Hailing from Philadelphia and now based in the vibrant city of Charleston, SC, alt indie hip-hop duo Little Stranger (Kevin and John Shields, no relation but best friends) have spent years honing their signature sound and perfecting their version of the “organized chaos” that a Little Stranger live show entails. In an era where genre is increasingly irrelevant, Little Stranger delivers a fresh take on melodic hip-hop garnering comparisons to newer artists like Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, and Marc Rebillet but also the golden age of hip hop running into pop epitomized by early 2000s Timberland, Gorillaz and NERD. Between John’s melodic singer-songwriter magnetism, Kevin’s in-your-face delivery, and an overall undeniable groove the duo has become known for their unique sound, - garnering millions of streams, playing countless sold-out shows and major festivals like Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball, Hangout Fest, BottleRock, Levitate Music & Arts Festival, and more.
Their new album Sat Around Trippin (out June 28 on Ineffable Records) was written and recorded from the duo’s home studio in Charleston for the most part, but started at a remote cabin in Bat Cave, NC with the boys’ shared goal of disappearing a bit and recalibrating their creative minds after months on the road. Several of the tracks on the album were spawned there in those small magical windows of time when late nights became early mornings and creativity didn’t have to vie for their attention. Lead single “Kama Sumatra” was written in response to the political drama surrounding transgender rights and features a tropical melody complete with the marimba. The single sends a message of acceptance and reminder that yourself is the best thing you can be.
Slinky hip-hop/reggae single “Fly Guy” is a cheeky track that pokes fun at old habits, “I used to be a fly guy, used to smoke but now I get too high.” The song was written while looking back on a past version of themselves while also looking ahead to the ideal version of themselves they can become in time.
Feel good gospel inspired focus track “God at a Festival” featuring Andy Frasco was written in collaboration with Andy as well as Ross Bogan (keyboard player of Doom Flamingo,) and Damn Skippy out of the duo’s home studio in Charleston. A unique mix of rap and soul, the track encompasses the feeling of freedom and self-expression one gets from live music and the atmosphere of a festival.
“Nobody Like Me” sees Little Stranger lean into their rock side with punk guitars, screams, and a killer bass line for this high-energy anthem. The track explores feeling lonely in a society where status is king. Sat Around Trippin is largely self-produced and is an album that you can lay back and kick it to, whether you are 18 or 81 showing the band’s ability to connect with anyone regardless of age. Sat Around Trippin serves as the follow up to cult favorite Trip Around Saturn, which featured Del the Funky Homosapien and The Elovaters among others.
This summer, Little Stranger is staying busy joining Stick Figure on the road, releasing new music, playing festivals like Governor’s Ball, Hangout Fest, Electric Forest, and more. Following their summer tour and festival run, Little Stranger is bringing their electric live show to various cities across the U.S. on their Fall headline tour kicking off September 26. Mental health is something the duo have been actively speaking about for years from firsthand experience. For their upcoming tour with Stick Figure, Little Stranger has partnered with Backline, a mental health fund for musicians, to donate $1 of every ticket sold on the tour. In Little Stranger’s live shows, these lifelong road dogs offer a chance to lose yourself, be yourself, and be accepted as part of a community (the “Strangerverse”), all while leading with love, getting loose and putting the fan experience first.
Between their out-of-the-box creative endeavors and an ever-increasing arsenal of new tunes, Little Stranger is poised to make 2024 another slam dunk. For more information, please visit www.littlestrangermusic.com
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