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Now Is (feat. Stephanie Cole) by Julian Hartwell

From the album

Album Title: LYVELIFE
Label: Self Produced
Released: 2021
Duration: 00:37:00

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About the Album

"Now Is" kicks off LYVELIFE with musings on the power of perception and surrendering to the present moment. It reminds the listener that when one gets to core of this realization, that there really is nothing to stress about, nothing to fear, "if you will just allow."A groovy relaxed vibe permeates the track, with an intentionally spacious chorus full of "gaps" that represent the space of the ever-new, ever-existing, constant present moment, just flowing from one experience to another. The cool, understated but warm vocals of Stephanie Cole, and the textures of bright, punchy horns overtop a bed of electric keys and organ fills in the rest of the gaps, and an unexpected song structure takes the listener out on a repetitive, thematic climax. I wanted to convey simplicity, presence, flow, and awareness through this song. Heck, maybe even 'enlightenment'. Because life is pretty simple, yet incredibly profound, when we really, truly embrace the profundity of the present moment and all it has to teach us. The long-awaited follow-up to The JHP's debut, LYVELIFE sees a new collaborative direction to the instrumental jazz-funk underpinnings of The Julian Hartwell Project in their second studio effort, featuring a host of special guest vocalists and instrumentalists. 5 original songs delve into themes of perception, perspective, spirituality and personal growth and run the gamut of musical influences ranging from jazz, funk, soul, go-go, & even pop. Gestated through the tumultuous year that was 2020, LYVELIFE signals an exciting leap forward for pianist and composer Hartwell into fresh and fertile terrains of songwriting, collaboration, and production, with the vision to match.

Tracks

Now Is (feat. Stephanie Cole); Abstract; Rough Sketch (feat. V. Shayne Frederick); Mornin Luv (feat. Gary Dawkins); Funk All Night

Personnel

Date featured

March 23, 2021

This song appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company. It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.