Joining Quadron on the road for their first US tour was an enlightening experience. We were blown away by Coco’s soulful voice! Finally 5 months later, we’ve done what we have been dying to do… a performance of “Pressure” on camera, a stripped down, melodic version of this iconic song. We collaborated with Rebekah Raff on the Harp, Engineer KenBts., Theo Jemison & Grace Oh.
It’s not too often you find someone as special as Coco. We want everyone to see the same rays of sunshine that we’ve seen and to highlight her unique talent. Share this with your friends and family. We hope this touches everyone as deeply as it did us.
A very special Thank You the Eagle Rock Center for The Arts for the use of your gorgeous space.
-Plug Research
Performance by: Coco of Quadron & Rebekah Raff on Harp.
Directed & Filmed by: Theo Jemison & Grace Oh
Mix by: KenBts. & Robin Hannibal
Recorded by: KenBts.
Edited by: Greg Ponstingl
Hair & Makeup: Melissa Tolentino
Produced by: Plug Research
Special thanks to VTech and Eagle Rock Center For The Arts.
The AFTA-1 & Nikko Gray EP is a collection of songs originally created for our first performance together, January 2010.
Through a year of experiences in life & love, personal revelations, and strengthened friendships, we were finally ready within the last month, to bring the project to completion. And did so last night at 8pm
And of course, as usual..we made it available immediately
Enjoy
Also, If you’re in Los Angeles this Saturday, Make sure to catch our special performance of the AFTA-1 & NikkoGray EP at the FlyBall
I originally wanted to keep visual themes with another video from my last LP called ‘mmhmm’ off of my last album. It featured Thundercat as an intergalactic bass player in a super strange world created by ‘Special Problems’. Since Thundercat was part of this song, I thought it could be fun to continue the visual style and feel of this space opera. In the end you have this crazy video made of so much mixed media, geek dreams and lots of love.
“Levels” was created in a small basement studio, below Shafiq (Husayn)’s home in Los Angeles. Bilal, Shafiq, & I produced the foundation of what would become the song under a certain creative hypnosis. It seemed as if, before our ears, the synthetic sounds and beeps congealed into a single living and pulsating organism. It would then soon sprout wings, carrying under them an all-encompassing message. “Levels” has since taken a life unto its own, bringing in interpretations from Flying Lotus and Sonnymoon; furthering what may be now called the “Levels Experiment”. The remix I provided follows in the tradition of the original song’s spirit: an ambitious exploration of sound, space, and emotion; an aviary craft bursting into the embers of a maiden flight.
-Ken Barrientos (KenBts.)
Bilal – Levels Log.Os (KenBts. Remix):
oscillations, guitar, loops, programming – KenBts.
supporting vocals – Iman Omari, Nikko Gray
drums – Chris “Daddy” Dave
Credits for Video:
Directed by: Flying Lotus
Executive Producer: Tom Bacon
Producer: Josh Freuhling
Director of Photography: Theo Jemison
Assistant Director: Dawn Bridgewater
Set PA: Michael Watson
Assistant Camera: Grace Oh
Gaffer: Adam Kolkman
Key Grip: David Wexler
Grip: Ben Olsen
Make Up: Alicia Cabrajal DeHasa and Melissa Tolentino
Stylist: Ranna Gisladottir and Amanda Ramirez
Production Designer: Kiel Johnson
Art Director: (Gly) Klai Brown
Special Effects: Special Problems
