About this Kane FM story
San Francisco Bay Area-based six-piece The Seshen release the second single, “Colors Collide”, from their recent album ‘Flames & Figures’ on 10th March via Tru Thoughts. Just in time for their ‘Flames & Figures’ Europe Tour (See dates below), The Seshen’s new single relays the intrapersonal journey of “Colors Collide”, and a reimagined remix from LA duo Starkiller (the production outfit of C.E. Garcia & Alfredo E. Fratti, members of Adrian Younge’s Venice Dawn).
The Seshen’s latest album ‘Flames & Figures’ has received a phenomenal reception; a Bandcamp ‘Best Albums of 2016’ nomination and interview; the ‘Today’s Top Tune’ accolade from KCRW; airplay from KEXP, Huey Morgan and Vic Galloway (BBC Scotland); a feature on NPR; premieres and incredible online support from The Fader, Mass Appeal, LA Weekly, Okayplayer, PopMatters, Soulbounce, and print reviews from The Skinny, Electronic Sound and more. Through their much-talked-about live shows, and four releases to date (2012’s self-released, eponymous debut LP; and the ‘Unravel’ and ‘Unravel Remixes’ EPs on Tru Thoughts), their distinctive music has also seen praise from Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq and Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6Music), Jason Bentley (KCRW/NPR), OkayPlayer, Earmilk, The Line of Best Fit and Clash.
The Seshen is led by singer/lyricist Lalin St. Juste and bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara. The duo is joined by four remarkable bandmates to create their multidimensional music: drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman, and sampler Kumar Butler. Their forward-thinking sound combines synthesizers, drum machines, live percussion and entrancing harmonies for an unmistakable fusion of R&B, synth-pop and electronic music.
‘Flames & Figures’ sees the band on the cusp of a new era; two years in the making, the album marks an evolution in The Seshen’s unique sound. Narrated by St. Juste’s lyrical stream of consciousness, ‘Flames & Figures’ explores themes of femininity, power, illusion and loss as she draws on both her personal experiences and the world of her imagination.
In “Colors Collide”, Lalin St. Juste’s vocals follow a path of nostalgic fuzz and use their power to break free from the illusions of this world. The hazy mellotron flutes call to mind the psychedelia of an early Os Mutantes song, compellingly fused with The Seshen’s signature full, driven, layered rhythms. Speaking about her inspiration behind the lyrics, St. Juste explains: “Colors Collide is about the illusory spaces that are created for us and how we wrestle with the identities and experiences that grow out of those creations.” She elaborates: “It reflects the journey of leaving this current space for another. Perhaps in this next place I can be free. It’s not a physical space, but rather, the place within myself that I hope to reach.”
South Californian producers Starkiller’s re-imagining of “Colors Collide” plays with distorted electric guitar arrangements to create a cool, futuristic film-score aesthetic. Starkiller explain: “We wanted to do something with a lot of movement and forward motion that evolves very quickly, and then suddenly changes towards the end (hence the bridge with the almost off-kilter guitar solo), then gets back on track.” Examining the ‘winding roads’ and ‘distant hills’ framed in St. Juste’s lyrics, Starkiller mobilises her struggle and realises it through their beguiling reconception. Playing in venerable producer Adrian Younge’s Venice Dawn, Garcia & Fratti have contributed to records like the Black Dynamite OST, the Luke Cage soundtrack and worked with many of their own musical heroes (such as Ghostface Killah, RZA, the Delfonics’ William Hart, Souls of Mischief, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of ATCQ).
You can catch the band on their first-ever European tour which kicks off in March. In the meantime, check out their latest music videos for “Flames & Figures” and “Distant Heart” - which achieved a Fader premiere and ‘Video of the Week’ status from Mass Appeal respectively. Please keep your eyes peeled for the gorgeous collages and swirling colours in their upcoming video to “Colors Collide”; they continue to impress to no end with the achievements of their endeavours.
‘FLAMES & FIGURES’ EUROPE TOUR MARCH 2017
3 MARCH MANCHESTER, UK SOUP KITCHEN
4 MARCH LONDON, UK BIRTHDAYS
5 MARCH GUILDFORD, UK THE BOILEROOM
6 MARCH BIRMINGHAM, UK HARE & HOUNDS 2
7 MARCH LIVERPOOL, UK STUDIO 2
9 MARCH GLASGOW, UK BROADCAST
10 MARCH LEEDS, UK BRUDENELL SOCIAL CLUB
11 MARCH BRISTOL, UK THE LOUISIANA
12 MARCH BRIGHTON, UK GREEN DOOR STORE
14 MARCH COLOGNE, DE YUCA
15 MARCH BERLIN, DE KANTINE AM BERGHAIN
16 MARCH HAMBURG, DE KLEINER DONNER
18 MARCH BRUSSELS, BE BOTANIQUE WITLOOF BAR
19 MARCH AMSTERDAM, NL PARADISO