Dawn | Dusk

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2012-05-14

Label: Record Breakin' Music

Comprised of musician/producers Hayling Price and John E Daise, Columbia Nights’ work is an organic blend of analog and digital elements- a hybrid that looks to the past while taking a giant leap forward. This brief yet expansive introduction to the group combines a love of soul, hip-hop, jazz and electronic music to yield a sound some describe as soultronic.

After a stint as bandmates in Philly, Hayling and John reconnected in Washington, DC as diligent students of their respective crafts. As a classically trained pianist and producer with a few beat tapes to his name, Hayling was interested in expanding his musical vocabulary. Meanwhile, John was working on his own compositions and honing his skills as a multi-instrumentalist while playing bass with several local bands. Realizing that they brought complimentary skills to the table, they began home-studio collaborations in earnest while digesting a host of sounds.

The pair began regular listening sessions, diving deep into records made by their heroes and unpacking what made them special. As their search continued, they realized something was missing from most contemporary approaches they heard; evolution. In search of for a bold new approach to black music, the pair began pushing boundaries as they incubated their sound. Along the way, a chance encounter with Howard University jazz student Sarai Abdul-Malik added new energy to the process. Finding that Sarai’s unique voice and songcraft were a natural fit for their recordings, they invited her to feature extensively on their first release.