Description
Featuring tracks with Dâm-Funk, K15, and more! A deep house record by Kyle Hall and Steven Julien that captures the essence of soul!
Steven Julien and Kyle Hall team up again after ten years to release the EP "CROWN". Following the earlier works they created under the name Funkinevil, "Ignorant" (2013) and "Night/Dusk" (2012), the two reunite once more. London-born Julien and Detroit's representative Hall deliver music that taps into the very essence of soul.
On the opening track "Page 1", a pitched-down vocal by James Massiah declares, "I won't let you take my plan from my hands." This single line symbolizes the theme of the record: "Self-Assertion".
Completed through several years of sessions at Julien's studio, "CROWN" further emphasizes the warmth found in Funkinevil's earlier works such as "Dusk" and "In The Grid". Across seven tracks, this record strips away tougher elements in favor of pastoral melodies and funky basslines. On "Page 2", Vicky Flint's flute dances sleepily over breakbeats and a groovy Korg synthesizer, while on "Page 5", Cloud's wistful vocals layer over Flint's saxophone and sci-fi synths to create a grand atmosphere.
Furthermore, the B-side features special guests Dâm-Funk and Reggie B. On "Page 3", Dâm-Funk adds color with a powerful kick and cool style, while on "Page 5", Reggie B transforms the track into a sludgy, jazzy dance party.
As Julien himself says, "Many people have forgotten what music and art are. But this project has allowed us to clearly show that." It is a record that can be said to do just that.
A1. Page 1
A2. Page 2
A3. Page 3
A4. Page 4
B1. Page 5
B2. Page 3 (DaM-FunK Re-Freak)
B3. Page 5 (Reggie B SciFonk-mix)
On June 16th, 2023, Steven Julien and Kyle Hall return with their first EP together in ten years, CROWN. The record follows earlier EPs the duo created under their former alias Funkinevil, 2013's Ignorant and 2012's Night/Dusk. The record once again brings together two artists from opposite sides of the pond—Julien hailing from London and Hall representing Detroit—with a shared love for soul in its purest essence.
Opening "Page 1", a pitched-down vocal by James Massiah pronounces, "My plan— won't let you take it from hand." That alone could be considered the nut graph of a record about taking ownership, created by two vanguards in the electronic music scene that, a decade ago, insisted on infusing their music with soul in a commercial club circuit lacking in it.
Assembled from a few years-worth of studio jams in Julien's studio, Crown dials up the staticky warmth present on earlier Funkinevil tracks like "Dusk" and "In The Grid." Across seven songs, Funkinevil shaves off some of their tougher elements, instead shooting for pastoral melodies and funky basslines, like on "Page 2", where Vicky Flint's flute flutters sleepily over breaks and a groovy Korg synthesizer. But the atmosphere on the EP is also grander than ever—on "Page 5," Cloud's wistful melisma soars over Flint's bleating saxophone and wandering sci-fi synths.
With all this attention to funky musicality, it's only fitting that two legends specializing in the craft would land on the B-side—Däm Funk revs up "Page 3" with a slamming kick and his unmistakable coolness, and Reggie B turns "Page 5" into a sludgy, jazzy dance party.
In the words of Julien, "I think a lot of people have forgotten about what this whole thing is about. Musically, artistry and everything. So I'm happy this is what we represent on this project."
