Krystle Warren

Singer-songwriter Krystle Warren was born in Kansas City, and after spending several years in New York City, moved to Paris. In addition to important collaborations with the likes of Erykah Badu, Keziah Jones, Zap Mama, Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, she has also released two EPs and two full-length albums with her long-time band, The Faculty.

Her 2009 debut CD Circles, recorded with two-time Grammy-winning producer Russell Elevado at the Electric Lady Studios in NYC, showcased a knack for catchy yet subtly elegant and quirky songwriting and a unique vocal personality, which has continued to develop since.

1. Dirty Projectors, Projectors (Domino, 2017)

I've been listening to this album every day since its release. It's bizarre, daring, touching, and always groovy.

2. Anderson Paak, Malibu (Steel Wool, 2016)

Everything about this record is a delight. The vocals, the production, the songwriting... I haven't enjoyed a hip-hop release in quite sometime. A Tribe Called Quest's We've Got It from Here... and Malibu are transcendent.

3. Junior Kimbrough, First Recordings (Fat Possum, 2009)

I've only owned this recording for the past five days. I'm a huge Howlin' Wolf fan, and was perusing records of his. Ended up in the 'J's and that was that. I love this album. Everything about it—well, actually, it's a bit too short!

4. Pieta Brown, Paradise Outlaw (Red House, 2014)

Pieta's music has this way of comforting you. It's hard to describe... I put on her album and I'm suddenly back in my hometown; it's dusk, everything is vibrant and warm...

5. Larry Young, Unity (Blue Note, 1966)

Wow! Also, "Moontrane" is top!

6. Blake Mills, Derek Trucks, Save the Last Dance For Me (from the compilation Eric Clapton Guitar Festival Crossroads).
Do yourself a favour and get a hold of this. The rest of the album is absolute shit, sorry to say.

7. Mathieu Boogaerts, Promeneur (Tot ou tard, 2016)

I was anxious to get this and was not disappointed. I hear it as a companion to his 2005 release Michel; intimate, melodic, wistful... He's one of my favorite songwriters, and this one is one of his finest.

8. Father John Misty, Ballad of the Dying Man [single]

That achy feeling the majority (minority?) of us are carrying around? That sinking feeling that starts in your gut than aches its way into your bones. The realization that our days are numbered, and there's nothing that can be done. That's what this tune is. It's all the anxiety that comes with the knowledge that everything passes.

9. C.W. Stoneking, Gon' Boogaloo (King Hokum, 2014)

It's fairly common these days to hear a modern recording emulate the sound and look of a bygone era. However, it's rare that an artist comes along who tips his or her hat to the golden era of radio. C.W. manages to mix Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Orson Welles into a raunchy stew. It sounds like it stomped out of a transistor radio in '36, not in 2014 as the liner notes claim.

10. Jesca Hoop, Memories are Now (Sub Pop, 2017)

Still getting my head around this one. "The Lost Sky" is a brilliant tune, and quite the stand-out performance. I love that she takes chances, and how unpredictable she is as a writer.

Photo credit: Soazig de la Moissonnière