Black Pumas overcome pressure for dizzying success and polish diamond in new album: ‘Now we know each other better’

Adrian Quesada already collected indications to the Grammyas a member of the Phantom Groupwhen his path crossed with that of Eric Burtonwhich touched on the musical side in small shows around Los Angeles. Quesada needed to do more than Latin funk and, therefore, started looking for a partner to found the Black Pumas.

In 2017, videos from Burton on YouTube, recommended by a mutual friend, impressed him. Soon Eric received an invitation to join the project. The venture was more than successful and, after the release of the debut album of the same name, Adrian added other appointments by Grammy to the curriculum, but this time, with the help of the singer.

“I love working with Adrian. I think what we have in common is simply a passion for making music that has a huge impact on ourselves,” he said. Burton in an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. They are separated by a 13-year age difference, but the success of “Colors” was one of the first demonstrations that the two — who had never heard of each other until they met — work very well together.

For the vocalist, “Colors” was “the perfect song at the perfect time,” when the world needed positivity. The duo’s evolution came precisely with the development of a friendship: “I think what has changed most is that now we know each other much better,” he stated Eric. “We know each other’s ability to make music in the studio. I believe we learned to use it much better to create this album,” said the artist about how he achieves “unity” with Adrian in the creative sense.

The pressure created by the skyrocketing prosperity of Black Pumas didn’t stop them from producing an album as good as 2019’s. Chronicles of a Diamond, the album’s title track, portrays the band’s “journey in recent years”, in which they faced “ups and downs”. The period to which Burton what he referred to corresponds to the pandemic, when it was not possible to celebrate the musical triumph with an extensive tour — and the love for what he was doing needed to prove its strength, to not let the band end right there.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t any pressure: “Adrian and I have a healthy level of trust. […] Because of the expectations we put on ourselves and others, there was a bit of pressure. But that’s the meaning of Chronicles of a Diamond. We made music in a very natural and organic way and, suddenly, we started to experience the pressure that made the diamond, which you heard, be polished and gave life to the new album.”

More Than a Love Song

Music entered the life of Burton through the church: “I came from a place of pure honesty and seriousness to speak my truth in a way that can resonate with myself and others.” Even before taking a chance on music, however, he dedicated himself to acting and even made a cameo in Even if nothing goes right (2013).

“More Than a Love Song” also puts the singer in touch with his childhood and is a tribute to his uncle. “Do you know what my uncle did besides inspiring me? He told me that life is more than a love song when I started writing and when I really started to find myself attracted to the opposite sex. He was a great uncle in reminding me that there is more to life than pursuing a romantic relationship.”

The music video for the album’s first single portrays the message very well: “You see families, you see unity, a home, and you feel a lot of love. That was definitely present when I was inspired by my uncle in that moment.”

Angel

Eric also included on the album a composition that had been waiting for its moment to shine for ten years. He confessed that he loves all his “babies”, but it was “Angel” that made him happiest. “Being able to see ‘Angel’ come full circle and come into the spotlight… I think it deserved that. […] It’s a great track and serves as a great validator for me to continue being honest in my songwriting and continue my work.”

I remember feeling overwhelmed by everything that was happening to my family and the neighborhood where I lived. I hoped to find refuge in the real voice of an angel. There was a laundromat nearby that served as a quiet place for me, and that music started coming to me as I looked at a still life painting of flowers. – Eric Burton in press release

Mrs. Postman

In “Mrs. Postman”, the Black Pumas opened space for a partnership with JaRon Marshall. “I think we all really like hip hop and there are a lot of elements of the genre in that song,” he commented on what it was like working alongside the keyboardist.

JaRon and I used to get together in the afternoon and make hip-hop beats for fun, and ‘Mrs. Postman’ ended up leaving one of these sessions. Partly I was thinking about how much joy mail carriers can bring to people’s lives, but I also wanted to encourage people in my family and anyone else who works a blue-collar job. I know from experience how hard this can be, and I wanted to send a message that said, ‘I still see all the beauty and light in you.’ – Adrian Quesada in press release

What Eric Burton Has Heard

A cover of “Fast Car” doesn’t go unnoticed among the tracks on Black Pumas (2019) and already indicated some of the band’s influences. Eric Burton confirmed his admiration for Tracy Chapman: “I love what she stands for.” In addition to the author of the hit “Baby Can I Hold You”, Burton likes to listen Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin It is Wilson Pickett. “For me, these are my original rock stars. I think, in a lot of ways, there haven’t been many people who have done it better than them,” he confessed.

Completing the circle

It was lucky who was able to attend the Black Pumas in the 2022 edition of Lollapalooza Brazil. And the band also felt lucky to be able to perform for the Brazilian public:

It was definitely one of the few times on tour that the universe reflected back on me and made me think that we are rock stars. We are a rock band and this was a way for us to be validated as a great rock band. Brazil has one of the most beautiful cultures and a very passionate way about music and culture itself. It was a lot of fun, because we feel like we have a lot to learn from Brazilian culture.

To calm those who were unable to witness this show: Black Pumas Brazil will be back in 2024. “Something is being planned as we speak. I really hope we can return to the country very soon. It was one of my favorite places I visited.”

Bonus: New

If, like me, you were curious about the dog that appears in some of the Black Pumassuch as “More Than a Love Song” and “Mrs. Postman”, I bring information: Newthe little dog Eric, is only 11 months old. The name comes from supernovas — stars that, when they die, cause large luminous explosions in the universe.