltrane protégé Surya Botofasina, AACM-affiliated creative music legend Maia, bubbling violinist/vocalist V.C.R, saxophone titan Kamasi Washington, ambient/dance music innovator Photay, prodigious rhythmist Deantoni Parks, plus Dntel, Laraaji, Aaron Shaw, Diego Gaeta, Adam Rudolph, Josh Johnson, Jamire Williams, Woo, and more, including André 3000, who makes an appearance on flutes.
For such a magnificent convergence of sonic journeyers and such a masterful presentation of sounds – all of which is hugged together by Niño’s lucid post-productive guidance, as he makes Q-Tip/DJ Premier-like architectures out of fluid explorations and minimalist musical atmospheres – the undersold title “(I’m just) Chillin’, on Fire” is both humorous and totally appropriate for anyone who is open to understanding what this artist is all about.
Music writer Marcus J. Moore contributed digital liner notes for the album, in which he says: “By creating music with tender messages and leisurely pacing, Niño nudges listeners to slow down and appreciate life’s natural wonders, to savor the journey and not rush so quickly to the destination. In turn, his art conjures pastoral images — endless fields, boundless oceans, ripples crashing along the shoreline. It urges you to simply look up: notice the wind rustling through the trees, listen to the birds sing a glorious song. This is real life, the stuff you can’t quite capture with a smartphone camera.”
*Deluxe Vinyl Package*
Etheric Pink color vinyl 2xLP
(I'm just) Chillin', on Fire comes on two 140-gram vinyl LPs (pressed by Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST) inside a heavyweight matte jacket, with IARC obi strip, insert booklet and dome-patterned inner-sleeves.
And, as always, we have a limited edition color vinyl option for the first pressing only, available via our Bandcamp page only, which is 555 copies of *Etheric Pink* color vinyl.
Distribution via RedEye for US, Canada, North & South America
This album will also be available on 2xCD, Cassette, and Classic Black Vinyl 2xLP (same package specs as listed above).
Retailers in the United States or Canada or anywhere else inside of North, South and Central America... Please reach out to your sales rep at RedEye Worldwide if you are interested in making wholesale purchases of this album, or any other album in our catalog. Don't yet have a RedEye rep? Please just reach out to us and we'll get you hooked up!
Distribution via !K7 for Europe, UK, Australia, and ROW
This album will be distributed by our good friends at !K7 and their various territory partners in Europe, UK, Australia, and everywhere else in the world outside of North & South America.
If you are a retailer or store with questions about wholesale or are just looking to get some of our records... we'd like to make things as easy for you as possible, please do not hesitate to reach out!!!
