This year, I challenged myself to 31 days of composing tracks for Black August.  The goal was to get 31 new tracks of compositions. Earlier in the month, I was inspired by an article that was circulating called The B-Side Of Blackness. Its a beautifully written article I felt I resonated with soo much. It essentially is a lyrical account of Blackness wrapped in the metaphor of black experiences being a vinyl record with an A side & a B side. The A side being a collective rage & push for worldly & individual freedoms and The B-side being the creative hush, the reflective moments, sex, connections, living in our mortality. Beauty

When I got about 15 Tracks in, I deleted the project and started over because I felt I wasn't getting deep enough into the project sound wise. 
I was making dope "bops" but they had no substance that reflected A B-side influence. I knew this would most likely cut back on my due date production but I'm so glad I made the change.

Instead I wanted a kind of musical collage like flow with this.
I believe I pulled that off here.
The tracks in this playlist are like a low-fi journal with a cinematic influence that touch on black queerness, sex, and more.
I wanted these tracks to feel visual, intentional & solid.

I intend to do this every year, every August with the goal of making it as close to 31 tracks as possible. I feel a Challenge/Project like this is something that will push my creative paths further & open up opportunities for collaboration.

I got 9 tracks this time around that I feel like represent the project well. I have an additional 12 that just didn't make the cut. The important thing was that I was in my studio every night 7 days a week for 31 days. I found myself again. I fell in love with me again.
For the past 3 years I could not write or compose music. I felt like my soul was hibernating. For anyone that has known me a long time, they know how essential music is to me. I will never put anything or anyone in front of my craft every again.
I forgive myself for that disservice.

First Fade - A Celebration

Kubra Coltrane (They/Them) is an Afro-Carolinian who hails from an impressive line of gifted & diverse musicians from North Carolina. 
Kubra’s influences are their cousin Jazz saxophonist extraordinaire John Coltrane, as well as the small town Black backyard musicians & voices from around the way.
They’re a multi-instrumental and multi-genre artist who refuses to create music for one genre only.
Their vibe is sexy, soulful, unpredictable, and confident in its alterity. 
Liberation, a present spiritual life, creativity, nature & authenticity are the things they hold near & dear.
If you put soulful Deep house, RnB, Afro Beats, Jazz, Indie Soul, Lo-fi Rock & some psychedelics into a bowl, and mix it with a mason jar full of stardust & honeysuckle you end up with a perfect embodiment of their sound.