Marking the first EP release of 2024 on Root Records, Astairé sets the tone for the blossom of spring, and bright summer days to come on his ‘Greener Days’ EP, releasing on Friday 24th May. After digging into the work of Brazilian musical pioneers João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá, the multi-instrumentalist & producer decided to celebrate their influence. Picking up his nylon string guitar as the EP’s centre piece, Astairé has created a tasteful homage that gently blends hip-hop sensibilities with bossa-nova-tinged passages, swaying percussion and uplifting improvisatory flavours.

On the EP, he shares: “Greener days ahead! This project is meant to encapsulate the feeling of good times coming just around the corner. All these songs are heavily inspired by my favourite songs from the likes of João Gilberto, Stan Getz, Luiz Bonfá and the likes. I’ve always been impressed upon by these artists but never dedicated a project to sounding like them, or trying my best anyway!”

The producer moniker of Brighton-born singer-songwriter Natty Reeves, Astairé creates a blend of instrumental music, ranging from bopping instrumental hip-hop beats to contemporary jazz-laced compositions. A prolific writer and sought-after collaborator in his own right, a string of well-received singles following his debut mixtape ‘Vol.1’ in 2020 has also seen the artist collaborate with the likes of Matt Wilde, Simon Jefferis and Abhi The Nomad.

EP opener and title track ‘Greener Days’ sees Astairé set the sunlit tone, with a delicate vocal & guitar melody dissolving into expressive flourishes of piano courtesy of serial collaborator Matt Wilde. ‘Calmest Of Blues’ continues the uplifting vocal tones established from the outset, with airy melodies soaring over shimmering nylon string excursions and a loop-based groove that takes Astairé back to his beatmaker roots.

Arriving at the centre of the project, ‘Clearest Of Skies’ is the clearest homage to the bossa legends of old. The first track written for the EP, open improvisatory sections break out of deft nylon-basked guitar tones, picking up the pace as we head into the second half of the tracklist. ‘Cloud Surfing’ combines tasty harmony with weaving melodies highlighting Astairé’s guitar chops, before ‘Sunflower’ returns to dulcet bossa rhythms. ‘Double Vision’ closes out the project, a reminder of Astairé’s jazz influences as exploratory improvisations soar over a stomping hip-hop groove.