Jahmal Padmore has just announced his debut solo album Esparonto with its lead single, “Pretty.”
Out May 27 via Toronto label Telephone Explosion, Esparonto was mixed by Louis Cremades at House Of Balloons (of The Weeknd fame) and mastered by Kevin McPhee. After being a writer and producer for other artists since 2007, Padmore has created an album that explores the concepts of ego, identity, and projection.
Lead single “Pretty” matches the rest of the album’s themes, with Padmore melodically and playfully saying it’s not his fault he’s so great. “My ego gets me high/My ego tells me who I really am,” the chorus tells us. Still, Padmore pledges to be better, hoping to be freed of the selfdom that ultimately holds him back.
“It explores the ideas of self-projection and how much one can believe their own hype,” Padmore says about “Pretty”. “What does it mean to believe in yourself as someone with value? What is it to judge others by their aesthetic or financial, even moral value? A tongue-in-cheek exploration into the idea of true identity. And a lot of fun at the same time.”
Over his years as a producer, songwriter and drummer, Padmore has worked with artists like MSTRKRFT, Brendan Philip, The Carps, and Thunderheist, among others.
Check out the tracklist for Esparonto below:
1. Sorted
2. Ride
3. Sunday In the Living Room (ft. Benja)
4. Pretty
5. On Without
6. Operator (ft. Mathew Progress)
7. Your Joy
8. Cut The Rope
9. Instigation (ft. Keita Juma)
10. So Cold
