Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees is an assured and joyful statement from a young artist evolving and finely honing his craft. Or as Robinson himself puts it, “It’s the music that I dreamed about making as a kid.”
Today, jazz and R&B producer, composer and musician Harrison announces his self-produced third album Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees. Featuring “Float” with Kadhja Bonet, this new album will be out April 28 via Last Gang Records.
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees demonstrates the evolution of the Toronto-based artist’s sound since releasing his first two JUNO-nominated albums, as well as Harrison’s recent composition work on video games (Nintendo Switch’s LOUD) and commercials (NERF, Play-Doh). The musical polymath performed every instrument on the piano-centric record, in addition to writing, producing and mixing the album in its entirety. Drawing from his artistic roots, love of old cartoons, and musical influences ranging from instrumental hip-hop to American jazz piano a la Vince Guaraldi and Charlie Brown, this albumis a nostalgic ode to the music Harrison dreamed about making as a kid.
Like his previous two albums, Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees sees a handful of guests seamlessly stepping into the producer’s technicoloured world. Veteran emcees MED & Guilty Simpson are featured on today’s track “Bump,” while the rest of the album boasts features from the likes of Kadhja Bonet, TOBi and Nanna B. Also out today is the funky instrumental “Inthecoupe.”
“‘Bump’ Is a love letter to some of my favorite rappers growing up,” Harrison says. “MED and Guilty have been huge influences on me since I was 16. Understanding their beat choices on producers they worked with was a really helpful growing tool. The instrumental for BUMP was actually originally different. They found the pocket I was looking for on this new joint. I’m floored that they were kind enough to join me on this album. ‘Inthecoupe’ is a reminder to myself to not be so serious all the time. My love for jazz is very deep but I still love making fun dance music. A playful song revolving around a brass synth and a bounce.
Harrison - Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees Tracklist 1. Daydreamin 2. Cowboys 3. Outta This World (featuring TOBi) 4. Overhead 5. Like When We Were Kids 6. Bump (featuring M.E.D. and Guilty Simpson) 7. Honey Harbor (Bill's Song) 8. Music Box 9. Around You 10. Float (featuring Kadhja Bonet) 11. 2016 12. Inthecoupe 13. 7 pm 14. Blue Sky (featuring Nanna.B) 15. A View From The Sky 16. Runthatback
Today JUNO and Polaris-nominated jazz and R&B producer, composer and musician Harrison teases a forthcoming album with two new singles. His first new releases of 2023 are “Float” featuring the remarkable Kadhja Bonet, praised by NPR for it's"smooth, delicate soul rhythm" and a meditative instrumental titled “A View From The Sky.”
JUNO, Polaris, and Prism Prize-nominated Toronto producer and all around musical polymath, Harrison, today shares a new single & animated visual for "Outta This World" featuring fellow JUNO-winning, Toronto artist, TOBi.Harrison's signature keys and laid-back beats provide a perfect backdrop to TOBi's half-singing, half-rapping soulful vocals, with Complex Magazine praising the track as "celestial, buttery smooth".
The accompanying animated video for 'Outta This World' out today is the brainchild of Jack Harrison, who has worked with Keys N Krates, The Kount and Jay Feelbender, among others, and depicts Harrison and TOBi venturing on a journey "outta this world" to cook up the track in perfect camaraderie. The artwork was illustrated by Elijah Anderson and designed by Jeremy White.
The single marks the second collaborative track between the two since “Beige,” off of TOBi’s 2020 mixtapeELEMENTS Vol. 1. Released via Last Gang Records/MNRK Music Group, “Outta This World” also serves as a glimpse into Harrison’s forthcoming album, which will be released later this year. Harrison brings his signature aesthetic sound of catchy instrumentals and innovative beats to the new track.
“As soon as I finished this joint, I immediately thought of TOBi,” Harrison says of his new joint single. “I knew he would deliver and he did. He floated on it. Always happy to be collaborating with him.”
On the collaboration, TOBi adds: "Since Harrison and I did 'Beige' a couple years ago, we’d been trying to get another joint in. A lot has happened in those few years, good and bad, so I wanted to capture that in the song on our second go around. Growth, friendship, moving through the music world, increasing my love for art, culture and of course pretty girls. The beat Harrison sent felt like I was right at home with the jazzy melody and the smooth drums. This time I’m making sure that I celebrate every moment."