NEW ALBUM BIRDS, BEES, THE CLOUDS AND THE TREES OUT NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 28 VIA LAST GANG/MNRK

FEATURES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM KADHJA BONET, TOBi, M.E.D., GUILTY SIMPSON, NANNA.B

PRE-ORDER ALBUM HERE

TUNE IN TO LIVESTREAM Q&A AND PERFORMANCE
ON APRIL 27 @ 8 PM EST AT BANDCAMP

 "Harrison enlists MED and Guilty Simpson, whose verses walk the line between optimistic and cynical, despite rapping over the Toronto producer’s lightweight, jazzy beat."
– Complex Canada (Best New Canadian Tracks This Week – Bump)
 
"The track's retro feel is instantly nostalgic — the instrumentals are reminiscent of the ragtime soundtracks of classic cartoons, plus the crackling sound of spinning vinyl amplifies the warm, rich vibe that dominates the album."
– CBC Music (Songs You Need To Hear – Bump)
 
“Bonet's ethereal vocals are appropriate for a song titled Float.
The Los Angeles-based R&B singe…glides effortlessly 
over Harrison's bass and drums-driven production.” 
– Exclaim! (Track Feature – Float)

“Harrison is a high-achieving polymath... His work fuses synthetic beats with complex, jazz-like arrangements." - NPR Music
 
"Upbeat yet meditative, complex yet breezy, the track is emblematic of Harrison’s range, and undoubtedly confirms him as an innovative artist to watch." – Consequence
 
“...It's got some cool guests, including Kadhja Bonet, who's on the recently-released, psychedelic soul-leaning 'Float,' and rappers MED and Guilty Simpson, who are on the just-released 'Bump,' which will take you right back to the early '90s jazzy alt-rap era."
– Brooklyn Vegan

TORONTO, ON – April 19, 2023 – JUNO, UK MVA + Prism Prize nominated Toronto producer and musical polymath, Harrison, has been cultivating excitement around the launch of his anticipated new album, Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees. Out next Friday, April 28 (Last Gang Records/MNRK), he shares a glimpse of the project's horizon with Blue Sky - a stunning song featuring the smooth vocals of Danish, LA-based artist, Nanna.B. The key-laden, ethereal R&B-forward tune glides, like colours across a watercolour landscape painting, infusing vibrant grooves as Nanna.B proclaims “shine, my love, just like the sun.” Listen here, check out the visualizer here and pre-order Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees here. 

"Nanna captured the vibe of the instrumental for this one," Harrison adds on the collab with the artist, who is know for her work with Raphael Saadiq, Hodgy Beats and Mndsgn. "Nanna and I chatted earlier last year over Zoom about the effects on the pandemic and how we got through it. I think she captures the solitude of the situation while also floating across the beat."
 
Harrison’s innovative nature shines in Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees: a 16-song collection that highlights his affinity and dedication to the piano, blended with strong grooves, classic and contemporary jazz ingredients, sharp verses and prose lined with Brazilian bossa, funk, old-school hip-hop and rhythmic texture. The album taps into themes of awakening from daydreaming, impacts of solitude, odes to younger selves, emerging from dark moments, honouring family members that have passed, carefreeness and more. The songs incorporate an array of instrumentation including Farfisa keys, breakbeats and a music box that was gifted to Harrison, as highlighted in the song of its namesake. Harrison drew inspiration from cartoons such as Looney Tunes and Gumball to Vince Guaraldi soundtracks.

Blue Sky follows Harrison's previous album singles: Bump - a dream connect with some of his heroes, M.E.D. and Guilty Simpson - alongside Inthecoupe,  a revved-up instrumental ode to cruising in your custom whip. A deep dive into Harrison’s universe, exciting guest features include LA-based songstress Kadhja Bonet (Float), fellow Toronto artist TOBi (on 2022-relesed single, Outta This World), and previously released instrumental gems, A View From The Sky, Like When We Were Kids, Around You. 

To complement Harrison's artistic vision, he enlisted acclaimed illustrator, Elijah Anderson, and the design and animation of Jeremy White to craft single artwork that recalls classic Blue Note covers and iconic Saturday morning cartoons like Schoolhouse Rock!. The album art was illustrated by Kento IIDA and designed by Jeremy White - visit Harrison's YouTube channel to view them all.

On the eve of his album release (Thursday, April 27), Harrison will share an exclusive livestreamed performance and engage in a Q&A on Bandcamp at 8:00 p.m. EST. Tune in here.

Learn more about Harrison in his bio below and keep your keen ears open for the launch of Birds, Bees, The Clouds and The Trees next week. 

DOWNLOAD - Blue Sky Artwork

DOWNLOAD - Album Artwork |  DOWNLOAD - Hi Res Press Photo (by Luis Mora)

Connect with Harrison: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | TikTok | Soundcloud

About Harrison
When Harrison (Harrison Robinson) began working on his third album in his modest Toronto sudio in 2019, the producer and composer felt a strong desire to his artistic roots. “I knew I wanted to just make what I thought was cool, regardless of it being cheesy,” he says of the piano-centred compositions that would become Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees. “Chick Corea had a quote along the lines of ‘you have to find what sounds beautiful to you’ and that really stuck a chord with me.”
 
Like his previous two albums, Apricity (2018) and his 2016 debut, Checkpoint Titanium (which earned the  attention of the prestigious Polaris Music Prize), Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees sees a handful of guests stepping into the producer’s technicoloured world, including Kadhja Bonet, TOBi, Nanna.B, M.E.D. and Guilty Simpson (their first reunion since J Dilla’s The Shining in 2006) To help complement his artistic vision, the producer enlisted the help of illustrator Elijah Anderson, whose single artwork recalls classic Blue Note covers and classic Saturday morning cartoons like Schoolhouse Rock.
 
Taken as a whole, 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.” 

About Last Gang
Last Gang is a music company founded in 2003 and credited with launching the careers of Metric, Death From Above 1979, Mother Mother and MSTRKRFT. The company is also well known for its work with Arkells, Stars, Keys N Krates, Lights, and Chromeo. Last Gang is a MNRK Music Group company. www.lastgang.com