You’ll temporarily lose your voice to Black Pumas soul-stirring music as you sing along wholeheartedly to their tracks – the temptation being all too much. Their song Colors, with frontman Eric Burton’s serenading vocals and song writing talent, combining with Adrian Quesada’s producing skills and naturally rhythmic guitar playing, make it a prime example of not just good, but great music.
The duo are not just set for legendary success, with it already being well within their sights – with Grammy nominations in 2020 (Best New Artist) and 2021 confirming it – but to also reside long within our hearts. It’s rare to have music hit you straight on, and to leave a lasting impression in a crowded market, but Black Pumas more than succeed. In fact, director Kristian Mercado upon hearing the song Colors set off with the hope of producing its music video. The group’s partnership with Mercado producing a song that celebrates family; both the good and the bad times.
Filmed within the Bronx, the video shows the bustling richness of the area, leaving a feel of not just a community but the warm perspective of a neighbourhood. The video’s narrative follows a family as they go about their daily lives; shopping, cleaning, playing, eating, to visiting the lush greens of a nursery, to then watering and nurturing the plant. Caring for it, just as the parents care for their son. But whether they’re moving or have been made homeless, their lives are suddenly downsized to living and travelling in a car; as they seek to wash themselves in the restrooms of convenience stores, line up for portacabin toilets and sleep in the car. There are still moments of connectivity though, as the parents laugh when putting newspaper across the windscreen, to falling asleep holding hands. But then there’s the investigative and harassing lights of police as they stare into their car, and as the dad stands up you see the camera capture the word ‘money’ written across his top. Maybe a shout at America’s economic differences – with the family’s son selling skittles on the train to daily commuters. And just like the sweet, there is a rainbow of colors to be tasted in the video; from love, strength, survival and fighting – but they all make the picture.
In an example of what was meant to be, the Black Pumas, who formed in 2017, came to find each other through Burton’s busking – a friend of Quesada’s helping to put the two in touch. With Burton’s vibrant voice partnering with Quesada’s production magic, the two forming Black Pumas. Quesada’s merging of styles fitting perfectly with Burton’s exceptional range, and embodiment of a what makes a classic artist. Black Pumas 2019 debut album of the same name is an infusion of hip-hop, soul and modern funk, the talents of which only come around once in a generation. Special thanks to that friend.
Other songs by Black Pumas we love:
- Black Cat (2020 – Black Pumas [Deluxe Edition])
- Black Moon Rising (2019 – Black Pumas [& 2020 Deluxe Edition])
- Fire (2020 – Black Pumas [& 2020 Deluxe Edition])
- Oct 33 (2020 – Black Pumas [& 2020 Deluxe Edition])
Other artists we like:
- Curtis Harding
- Leon Bridges
- Son Little
