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MR JUKES & BARNEY ARTIST
Brand new clip + single
‘VIBRATE’
+ Announce joint album
‘THE LOCKET’
out July 2
VIA LOCKET RECORDS / VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
PRE-SAVE ALBUM HERE
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Photo – Josh Shinner
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“The slumped hip-hop beat carries shades of Dilla, while Mr Jukes song writing has an element of 70s sunshine soul” – Clash Magazine
UK’s Mr Jukes & Barney Artist are excited to share details of their collaborative album, The Locket to be released on July 2. The album is preceded by the single ‘Vibrate’ which is out now via Locket Records / Virgin Australia – stream the single here
‘Vibrate’ is a playful introduction to the world Jukes (Jack Steadman) and Barney have created, built on a mutual love of A Tribe Called Quest and J Dilla, alongside contemporary heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar, Kano and Ghostpoet. Its breezy, laid back energy is purpose-built for summer listening and sound tracking moments as the world reopens.
Its accompanying video sees Mr Jukes and Barney take a trip to an empty Alton Towers, breathing life back into a space that’s been deserted for too long. The pair initially asked permission to film on a rollercoaster as part of a different idea for the video but when Alton Towers instead offered them private access to the whole theme park, they knew they had to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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Speaking about the track, Barney explains: “Vibrate was the very last song we made for the album. It really summarises mine and Jack’s relationship which is great vibes with a meaningful message.”
The Locket features ten tracks cut from sessions that span over eighteen months. It’s sunshine-dappled, psych-tinged, hip-hop flavoured, leftfield pop. Beats, bars and a unique sort of retro futurism that zips from sepia-tinged to full technicolour almost as fast as Barney’s flow. Its title track refers to memories of happier times: “we fill a locket with memories we protect, and don’t forget to keep it round your neck.” It’s a reminder to focus on positivity in the face of adversity. A collaborative project designed to be enjoyed together. A celebration of music, unity and looking ahead. “The aim is to bring hope to people after the maddest year,” Barney says. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
During a period of prolonged inactivity, Jack Steadman scratched an itch to do something new. He went by the moniker of Mr Jukes and released an album, God First, in 2017. We say ‘by himself’ but it was very much an open-door policy, resulting in a collaborative record that brought contributions by legends such as Charles Bradley, De La Soul, Horace Andy, Lianne La Havas, BJ The Chicago Kid and Lalah Hathaway. The project also features a contribution from Barney Artist, who Jack had quite simply stumbled upon on a Spotify playlist and never forgotten.
Barney’s music takes the vibrance of jazz infused hip-hop but with a London feel. Growing up in Forest Gate, East London, Barney touches on conscious themes by way of lively, dynamic delivery to create something instantly likeable, like the artist. He’s a larger-than-life presence, fun to be around and a searing, peerless talent too. A collaborator by nature, Barney grew up around Tiana Major9 and Jay Prince and has made music with Tom Misch, Alfa Mist and Jordan Rakei.
Barney’s contribution to God First, “From Golden Stars Comes Silver Dew” (also featuring Lalah Hathaway) proved to be a standout. Bonded by a mutual love of the ever-changing landscape of modern hip-hop, the two artists instantly fell into step with one another. There was no clear plan or brief to fulfil for a full-length Jukes X Barney project, but both artists instinctively knew that it would be a waste not to explore the potential they’d uncovered, and they were clearly right.
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THE LOCKET OUT JULY 2
VIA LOCKET RECORDS / VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
PRE-SAVE ALBUM HERE
Photo – Josh Shinner
TRACKLISTING
The Locket
Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)
Poems
Déjà Vu
Vibrate
Autumn Leaves (feat. Lex Amor)
All For You
Check The Pulse (feat. Kofi Stone)
Leaving Us In Light
Gratitude
‘Blowin Steam (Open Up Your Mind)’
Out Now via Locket Records / Virgin Australia
Stream Here
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GET SOCIAL WITH MR JUKES
FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – TWITTER – YOUTUBE – SPOTIFY – APPLE
GET SOCIAL WITH BARNEY ARTIST
FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – TWITTER – YOUTUBE – SPOTIFY – APPLE
THE LOCKET
WEBSITE
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AMNPLIFY – DB
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My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
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