New Music From June McDoom

June McDoom is a singer-songwriter based in New York City.  Growing up in South Florida in a Jamaican household, McDoom was raised around reggae music; later, she discovered and nourished her own deep love for folk music and songwriting of the 1960s and 70s. While studying in NYC for a degree in Jazz Performance, her musical palette expanded to include the more intricate influences of jazz and early soul. Realizing that her favorite vintage folk music lacked artists with similar identities as her own, it became increasingly important for McDoom to carve a unique musical space – to push folk music towards a new and different audience by incorporating influences of early soul, reggae, and vintage analog experimentation into a new world. Experimenting with a mixture of vintage analog and modern digital recording, McDoom has learned profound new ways to marry the seemingly contrasting genres and style that have individually shaped her. Her 2022 debut releases – “The City” single, which was followed quickly by an eponymous EP – earned high praise, catching the attention of KEXP, KCRW, Aquarium Drunkard, Rough Trade NY, and other venerable indie music institutions. As a follow-up, in November 2023 McDoom will release With Strings, featuring string arrangements by Sam Weissberg and harmonies by acclaimed vocalists Cécile McLorin Salvant, Nick Hakim, and Kate Davis.

The set includes orchestral interpretations of standout singles “The City” and “On My Way” along with covers of songs popularized by Nina Simone and Judee Sill. Of the new version of “The City,” which is at radio now as an advance single, McDoom says, “‘The City’ was one of the first songs I ever wrote and it sort of came together in two parts with the help of my partner Evan Wright, helping with the harmony arch of the song. It was the first song I ever recorded and I always hoped to record a version more stripped down and closer to the original intentions I had for ‘The City.’ Several friends helped make this new version very special.”

RIYL: Weyes Blood, Lomelda, Barrie, Beach House, Warpaint

FCC Clean

Label: Temporary Residence Ltd.

Goes For Adds 10/24