Catpack - The Top (Single)
Photo Credit: Lauren Desberg
LA collective Catpack aka Amber Navran (of Moonchild), Jacob Mann and Phil Beaudreau share their synth-laden new single about love language, ‘The Top’, taken from the band’s upcoming self-titled debut album ‘Catpack’, set for release on Friday 21st June via Tru Thoughts. Catpack is the organic output of genuine friendship and collaborative spirit among three esteemed musicians, each bringing their unique sounds together to create something fresh and vibrant.
‘The Top’ is an ethereal and spacious voyage, layered with a multitude of synth-sounds and percussion. The song is about “showing loved ones that you love them with love. Knowing how special they are, showing them in all the ways you can, and then being amazed at how they do the same for you” Amber Navran explains. “My love language is gifts, which is clear in the lyrics.”
‘The Top’ follows a series of singles from the group’s debut LP, including the nocturnal-funk of ‘Midnight’, the self-empowering ‘Walk Away’ (and video in which the band model their actual catpacks), plus the life-affirming‘What I’ve Found’, the debut single that launched the project (paired with a playful animation featuring Jacob Mann’s distinctive style). The album has amassed support from the likes of Focus Beats (BBC 6Music), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Toshio Matsuura, and Raul Campos (KCRW), including press accolades in Soul Bounce, EARMILK and Wordplay Magazine.
The genuine camaraderie and mutual admiration shared among the three creatives is palpable in its organic, joyful exploration of musical expression. Amber adds, “to me, it’s three people with distinct sounds who love and admire each other, coming together to make something new”. The result is an authentic convergence of their artistry, drawing on their influences to harness a jazz-influenced R&B sound with neo-soul, funky and electronic motifs. The quirky namesake is taken from a synth patch resembling cats meowing that they discovered in the studio and an ingenious merch idea that followed.