- Jameson’s new music programme, Jameson Distilled Sounds, today announces new music from its first collective of Distilled Sounds artists
- Guided by global superstar and Jameson Music Distiller
Anderson .Paak and supported by Fender and NTS; the artists collaborated and performed new music together at the Sound Distillery - Five new tracks from the artists will be released in the coming weeks by Jameson in a new YouTube Series – Jameson Distilled Sounds Live Sessions
- The first track, ‘Go Back’, a collaboration between Portuguese record producer Branko Berlin-based singer/songwriter Ian Hooper is available on YouTube for fans now
Jameson’s new Distilled Sounds family linked up with global superstar Anderson .Paak in Ireland at the Sound Distillery this August, where they were inspired by community and culture, to connect and create new music as part of the Distilled Sounds programme 2024 collective.
The Sound Distillery was an action-packed three-day event, featuring workshops organised by NTS, the official Sound Distillery Programme Partner and hosted by Zezi Ifore and Liz Elhesit. The sessions included guitar workshops guided by Fender, the official Distilled Sounds music partner, as well as musical inspiration talks led by Anderson .Paak in his role as Jameson’s Music Distiller. The event also offered late-night rehearsal sessions and engaging activities for all attendees—plus a Jameson in hand.
Artists from all around the world were paired together to connect, learn from each other, create, and perform a track at the end of the programme, demonstrating the true power of collaboration and distilling global sounds. Artists included L’Rain from the USA; Seedhe Maut from India; Shekhinah from South Africa, and Portuguese DJ and record producer Branko.
The Sound Distillery was an electric set of days where a walk down the corridor of “.Paak’s House” was filled with laughter, harmonies and new beats. Towards the end of the programme the artists were paired up to collaborate on a fresh new song together to be released on Jameson’s YouTube channel.
Jameson’s ethos rests around bringing people together, building the biggest family in the world connected by the spirit they share. In this spirit of connection, Distilled Sounds will enable Jameon’s global family of artists to transcend the physical borders which separate them through enabling five new collaborations between global artists built on process, craft and creating new music.
Distilled Sounds’ five new collaborations:
- Ian Hooper (Germany) and Branko (Portugal) with ‘Go Back’
- Kaiit (Australia/Papa new Guinea) and Claudia (Malaysia) with ‘Draw Me’
- Aoife Nessa Frances (Ireland) and Freak Slug (UK) with ‘Bunny’
- Lady Donli (Nigeria) and L’Rain (USA) with ‘Not Your Mate’
- Seedhe Maut (India) and Shekhinah (South Africa) with ‘Change’
‘Go Back’ from Ian and Branko is now live on Jameson’s YouTube channel, an alt-folk song with influences from Branko’s hometown of Lisbon and catchy vocals courtesy of Ian Hooper.
Commenting on the track, Ian said:
I dug into this idea about an old friend that I kinda of lost touch with over the years… I would have never gone down the path to make a beat like that but it was fantastic.” Talking on the infectious beat of the song Branko said “The drums for me are important as they represent Lisbon the city where I’m from”. Speaking on the wider platform, Branko said: “The whole Jameson Distilled Sounds experience, I believe that we really put different worlds together in a beautiful way.
Stay tuned to watch the rest of the artists perform their tracks, subscribe to Jameson’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss a note.
Meet the artists behind Jameson Distilled Sounds’ new collaborations…
Artists were selected from across the world included Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more. Their music styles were inspirational and Jameson’s Sound Distillery provided the artists with a unique setting to meet and distil their sounds together inspired by community, culture and collaboration.
Ian Hooper X Branko
Ian Hooper (Germany)
Bringing new sounds from Germany, Ian Hooper is a Berlin-based singer/songwriter. Currently pursuing a solo project to explore poppier, funkier songwriting, Hooper is also the frontman of successful indie folk band, Mighty Oaks with whom he has played some of the world’s biggest a stages, from Lollapalooza to Rock am Ring.
Discover Ian Hooper: https://www.instagram.com/ianwhooper/
Jameson Distilled Sounds has given me the opportunity to jump into a genre that I otherwise never dared touch. Branko makes music heavily influenced by the diaspora of cultures present in Portugal and my signature is really my voice – so to be able to merge those two signature sounds through Jameson Distilled Sounds has been both a fun and rewarding experience. – Ian Hooper
Branko (Portugal)
DJ and record producer, Branko has already left a huge mark on the Portuguese contemporary music scene. He has released three solo albums which have played a crucial role in showcasing his unique musical identity and vision. As a DJ and visionary, he has contributed to BBC’s Radio 1 Residency as well as acclaimed global radio platform NTS and created the documentary series “Club Atlas” for RTP. He has worked with notable artists such as MIA on her 2016 album “AIM”, collaborated with Pierre Kwenders on his award-winning album “José Luis and The Paradox of Love” and played a crucial role in Mayra Andrade and Dino D’Santiago’s continuously growing career.
Discover Branko: https://www.instagram.com/brankoofficial/
I’ve met so many talented artists through Jameson Distilled Sounds. The experience helped me create new music with Ian blending together our sounds and tastes as creatives. – Branko
KAIIT X Claudia
KAIIT (Australia/Papua New Guinea)
With honeyed tones and a powerful charisma, Naarm-based, Papua New Guinean-born artist KAIIT (pronounced Ky-Yeet) is one of Australia’s most dynamic voices. Powerful early co-signs from the likes of Erykah Badu and Jill Scott established KAIIT as one to watch internationally; while in Australia, KAIIT’s vocal power and songwriting depth generated quick momentum, leading to various accolades including an ARIA Award and top prize at the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. A firebrand of neo-soul, KAIIT has shared stages with artists including SZA, The Internet and Chaka Khan.
Discover KAIIT: https://www.instagram.com/kaiit_isshe/
I appreciate everyone at Jameson Sound Distillery for expressing so passionately and from the heart, I’ve already written down a bunch of industry/music creation tips n tricks from my experience. – KAIIT
Claudia (Malaysia)
Claudia is a distinguished artist and songwriter with a prolific career marked by over 12 million Spotify streams. Claudia’s breakthrough came with her hit song “Bodies,” which garnered 3.8 million streams on Spotify and received extensive airplay on local radio stations. Her follow-up track, “Your Gentleman,” gained international attention when it was highlighted by Jungkook of BTS during a livestream, showcasing her ability to resonate with global audiences. In July, her viral sensation “Toast” took TikTok by storm, amassing 2 million views and achieving 5.7 million streams on Spotify. This success led to her being honoured with Buro Malaysia’s ‘Artist for the Year’ award.
Discover Claudia: https://www.instagram.com/claudiaaatan/
Jameson Distilled Sounds introduced me to so many talented artists from across the world. I’ve learnt so much about their cultures and global sounds that influenced creating my new track with KAIIT. – Claudia
Aoife Nessa Frances X Freak Slug
Aoife Nessa Frances (Ireland)
Immersed in the sonic landscapes of psychedelic, experimental pop, and ambient folk, Aoife’s songs navigate the complexities of love’s inception, moments of loss, death, rebirth, spirituality, and transformation. Her sophomore album, ‘Protector,’ released on Partisan Records in October 2022, garnered widespread critical acclaim. Over the past three years, she extensively toured North America, Europe, and the UK, with acts including Destroyer, Wilco, The Weather Station, The New Pornographers, and Alex Cameron.
Discover Aoife Nessa Frances: https://www.instagram.com/aoifenessafrances/
Meeting Anderson .Paak and attending the Jameson Distilled Sounds talks was very inspiring. Hearing how his team collaborates with artists was insightful, and then getting to experience that firsthand was unforgettable. Working with Freak Slug was exhilarating —we brought out aspects in each other’s creativity that we might not have explored in our own songwriting- Aoife Nessa Frances
Freak Slug (UK)
Manchester’s newest indie idol, Freak Slug, is an artist, producer and songwriter ready to share her talents with the world. Freak Slug started officially releasing music in 2020, & self-released track “Friday” which quickly went viral on Instagram reels. Her track “Disorder” was featured on HBO for a female skating TV series based in New York. Since then, she has started playing with a full band and is releasing an album this year.
Discover Freak Slug: https://www.instagram.com/freakslug/
I think working with Aoife will give me the opportunity to make music similar to what I make completely alone which has a lot of folky, lo-fi elements to it. I just enjoy making music with other people although I haven’t collaborated with many women at all, so I’m mostly looking forward to creating art in a raw and pure way that is completely enveloped in the feminine psyche. – Freak Slug
Lady Donli (Nigeria)
Lady Donli is a Nigerian singer-songwriter who blends traditional African rhythms with modern sounds. Their journey in music started with a passion for exploring genres like Afrobeat, highlife, funk and rock, and this fusion has become the heart of their sound. Their debut album, Enjoy Your Life, featured the track “Cash,” which set the tone for their music career and went on to be remixed by Nigerian artist Davido. Their album “Take Me Home,” featuring Benjiflow, made it into Apple Music’s 100 Best Songs of 2019. In 2023, they released their sophomore album, Pan African Rockstar. The lead single, “My Ability”, earned a spot in Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Afro Pop Songs of 2023.
Discover Lady Donli: https://www.instagram.com/ladydonli/
Collaborating with so many interesting musicians from across the globe has been so exciting for me. I really feel like I’m challenging myself creatively and pushing my boundaries through the Jameson Distilled Sounds experience. It has given me a musical family and community that has been built on learning from each other. – Lady Donli
L’Rain (US)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, and a multi-instrumentalist from a young age, L’Rain released L’Rains (self-titled) on Astro Nautico in 2017 and was included in Pitchfork’s 20 Best Experimental Albums of the year. L’Rain’s second album, Fatigue, was named album of the year by The Wire and was met with wide acclaim, winning A2IM’s Libera Award for best Outlier record.
Press highlights include NY Times Best songs of 2023, Pitchfork’s 50 best albums; and Best Jazz experimental albums of 2023. L’Rain also became two-time award winner for A2IM’s Libera Award for best Outlier record and was nominated for Record of the Year.
Discover L’Rain: https://www.instagram.com/turrelljames/
Collaborating with Lady Donli introduced me to new sounds and pushed me out of my comfort zone. The experience at Jameson Distilled Sounds was a welcomed challenge and I was so inspired by Anderson .Paak, the talent of all the other artists and so many interesting speakers. – L’Rain
Seedhe Maut X Shekhinah
Seedhe Maut (India)
Having mastered the art of delivering razor-sharp rhymes – this Delhi-based duo comprising Encore ABJ and Calm have used their lyrical dexterity to push forward the boundaries of Hip-Hop in India. Presenting Hindi Rap in a revolutionary new format, Seedhe Maut are taking the industry by storm and are unanimously regarded as the next big thing to break in the rapid growing subculture landscape.
Discover Seedhe Maut: https://www.instagram.com/seedhemaut/
Our sound is an honest representation of the life that we live, the place that we are and all the feeling that we feel as human beings. We’re looking forward to going back with some new music and a few new friends from Jameson Distilled Sounds.- Seedhe Maut
Shekhinah (South Africa)
Shekhinah’s delicate, soulful voice first stole hearts while she was a contestant on the 7th and 8th seasons of Idols: South Africa. More recently, through collaborations with some of South Africa’s biggest hit makers, Shekhinah has continued to establish herself as an important voice in contemporary pop and urban R&B. Her debut studio album Rose Gold in 2017, became a best-selling album and was certified Multi-Platinum by RiSA, producing three number-one singles: “Suited”; “Please Mr.” and “Different”. In early March 2023, Shekinah announced her upcoming third studio album, and its lead single “Risk” featuring Ghanaian-American singer Moliy.
Discover Shekhinah: https://www.instagram.com/shekhinahd/?hl=en
Jameson Distilled Sounds helped take me out of my comfort zone and do something new. I was able to blend different languages and sounds as well as make new friends along the way. – Shekhinah
At a time when more regional sounds are reaching the global mainstream, Jameson plays a pivotal role in genre experimentation; ‘distilling’ music from local artists and giving them the opportunity to create entirely new sounds as a connected community – ready to be discovered by music lovers all over the world on the Jameson Distilled Sounds Hub and YouTube.
Fans will have the opportunity to access content from the Sound Distillery and discover new sounds on the Distilled Sounds website https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en/jameson-distilled-sounds/.
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