David D'Angelo

David D’Angelo’s ‘Born in Paradise’ is a surprising, well constructed, groovy set of tracks that probably deserve to be a lot more well known.The pianist/producer demonstrates his jazzy competency playing with interesting ideas, chords and progressions. The tracks mainly consist of core jazz piano part ranging from airy ballad inspired pieces to thick synth movements reminiscent of producers like Mndsgn or Dam-Funk. Drums are often hard and swung, borrowing elements from hip hop and jazz fusion. The bass is thick, sometimes subby and electronic. Production embellishments like glitching and stuttered (and sometimes funky and Ayers-esque) synth parts also find themselves in the mix. A particularly good saxophone solo courtesy of someone called Rêverend Yogi winds its way through the album’s second track Moon Influences Man. The sonic choices in terms of drum samples, synth tones and arrangement are particularly tasteful and surprisingly diverse, ranging from the kind of crisp sounds you might expect on a contemporary fusion record (by the likes of Snarky Puppy or NZ’s own Yoko-Zuna) to dusty, low-fi and detuned, more like you might expect on an underground hip hop release. The record sounds incredibly professional in general, recorded in Esplanade Studios in New Orleans. Why ‘Born in Paradise’ has flown quite under the radar is unclear, but D’angelo is definitely one to watch out for, and demonstrates some intense musical flair that would be great to see in action over in NZ be it in collaboration, live shows or just more record play. - Olly Clifton

David D’Angelo is an immensely gifted young producer and multi-instrumentalist who crafts a unique blend of electronic, hip-hop, funk, and jazz into his sonic creations. “Jade” is the perfect example of this inimitable sound. Listening to it will have you wishing you were on an exotic island somewhere far, far away basking in the sun as you appreciate the beauty this earth has to offer. This chilled out electronic offering may have few lyrics, but the haunting instrumentation, club heavy beat, and soothing sound design more than make up for it. “Jade” is a fresh new track that teaches a vital lesson.
Music-News.com is proud to host the exclusive world vodeo premiere of 'Jade' by David D'Angelo.

The Peruvian-American, New Orleans-based producer David D’Angelo released his debut EP Born in Paradise in late 2016 while living in New Zealand. The EP was well received there and garnered a review on NZ Musician, New Zealand’s premiere music magazine and blog. The writer compared it to work from artists like Mndsgn, Dam Funk, and Snarky Puppy and said “David D’Angelo’s ‘Born in Paradise’ is a surprising, well constructed, groovy set of tracks that probably deserve to be a lot more well known”. Sonically, Born in Paradise is an amalgamation of g-funk inspired hip-hop production, smooth neo soul piano, funky synths and electronic soundscapes. Thematically, the EP is about viewing the world as paradise and treating it as such. David has performed internationally and alongside noteworthy acts such as Grammy Award nominated trumpeter and producer Christian Scott, LA based producer AF THE NAYSAYER, and future funk band Naughty Professor. David has also been featured on Balcony TV New Orleans, where his video peaked at #1 on their charts, and on multiple CMJ reporting college radio stations.

“Jade”, which was filmed in New Zealand, opens to contrasting shots of gorgeous landscapes and a timber mill distorting the natural beauty of the land. The video showcases stunning, earthly panoramas that include islands with white sand beaches and tree tops with lush green vegetation that will leave the viewers breathless with jaws dropped. As the video progresses we see David moving away from the man made polluting entities and effectively returning back to nature. The only lyrics contained in the song, “Jade is more precious than silver and gold”, are soulfully sung as a melodic and catchy hook. David’s message, that the earth is paradise and ultimately worth more than all of the resources we strip away from it, is wonderfully translated. Viewers and listeners will be mesmerized by this simple, trance-inducing track and exquisite visuals. - Newsdesk