Barney Bones links with Buddy and Samant

Coming out of South Central Los Angeles, Barney Bones is an artist and songwriter who breaks free of musical expectations to walk his own creative path. With a sound that’s entirely his own, he’s reshaping the context of what music from his neighbourhood can be by dismissing clichés and delivering an innovative style that’s struck a chord with fans across the globe, making him one of the most compelling voices to emerge from the West Coast in recent years.

First unveiling his sound in 2019 with his debut single “Should’ve Stayed Down,” he’s since shared multiple well-received tracks and his debut EP, ESCAPISM, which landed in 2023. Collaborating with an array of different artists, he’s gone from strength to strength with each moving, clocking millions of spins of his music online.

The past year saw Barney confirm his status in the global music scene with high-profile collaborations that showcased his versatility. He joined Kaytranada on Jason Martin and DJ Quik’s “Chupacabra,” brought fire to Jay Worthy and Dam-Funk’s “The Magic Hour” and delivered an unforgettable performance on Channel Tres’ “Berghain” from his record Headrush. The latter became an instant anthem, even earning a spot on the FIFA 25 soundtrack.

That next chapter is Boneyard Canyon, USA, an upcoming album set to drop in March which will present a personal exploration of heartbreak, loss and liberation, a sonic odyssey through the highs and lows of life in a city that’s both brutal and beautiful. The album’s lead single, “Birds,” offers a thrilling window into what’s to come, featuring contributions from Buddy and Samant who co-produced the track alongside ROHO and Jupiter’s Sick of Cruza.

Blending themes of heartbreak with hypnotic beats, “Birds” serves up a stunning blend of dreamy aesthetic, expressive vocal performance and energising beats cut with jazzy vibes that sees the arrangement flutter between hip hop, R&B and soulful funk. Brought in by a vintage shimmer of hazy trumpet tones and soft vocalisations, the track jumps with the snap of dusty drum punches and rolls capped by superb vocal leads, shifting into slick rapped flows.

Peppered with memorable hooks, infectious groove and constantly developing arrangement, “Birds” delivers an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience from start to finish. Paired with the single is a music video co-directed by Barney and Jake Sanjangco which features Barney and others acting various scenes in a scrolling film reel style expereince, resulting in an incredible visual accompaniment for the track. With his highly anticipated full-length album on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what this exciting talent has in store next.

Commenting on the single, he shares, “I met Samant at Slow Jamz gallery in LA, we instantly clicked. We started chopping different beats of his together to come up with the bones of the record. I called one of my homegirls and told her to leave me a message that sounded like she was talking me down from a shroom trip. Originally the song was one verse, but when Buddy heard it, he told me he had to be on it. The song is like a mirror of the processes of life. Growth through the lack of expectation.”

Watch the music video for Birds below

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