edbl - 2010 Mixtape (Album)
Skilled multi instrumentalist, songwriter and producer edbl (Ed Black) releases his new album ‘2010 Mixtape’.
Following the luscious ‘edbl & friends’ series, the multifarious creative continues his unique collaborative approach to music. This time round, the project is firmly rooted in edbl’s love of Hip-Hop and boasts an impressive list of featured artists and collabs from across the UK’s flourishing alternative Hip-Hop, RnB and Soul scenes.
Brimming with mellow grooves, vibey keys and jazz-centric chords, ‘2010 Mixtape’ sets the stage for edbl to showcase his love of Hip-Hop, and acts as an ode to the impact the genre has had on edbl’s sound today. Titled after the year it all began for him, he explains: “2010 was the year I went to university and was exposed to, and fell in love with, jazz, soul, RnB and crucially Hip-Hop,” edbl says. “Something about the tempo and the beats and the groove just really resonated with me and I’ve never looked back.”
‘2010 Mixtape’ is vividly interconnected through edbl’s distinctive and soulful sonics and each track with its layered and classy production. From collaborations with Guvna B on the cool and lyrically pensive ‘Symbols’, to the summery yet hard-hitting ‘Arcades’ featuring MANIK MC. With every track, edbl provides the luscious backdrop and velvety tones for each artist to chronicle their individual experiences.
Tracks like ‘The Scene’ featuring Jelani Blackman and Iyamah hear the duo’s head bopping flows atop a vibrant saxophone, and edbl’s electrifying guitar solo. While, ‘Too Much Shit To Do (Outro)’ slows it down, with Manchester rapper KinKai’s gentle flow, perfectly intertwined in the track’s serene keys.
edbl began teasing the full length project earlier this year with the the forward-thinking, textured ‘Never Stops’ featuring Turt, Quinn Oulton & LA-based Jazz Keys Virtuoso Kiefer, followed by ‘All Me’ featuring Superlative and penultimate single ‘Lena’ featuring Kofi Stone.
Having recently sold-out headline shows at London’s iconic Jazz Café, two nights at the legendary Blue Note Tokyo, and Brixton’s late-night venue Hootananny, ‘24 marks a career record of 4 sold out shows in four months.
‘2010 Mixtape’ presents the beginning of a new chapter which sees the accomplished multi-instrumentalist and beatmaker continue to harness his prowess for jazz-infused soul and Hip-Hop production.