Hip-Hop has not traditionally thrived in St. John’s, Newfoundland, but for the individual members of ChessClub (Andrew Lahey, Matthew Murphy, James Piercey and producer Adrian Gagnon), who grew up there, hip-hop is how they found each other. The four piece now call Toronto home, and with fifteen years of collective writing, musings, and perhaps a few rebirths, ChessClub are all too ready to release their sophomore album, These Flowers Are For You.
In 2014, ChessClub premiered their first self-titled album with Vice magazine’s online music publication, Noisey, and earned themselves an East Cost Music Award (ECMA) nomination. The group are passionate about performing live, and often opt to perform alongside a full band. Throughout their career they have shared the stage with notable acts such as Pharoahe Monch, Shad, Camp Lo, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, The Beatnuts, Slaughterhouse, Belly and RA TheRugged Man.
ChessClub’s blend of traditional and contemporary style carries into These Flowers Are For You, with defined growth and evolution. You can expect layers of rich, textured, modern sounding production, married with dense, introspective lyricism, in both traditional rap and melodic vocals. Thematically, the album explores a full range of emotions through the particular lens of each member. ChessClub probes questions about the tension of post-material modern life, and the relationship between growth and decay.
These Flowers Are For You is out now via URBNET, and will be available on limited edition vinyl LP and CD. You can find the project on iTunes and Spotify.
The post also contains the Matt Power-directed video for “Amelia Earhart,” starring Karena Evans and Lovell Adams-Gray.
Check out the official website, ChessClubRap.com.
