"Save Me From Myself," is an example of an old idea revitalized by the collaboration of Congo and Haile. Based on chords from Joy Division's "Love Will Tare Us Apart," this Haile Supreme original took new life when Congo adapted a  downtempo mix of Bossa-Nova and Future RnB to the already soulful vocal.  The story of this song is about a character from an old Outkast song. Sasha Thumper was a girl who fell victim to the void of drugs and felt lost in a society where drugs are the cure for drugs.  Disease for profit.  We all have our own vices and this song is about keeping yours in check and reaching out for help when you need it. Flex Mathews sums it all up with his verse. Ever conscious, Flex breaks down a perspective of his own once again hitting the nail on the head.  His writing on this song does not stop at his verse.  Flex wrote a spoken word piece that is recited by Brittany tanner that precedes his verse.  These are the inner thoughts of anybody who seeks clarity and new skin. A prayer asking for strength and inspiration. 

Save Me From Myself

Track five, "A Shadow Left Behind,"  continues on a subject we can all relate to, love. The chorus realized by Haile and Congo, describes the story of a couple torn apart by the tests of life, and the aftermath of feelings that comes with this experience.  These days everything is visible through social media.  This song is about being forced to see somebody that you once loved, move on, and live their life without you.  The bands rapper/MC Flex Mathews captures the story and runs with it, lacing up a verse full of honesty and emotion describing the situation, feelings, and actions that one goes through when they experience one side or the other of this heartbreaking loss. Musically this track stands out with layers of MPC and Live drums, topped with beautiful vocal melodies that paint a clear picture of the moment at hand.  The pain can be felt in the guitar playing of Colin Thompson, bringing a psychedelic-blues sound to the overall mix. His solos scream and cry with the emotion of the song connecting the various vocal sections. Ras Nebyu appears again with a verse describing a scene where his lifestyle of partying and denial puts his emotional recovery at bay but a reliance on his musical endeavors and a focus on his true gifts brings him back to a centered self.  This is the Opus, the heart of the record.

A Shadow Left Behind (feat. Ras Nebyu)

"Love Lost," a collaboration between Congo and Mr. Lif, finds it's spot batting clean up on the record and does nothing short of knocking it out of the park.  The song, based on a melody from Turkish Psychedelic Singer Kamuran Akkor, describes a journey in which a girl follows her heart all over the world in search for her lost love. She goes through physical and emotional perils leading almost to her death.  Mr. Lif's vocals paint a clear picture evoking emotion throughout the verses. He presents many archetypal instances of love and shows his depth and wisdom with his creative approach.  The beat on this track will take you back. Filled out with a hypnotic modal guitar, accompanied by an 808 holding down the low end, and just enough vintage synths to bring you to into outer-space and back, this song will find its way into your timeless folder for sure.

Love Lost (feat. Mr. Lif)

Track three is the first we hear from the bands singer, Haile Supreme. Since the inception of the collective, Haile, Flex, and Congo have been writing together, collaborating on new ideas, and reworking old sketches into fruition. "Stand Beside Yourself," is a brand new collaboration that features a fresh take on rhythm, paying homage to the bands love for dub style music.  Haile's soaring vocal depicts a message of humility and understanding. A humble response to the various facets of our world that continue to condemn others who come from a different culture or belief system.  In 2014 we have seen a resurgence of bigotry and a further separation of the people.  This is supposed to be behind us as a society but the political agendas seem to be perpetuating this style of rule. A moment outside of thyself is what this song is about.  A pure moment where all is seen for its true purpose not monetary or political value. Special Guest Ras Nebyu continues with a verse describing his process for which he achieves these moments in his own life, and the struggle that sometimes arises when he tries to stand beside his-self. Polished off with a blend of live and electronic sounds, the moments created musically in this track are equally as euphoric as that moment when you can truly remove and reflect.

Stand Beside Yourself (feat. Ras Nebyu)

"Are You Ready," introduces the soulful voice of the girl next door, Brittany Tanner.  Brittany's vocals are longing for love and not just of any kind.  She is thirsty for fresh culture, for love of time well spent,  and feels as though her music can open the eyes of people blinded by her societies agenda.  She wants desperately to give her love to somebody but struggles to find a like minded mate so she puts her energy into music in belief that following her passion will lead her to the true love she seeks.  The verse recited by Congo, ties the message together and further calls out the mindless repetition of a society blinded by the dollar.  The production on this song stands out with flourishes of jazz marimba, blended with an up beat two step dance beat. A deep approach to hip hop made to free your spirit on the dance-floor.

Are You Ready (feat. Brittany Tanner)

The first track titled, "Gentrified Children," brings the listener in close with a beautifully orchestrated introduction that sets the tone for the record.  Once settled into the groove, the vocals enter with a mixed choir of familial youth, and the bands singers. The first lyrics are sung from the perspective of a child living in a world where gentrification is running rampant, and the beauty of variance and randomness is tarnished by a society on repeat, only finding comfort in that which is familiar. This message is further depicted by Flex Mathews' verse on the bridge section where he describes the affects of gentrification on his own neighborhood as he has witnessed it in Columbia Heights, Washington DC. The track finishes out with a blend of live and electronic beats accompanied by a rock solid bass line and a psychedelic wash of voices, dripping synths and organic sounds.  An AM radio then tunes into the next song, paying homage to the vibrations in the atmosphere that pass through us everyday unknowingly.  

Gentrified Children

A new single, addressing the reality of how love comes in many different forms. Sometimes it's ok just to be friends.

Why Do We Wait

The evolution of this ensemble has happened naturally over the past year and a half. Having captivated audiences from coast to coast, and finished up their first full length record, it is clear that Congo, Haile and Flex are on the rise as a cutting edge musical force.  The influences in the music are quite diverse.  Congo's time as the drummer for Thievery Corporation has clearly had an affect on his ears as he continues to explore the downtempo, reggae mezcla, with an obvious hip-hop overtone to the over all musical composition. You will be taken through an array of sounds and rhythms, paying homage to the roots of music with thick layers of percussion, signature to the Congo Sanchez sound.  Most importantly the band puts out a conscious message which is typically non existent in most of the music we hear these days.  


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