BUTCHER BROWN, SOLAR MUSIC BIO By timmhotep aku “So, what kind of
music do you make?” This question is the bane of every musician’s
existence because it requires that they shrink down the wide expanse
of their creativity to an easily (mis)understood genre description. No
matter how vivid or elaborate the description, “show” will always
be more powerful than “tell.” The words we use to describe music
don’t encapsulate what the listener’s experiences as much as give
context clues. That’s why Butcher Brown – the multifaceted band
from Richmond, Virginia – call their sound and their follow up to
2020’s #KingButch and their second release on Concord Jazz, Solar
Music. “Solar music” is not simply a description; it’s an
invitation to listen and an invitation to feel. Friends and bandmates
Corey Fonville (drums), Andrew Randazzo, (bass), Morgan Burrs
(guitar), Marcus “Tennishu” Tenney, (trumpet, saxophone, vocals)
and Devonne “DJ Harrison” Harris (multi-instrumentalist) make
music that is as diverse as their own varied tastes and backgrounds.
It’s a seamlessly blended amalgam of sounds including jazz, hip-hop,
rock, funk, R&B, alternative, soul, country, house, bossa nova, pop,
and more. “We are the melting pot. We are the mix,” says Devonne.
“I feel like that's what we represent and that's what this album
represents.” But Butcher Brown’s eclecticism isn’t for the sake
of musical masturbation or to impress chin-stroking critics. Theirs is
music of, and for, the people. “It’s music for everybody," says
Tennishu reflecting on how well-received they’ve been on stages
across the globe. “You can see it on all kinds of different faces,
young, old, big, small, short, tall, they all start dancing
eventually. It’s literally music for the whole solar system.” So
how did this band of brothers make the sun come out on this new album?
They challenged themselves to break from routine and old formulas.
“[In the past] we'd make a record, like [2014’s] All Purpose Music
and put constraints on what we do in the studio with the thought of
the live show, thinking ‘let's make this something that we can
recreate at the show,’” explains Andrew. “We did that for a few
records but then #KingButch was the one where we kind of departed from
that idea and took more of a Sgt. Pepper ... approach of, let's just
explore what we can present in the studio, even if it's not something
that we can pull off live.” Realizing that listening to their albums
and their live show are two distinct experiences unlocked a new level
of creativity for the band. Now Butcher Brown could allow themselves
to explore new sounds and approaches to songwriting and production.
This new unbridled creativity informed their approach to making Solar
Music over the course of many sessions in 2021 and 2022 at go-to
studios Montrose Recording, Minimum Wage Studios, and their homebase
Jellowstone. Of course the sun is at the center of the solar system,
giving us warmth, lighting our days and keeping the planet revolving
around it. Similarly, when it came time to create Solar Music the band
saw themselves at the center of their sound drawing in other
like-minded musicians with gravitational pull. What could have been an
insular musical conversation between the five became a collaboration
with some of their friends and faves including Oakland-bred wordsmith
Nappy Nina (“Half of It”), hip-hop iconoclast Pink Siifu (“Eye
Never Know,” “Run It Up”), East London rapper Jay Prince
(“Move”), real-life guitar hero Charlie Hunter (“Espionage”)
and more. On the new album, Butcher Brown flexes their musicianship
not only as players but also songwriters, producers, and composers
collaborating with guests. “We can do everything on our own, sure,
and we have done that for forever, but it's also cool to have other
people come in and get their perspectives,” explains Morgan.
“Butcher Brown is evolving, maturing, and we’re growing as
people,” adds Corey reflecting on the making of Solar Music. The
results of these collabs are extraordinary. Take the album’s first
single, “I Can Say To You” for instance. “You’ll find your
way/ tomorrow or today/ there’s nothing else I can say to you
...,” sings guest Vanisha Gould in a voice that sounds both angelic
and ancestral. “She has a voice that almost sounds like a sample,
almost like Billie Holiday or something, " says Corey who sought her
out to feature on the song. “It’s got that warmth, like
somebody’s mama singing to you.” Warmth, light, and connection
through a sound that like the sun itself is for everyone. Welcome to
Solar Music.
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10/07/2025 Last update