JSWISS ft: Demi Grace - Make Space (Single)
“Make Space feat. Demi Grace” is the new single from accomplished and prolific New York-based MC JSWISS, released via Awthentic Records. The single features London-born, New York-based vocalist Demi Grace and is taken from JSWISS’s upcoming album ‘You Never Really Know’ (out 13th September). The LP follows acclaimed collaborative projects ‘Bona Fide’ with Michael Leonhart and ‘Somebody’s Gotta Do It’ with Sly5thAve. Previous singles “Slow Down” and “Superman feat. Eric Roberson” have seen support from the likes of Don Letts, Huey Morgan and New Music Fix (BBC 6Music), BobaFatt (Soho Radio), Bandcamp Weekly, VIBE, and EARMILK.
““Make Space” is an honest love song, and a dance song. Both themes get to the core of what we all feel and are searching for. I probably haven’t written enough songs about love, given that I’m like any other person and think about it all the time. This one is honest to me because, as a busy person always looking to be productive and create, I have to really want to be intentional to give a person that priority in my life among all my responsibilities... But for the right person, I’m willing to, and I have” - JSWISS
JSWISS has recently appeared on Okayplayer’s The Almanac of Rap and spoke to Video Music Box founder Ralph McDaniels about his upcoming release. He hosted The Soapbox Presents in Harlem, gaining recognition from New York City TV news station PIX 11 and performed as part of Harlem Week.
"In a musical landscape dominated by revenge rap, JSWISS’ voice and pen breathe life, offer hope, and spread love. His lyrics resonate, making us feel seen in our shared humanity" - Keanna Faircloth (ArXmacy Podcast, NPR Contributor).
In the five years since the last full album from JSWISS, he has taken the time to carve a niche for his unique creative stylings. He has performed and recorded with many of the most notable instrumentalists at the intersection of jazz and hip hop: drummers Nate Smith, Daru Jones and E.J. Strickland, trumpeters Keyon Harrold, Maurice Brown and Nicholas Payton, saxophonists Marcus Strickland, Jaleel Shaw and the late Casey Benjamin, guitarist Mark Whitfield, and bassist Ben Williams. Through these performances, JSWISS has become a staple on the stage at Blue Note NYC, making more than 50 appearances. He has also performed with legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Elvis Costello.
Meticulously crafted, ‘You Never Really Know’ sees JSWISS continuing to utilise his network of highly fêted musicians and producers, with features from Demi Grace, ArinMaya, BD3, Eric Roberson, Amma Whatt and member of the Grammy Award-winning The Foreign Exchange, Carmen Rodgers interwoven with production from CARRTOONS, Marcus Machado, Sly5thAve, Vicky Casis, BLVK SAMuRaI and frequent collaborator and keyboardist Paul Bloom.
“This one really feels like a complete journey, from upbeat vibes, grooves and affirma>ons to heavily emo>onal and deeply vulnerable introspec>on. The album took three years to craG, and by the finale, the listener can feel all the life that’s seeped into it” – JSWISS
‘You Never Really Know’ refers to the fact that you never really know what someone else is going through, and you never really know which day will be your last. Reflecting these musings, JSWISS presents a collection of songs that promote living in the present, acting with empathy, letting your imagination run wild, and soaking in everything around you. “Being present and having faith have been big messages for myself, and are big themes of this album”, he adds.