The challenge: create a song from scratch, without ever sitting in the same room as your colloborators. Coronavirus-related travel restrictions have made it nearly impossible for artists to work together over the past few months. So, during the height of lockdown, Jameson contacted three artists and asked them to write, record, mix and master a track, despite being confined to their respective corners of Ireland. The result of this collaboration is “Not Too Late,” an incredibly lush, stunningly arranged slice of neo-soul from producer R.Kitt, singer-songwriter Nnic, and our favourite recent find, lo-fi neo-soul artist Uly.
Nnic starts the track with jazz-infused vocals. Deep, expansive production, courtesy of R.Kitt, wraps around her dulcet tones. In the background, you can hear subtle brass – one of Uly’s signatures. The effect is intoxicating.
“The reason why the lyrics repeat so much at the beginning and have a bit of a pause in between is because they have a bit of a double meaning to them,” The Dublin-based vocalist says of the song.
“Working like this, away from each other, and not being able to bounce stuff off each other in real time is slow, inefficient and weird”, Uly admits. “By the time people reply, it might be the next day.”
“I enjoyed the process, but it makes it a bit more formal when you have to write out your notes in an email or a text,” adds R.Kitt.
The collaboration between the three strangers began with a Zoom call and a beat, and the three episodes in the track’s accompanying web series serve as a look into the creative process between the collaborators while in lockdown. Despite their initial apprehension, “Not Too Late” is multi-layered, both forlorn and up-lifting, and as perfect as it possibly could be given the less-than-ideal nature of its execution.
The project, in aid of the Irish refugee Council, aims to raise €3000 to help the council in its advocation for the humane and dignified protection of refugees. The gofundme link to donate is here.
Connect with Uly: Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Nnic: Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with R.Kitt: Bandcamp | Instagram
