Neo-soul singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Morin has just released Every Colour, produced by Juno-nominated Joby Baker, via Bombay Records. The Vancouver native has spent the last few years honing his unique fusion of soul, hip-hop and jazz and is excited to be finally releasing his debut full-length album. Watch the video for groove-laden single “Life Goes On” here.

Morin’s riffs bring to mind the licks of blues and funk masters with a voice reminiscent in sound and vibe to the likes of John Legend and D’Angelo.  Playful hints of disco and pop add retro flavour to a contemporary pop aesthetic that is as accessible as it is seductive.  The parallels between Morin and celebrated icons of R&B also extend to their like-minded themes; a purpose, both social and spiritual, drives everything he does. His grooves might be smooth, yet his lyrics address protest: politics, justice, and thinking outside the box to inspire actual social change. Considering our turbulent social and political climate, his message is particularly relevant. Look no further than the album’s finale, “Same Old Game,” to receive his unmistakably direct call to action. Marvin Gaye posed his own heated objections with “What’s Going On,” but also sang “I Love The Ground You Walk On,” on the same record. Morin too abides by the romantic traditions of his predecessors and a quick glance at the track listing – “You And Me,” “Love Again” – is all one needs to confirm that this is indeed baby-making music.

But describing Every Colour as a collection of protest anthems and candle-lit serenades would be an injustice, as Morin ventures further into his own life – and away from some of the ubiquitous trends in contemporary R&B – on many of the album’s recordings, in musical and lyrical content alike.  In “Come Home,” a song about the nesting period of a relationship, Morin beckons for his breadwinning woman over a rickety beat that will surely spark the interest of beat-heads far and wide. The same goes for “Go The Distance,” and even more so in “MJ,” a track that doubles as a British Columbian cultural anthem and a nod to Morin’s deep seeded influences in West Coast Hip-Hop. Other songs are celebrations of creative inspiration and life at large, “Life Goes On” and “Grow” in particular, both supported by triumphant arrangements and sing-a-long hooks (though, the award for album ear-worm undoubtedly goes to the buttery love-jam, “Fair To Breathe”). Others are far more low-key; “Miss You,” an ode to a dear life lived and unfortunately lost, and “Satellite,” a sci-fi slow-burner inspired by his mother’s love of Soul.

Russian “Davai!” Kolya Serebryakov and his merry band of jazz-funk all-stars provide additional instrumentation and penning from their studio in St. Petersburg that is, for lack of a better word, deadly (see the track, “Heaven”).

Although this is Morin’s first official studio release, he has already amassed a loyal fanbase and earned much critical acclaim playing gigs all over the world. The guitar and loop-pedal virtuoso makes a solo performance sound like an entire band with beatboxing and vocal harmonies. Self-taught and passionately committed, Morin’s blessed with the ability to turn strangers into fans. As he travels the world, from the Santa Monica Promenade to SXSW in Austin to Barcelona & London, he pulls in a crowd wowed by his skills. Click here to watch his Music For The People video series.

While in some ways the culmination of years of preparation, Every Colour is really a beginning, not only of a musical career, but also of an independent way of thinking and living that he hopes to share. “The only walls we’ve built for ourselves are the ones in our minds. Your environment and habitual thinking make you who you are. I want to get my message out.” More information and North American tour dates will be released when available.

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