Last Thursday, May 2, the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Julius Rodriguez his new album: "Evergreen," his second LP on Verve Records and a follow-up to his commanding debut album: "Let Sound Tell All." The sophomore project will be out on June 14.
Alongside this announcement arrives Rordguez's electrifying lead single off the album: "Mission Statement," which is accompanied by a stunning music video directed by Pix3lface, a known visual collaborator of artists like Eminem, Kodak Black, and A$AP Rocky.
About 'Evergreen' and Its Lead Single 'Mission Statement'
After relocating from his hometown of New York City in 2022, Rodriguez made "Evergreen" in his new home of Los Angeles with producer Tim Anderson, whose previous credits include work with Solange, Halsey, and Billie Eilish.
Rodriguez's latest offering comprises new original works along with a standout cover of Dijon's "Many Times," with features from Keyron Harrold, Nate Mercereau, and Georgia Anne Muldrow.
"This album for me embodies the meaning of 'Evergreen,'" shared the artist. "With the differing worlds that are presented by each track, I still aim to be fully honest [with] myself in my expression--maintaining my voice in any variation of musical climate."
"With this, I hope to carry on the importance of prioritizing the music itself, rather than letting a genre or label create a preconceived connotation of the music," he continued. "The genre is me."
Kicking off this record is the contemporary jazz musician's dynamic track: "Mission Statement," which is out now. Sonically, the song is an amalgamation of steady rhythms by way of handclaps and spacey loops pulled around by a slick bass line.
Cymbals chatter in and out through vibrant piano riffs, with a saxophone solo sailing off towards the horizon as the track peaks. Indeed, this song, and consequently the album it is derived from, exemplifies Rodriguez's ability to transcend perceived boundaries between genres and styles.
As per NPR, he demonstrated this talent in his previous "Let Sound Tell All," describing it as "a project so dynamic that even the umbrella of jazz couldn't quite contain its essence."
Witness the artist's further improvement and stream "Mission Statement" by clicking here. You can also pre-order "Evergreen" under the same link.
The new song's MV, on the other hand, is available right below.
