Page 61 - Flaunt 171 - Summer of Our Discontent - St-John

Here in Califor- nia, the
ebb and flow of energies as it relates to the tide is a familiar concept. We also have moons and supermoons, chakras and third eyes, and now a global pandemic to steer our drishtis, rituals, mantras, or otherwise. For the musi- cian, Leven Kali, his sophomore record, HIGHTIDE, is imbued with mellow soul and an elevated sense of ease—13 tracks of pure California-bred R&B decadence, a triumph of evolution from his debut, Lowtide, released just a year ago. Kali’s voice is silky and grasps at
a tonality that is inherently emotional and his alone.
“We need to be taking care of our
minds and our energies so we can be
in this fight for a long time,” says Kali,
about our current global situation and
how to endure it. “It’s a marathon. We
all have to find our designated roles
on how to keep this going.” Working
within the constraints of coronavirus
quarantine, he delayed the release of
HIGHTIDE a month later than origi-
nally scheduled. The extended process
of working on the album allowed him
to appreciate the welcome interludes
of peace and quiet during the creative
process. The extra time and attention he spent on it revealed to him new ideas and sounds he hadn’t previously considered.
The record’s first single, “MADE 4 U,” is sharp and layered, perfectly executed along with Syd of The Internet, who collab- orated with Kali on his 2018 single “Do U Wrong.” Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “Perfect is Boring,” has a graceful syncopated scope that entwines the duo’s vocals, melting them beneath a tempered drumline. “Get By” occupies a bouncy and airy breeze that sweeps any discerning listener far away from the here-and-now with its spacious snares and near sonic levitation. Kali understands what it means to reach people through music. In a time where the news leaves us heavy, Kali invites us to reframe reality, reflect, and recharge ourselves.
“When the restrictions get lifted, then I can start rehearsing with the band,” he says, optimistically. “But, so far, the last few months have been about taking in information, because I think there’s a lot of pressure to create, and to make, make, make as much as I can. But, sometimes you get to a point where even the sharpest, most creative minds need time off to just absorb things.”
SELF MADE robe and shorts, CONVERSE shoes, LE SPECS
sunglasses, and DALMATA chain. Groomer: Morgan Grimes
Like many artists right now, Kali is faced with the problem of how to literally move about as a creative spirit, without being able to go on tour and perform live in front of his fans. During this time, he has decided to gaze inward, which has offered him new insights not only about his new album, but his general outlook, philosophy, and development as an artist. “I’ve been reading, watching, and listening, and trying to take in more than I’m put- ting out,” he says, “I just released HIGHTIDE, so what better time to learn and get ready for this next wave of output.”
With a world locked in eerie suspension, especially for
a working musician, Kali’s reminder to take in and process everything around us as it occurs, and to reflect as individuals and artists during this pandemic, is a notion we could all benefit from: “It’s really important to be still and to be with yourself and to be able to learn. So much of what you’re looking for is already within you.” For the moment, then, let’s just be subdued by the tide, as it washes in from out beyond the Pacific Coast Highway, or from some internal origin we’ve not yet identified but hope to someday.
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PHOTOGRAPHER: JONNY MARLOW AT EARLY MORNING RIOT. STYLIST: STEF CONTRERAS. GROOMER: MORGAN GRIMES.
PHO- TOG- RA-