Kero One’s “Early Believers”

early-believers

On April 7, Bay Area rapper/producer Kero One is dropping his second album, Early Believers, on his Plug Label.

Though relatively unknown, Kero One has built a cult following in future soul circles for his music, particularly in Japan and Europe. Tracks from his debut, Windmills Of The Soul, have been featured on various compilations, including Mark Farina’s Mushroom Jazz 7. Appropriately, Early Believers features two stars from that scene, Ben Westbeech and Ohmega Watts.

Here’s more from the press bio:

Using only home recording equipment and his personal credit card, Kero One pressed and released his first 12” single in 2003 on his own imprint, Plug Label. Without any experience as to how he should distribute his new record, Kero One spent endless hours researching, cold calling, and seeking help from friends. Of the 50 copies that were eventually distributed around the world, one landed in a tiny record store in Tokyo, Japan. A few weeks later, it was found by a Japanese DJ who played it at a club that night and received dozens of inquires, including a Japanese label executive who immediately contacted Kero One and asked for 3,000 copies of the record.

The record became a hit in Japan almost overnight, and Kero One was invited to tour the country just a few months afterwards. He performed in cities throughout Japan where he was greeted by hundreds of fans waiting to take photographs and autographs, much to his surprise. It was at this point that making a career out of music became a reality. Kero One went on to finish his first album, Windmills of the Soul, in 2005, handling everything from playing instruments and rapping to sound engineering. Without a strong label backing or a street team, Kero One handled almost all of the business himself. From promotions and marketing, manufacturing, finances, art direction, and web design, Kero One personally handed out promos to tastemakers anywhere he could find them. Eventually the hard work paid off, and Kero One quit his job as a web designer in 2006 to pursue music full time. …

In 2009, Kero One presents his official sophomore album, Early Believers, featuring some of his favorite singers and vocalists such as Giles Peterson protégé UK singer Ben Westbeech, Finland’s own modern day “Stevie Wonder,” Tuomo, and Portland’s Ohmega Watts, to name a few. This is an album that modulates from soulful jazz tinged tracks to upbeat synth-driven party bangers, all showcasing Kero One’s growth and maturity as a writer, composer, vocalist and arranger.

  • 1. “Welcome To The Bay”
  • 2. “When The Sunshine Comes” (feat. Ben Westbeech)
  • 3. “Keep Pushin'”
  • 4. “Let’s Just Be Friends” (feat. Tuomo)
  • 5. “Bossa Soundcheck”
  • 6. “Love And Happiness”
  • 7. “Stay On The Grind” (feat. Ohmega Watts)
  • 8. “A Song For Sabrina”
  • 9. “This Life Ain’t Mine”
  • 10. “I Never Thought That We”
  • 11. “Goodbye Forever” (feat. Ben Westbeech)
  • 12. “On and On”

Download: “Welcome To The Bay”

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One Response to Kero One’s “Early Believers”

  1. If you’re wondering who is the vocalist on “welcome to the bay” – it is Jacqueline Marie. Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/sfjmarie

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