Jazz
Kiefer released «BusyForYa» on 11 September, a new preview from «Memory Bomb», his debut record for Blue Note, out 25 September. The track is shared with Montreal’s Planet Giza and producer Shibo.
Production on the record is credited to Kiefer himself, Shibo and CARRTOONS. Featured on it are drummer Nate Smith, saxophonist Walter Smith III, Cisco Swank, Tony Stone, Erick the Architect, Relyae, Rae Khalil and Amber Navran, of Moonchild. The label sums up the title in three senses: the dream you have while sleeping, the desire for what you don’t have, and ambition.
Kiefer Shackelford was born in San Diego in 1992 and had been making beats since he was twelve, before blending jazz composition and live improvisation with programmed electronic beats at UCLA. His debut, «Kickinit Alone», came out on Leaving Records.
On Stones Throw, the Los Angeles hip-hop label, he released «Happysad» (2018), the EPs «Bridges» and «Superbloom» (2019) and «Between Days» (2021), and the albums «When There’s Love Around» (2021) and «It’s Ok, B U» (2023).
On 18 and 19 September he curates the first edition of the Over The Breaks festival at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles. The name comes from a J Dilla track, which is why the first night is headlined by Karriem Riggins, who co-produced the original. In autumn he tours North America and Asia; the announced tour doesn’t include any European dates.
Text by Aina Torrents