Brooklyn Neo-soul collective Herbivores close out the year with exquisite sophomore EP titled Nightshades

Posted on 12 December 2020
By Khyle Deen
  • Share:

Picking up right where they left off on their self-titled debut EP, which was released back in the summer to rave reviews and strong support from tastemakers such as SoulBounce, Gigwise and SingersRoom, among others, and bolstered by the recent release of founding member Bel-Ami’s debut solo album MUSE(ic), which has been championed by the likes of Okayplayer and KEXP, prolific Brooklyn neo-soul collective HERBIVORES are excited to unveil their sophomore EP and second project of the year titled Nightshades.

Written by all four members of the exciting and seasoned collective – Bel-Ami, Reddaz, Misha Savage and Will Sacks, produced by Savage and Sacks, and engineered by Joe Lambert, who has also worked with LCD Soundsytem, Animal Collective and Sharon Van Etten, among others, the 5-track Nightshades EP brings the Herbivores signature sound of their lush vibrant R&B, funk and neo-soul compositions, coupled with their exquisite vocal performances, infectious melodies, and captivating storytelling, further to life in captivating new ways.

Reflecting the anger, sadness and frustration, coupled with contrasting moments of joy that we’ve all been feeling in 2020, Nightshades unpacks how these feelings play out in a relationship – from the opening track ‘Walk Away’, which speaks of coming to the realization of what truly matters, and ‘Mama’s Nose’ about the virtues of patience, to the southern soul leaning ‘Boomerang’ and the personal breakup post-mortem song ‘Roses’, to the EP closing track and one of the collective’s most vulnerable songs ‘Weak Bones’, which unpack how relationships can often be testing.

Speaking about the inspiration behind their Nightshades EP, the collective say, “Wherever there is light there is a shadow. ‘Nightshades’ refers to a group of vegetables including tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes and peppers, the name came from the ancient belief that these plants grew in the dark of night. A definite contrast to the summery breezy demeanour of our first EP, ‘Nightshades’ circles themes of frustration and regret. The EP is dripping with acidity: dark, volatile, and cagey by nature – it continues the love story that was captured in our first EP but traces it into ts climactic downward spiral into grief, anger, and separation”.

‘NIGHTSHADES’ EP TRACKLIST

1. Walk Away
2. Mama’s Nose
3. Boomerang
4. Roses
5. Weak Bones

Author