The Plug’n Play: April (‘21)
April 30, 2021
You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music, Spotify, or Tidal
Below are some of our favorite songs from the month, and a bit about why we love them. The first 11 songs were selected by me, Stanley, and the last 12 songs were selected by Kevin. We hope you find a song you like, and check out the entire album!
Stanley: James Franceis — 713
At just 26 years old, James Francies has toured with guitar-veteran Pat Metheny, earned credits with everyone from Childish Gambino to YEBBA, and shared the stage with Common, Lauryn Hill, and countless others. Francies, a Houston native and graduate of the city’s famed School for the Visual and Performing Arts (the same high school Beyonce graduated from), has a sound that is as deep as it is wide. But make no mistake, Franceis’s sound is firmly planted in Houston, and follows in a long line of musicians that include the likes of Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Kendrick Scott, Jason Moran, and many others. Fittingly, Francies’s lead single from his forthcoming album is an homage to his hometown, titled after the city’s area code, 713.
Stanley: Zane Carney — Pitchfork
I first came to Zane Carney about eight years ago. He was touring with John Mayer, as his accompanying guitarist. On first notice, Carney’s prowess as a guitar player was obvious — he could play the parts and add his own flavor to it. But, what I didn’t realize at the time was how deeply rooted Carney was in the Los Angeles Jazz scene, and connected to many of the artists I love — Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, Ronald Bruner Jr. Carney’s new album, Alter Ego, is a fitting title given, many, like myself, came to know Carney through his Rock gigs, but it’s the tradition of jazz that lays at the center of his musical identity.
Stanley: Michael League — Right Where I Fall
I came to Michael League when I was still in high school. In the fledgling days of YouTube, my god brother showed me a video of Snarky Puppy, the band for which League was the founder, bassist and director of. To that point, I hadn’t heard anything like the band. Quite frankly, they scared me: the odd time signatures, the blazing melody lines; the compositions were aggressive and ambitious. But, they also excited me and had a sense of familiarity — it sounded like church to me, it sounded like a jam session, a conversation between instruments in real time. Fast forward, and now I feel like I’ve known Michael League for the majority of my adult life, as well, though, this time in a different context: hearing Michael League away from the band, just him. Later this year, League is set to release his debut, solo album, So Many Me, and Right Where I Fall is the lead single.
