Bad Ambassadors, the Chicago based duo of Rich Jones and Walkingshoe, will release their debut, self-titled EP, on January 10th via Shoebox Records. Bad Ambassadors explores the determination to pursue your passion in the face of the inevitable obstacles life places in your way. Musically, the project combines elements of surf-rock, psychedelic hip-hop, and dance beats into a quick, easy-to-swallow pill that will get you your fix on first listen all the way to your tenth. Ahead of its release, the duo offers the project’s second single, “Saturday.” Following the upbeat lead single, “Up for You,” “Saturday” is mellow, and features bright synth and layered vocals.
“‘Saturday’ was the only song I wrote Summer 2015 before we really got cooking in the Fall,” says Jones. “Had been feeling particularly low as I dealt with a multitude of things – the murder of a dear friend, the growing pains of a new relationship, a lack of trust of those around me who I’d previously felt iron clad about – that by that point in the year had crescendoed into a wave that felt like it would be tough to make it over. All the good things indeed felt so very far away from me and I desperately needed that to change.”
Rich Jones, known for both his own solo work and collaborations with the likes of Nnamdï, Mykele DeVille, and The O’My’s, and Walkingshoe, who’s spent time producing for himself and others, notably Ness Heads, Frank Leone, yU, ShowYouSuck, and Qari, met via Twitter in 2015. The pairing provided them with something that neither of their solo endeavors could – a chance for a fresh start and the kind of freedom that could only come from releasing this music as a group. After Bad Ambassadors was temporarily shelved for personal pursuits, they returned with a renewed zeal and began working out of a basement studio in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood, creating records that paired Jones’ sense of unease and sadness over a rapidly changing city and community (themes found throughout much of his work) with Walkingshoe’s expertise in forging genre-defying production and their mutual, keen pop sensibilities.
For those in the Chicagoland area, Bad Ambassadors will play an EP release show at the Hideout on January 10th, the project’s release day. Tickets are on-sale now and available to purchase here.
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