André 3000 – New Blue Sun [Album Stream]

André 3000 unveils his debut solo album, titled “New Blue Sun”.

Unfortunately, contrary to anticipated vocals, the album takes a surprising turn, featuring an exclusive focus on woodwind instruments, leaving no room for traditional rapping or singing, much to the surprise of those who had expected otherwise.

“I’ve been interested in winds for a long time, so it was just a natural progression for me to go into flutes,” André says during a sit-down with NPR. “I just like messing with instruments, and I gravitated mostly toward wind.”

“There’s this misconception that I just won’t do it,” André continues while discussing the idea of releasing a rap record. “I think people feel like I’m sitting around on rap albums, or sitting around, and I’m just not putting them out in that way. And no, it’s not like that. In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album. So maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”

Emerging from a series of authentic jam sessions, “New Blue Sun” showcases the talents of a core ensemble comprising some of today’s foremost healing music maestros. Carlos Niño brings his expertise on bells, chimes, cymbals, drums, gongs, plants, and percussion, while Nate Mercereau adds layers with guitar, guitar synth, and live sampling. Surya Botofasina rounds out the group with keyboard and synthesizer vibes. André, the mastermind behind the project, takes on various wood instruments, including a digital wind instrument, a Maya flute, and several wooden and bamboo creations. Additionally, the album features contributions from a stellar lineup including Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Diego Gaeta, Jesse Peterson, and Mia Doi Todd.

Armed with six extensive tracks, each boasting equally verbose titles, the initial piece stretches over 12 minutes under the name “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a Rap Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time”. Following suit, the second track embraces a celestial composition with an edgy title: “The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off the Tongue with Far Better Ease Than the Proper Word Vagina. Do You Agree?”