Although Kenneth Whalum's name may still be new to many people's ears, his voice likely is not. Whalum is an accomplished musician, who's resume boasts stints—as a backup singer, saxophonist, and composer—with towering artists like D'Angelo, Maxwell, and Jay Z. Accordingly, it comes as no surprise that his solo work is so fully-formed and arrestingly beautiful.
"Ghost Town," which premieres today on The FADER, is a meandering and wistful falling in and out of love song. Where are you now, where are you right now, he croons over a gently swelling wash of bright keys and jazz drumming.
"I wanted to express the what ifs of a relationship," he explained over email. "The song is written from the space of final judgement of that given relationship. It’s the moment of suspension between the overview and the end. The deliberation period.”
"Ghost Town" will be featured on Kenneth's forthcoming album, Through Hell & High Water, which is slated to arrive this winter.