Roy Davis Jr will release a new album called Destroy And Rebuild in April.
The record is the Chicago artist's first LP since 2009's God Life Music. It's coming out on Canadian label Mile End Records, which has worked with Davis Jr on and off since 2006. The producer says he aimed to revisit the "original sound of Chicago's house music" on Destroy And Rebuild. He called on Robert Owens, a vocalist synonymous with that genre, to contribute vocals on one track ("Slide"), while J.Noize and Terry Dexter also feature. The album will come out digitally and on CD. We spoke with Davis Jr via email last week to find out more:You describe this album as the start of a new chapter. Can you expand on this?
Each time I do a new album it is a new chapter for me. I look at life differently every time I embark on the path of creation. It's really just another page out of my book of life.
Where did you record it?
I recorded most of the album between LA and Chicago at Cha Cha Recordings and Soul Electric Studios.
What was it like working with Robert Owens on a track?
Working with Robert was the warmest experience, he is such a class act and very talented. I always wanted to work with him since the Fingers Inc album he did with Larry Heard and Ron Wilson. I have known Robert for about 24 years, I met him through DJ Pierre while doing work at Jive Studios in London back in the day. He is one of the coolest cats to work with. That brother knows his craft!
What else have you got in store for 2014?
I'm just going to enjoy touring and life, promoting the album and making more music for your ears. I also have some new projects I'm working on with DJ Skull, AKA Ron Maney, the track king of Chicago.
Davis Jr will play a series of UK dates to support the album, with gigs in London, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds and Nottingham across March and April. For some more insight into his career, check out our Exchange from last August. You can listen to LP cut "My Nation" via the SoundCloud player below.
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Tracklist
01. No Justice No Peace
02. Hands Of Love feat. Terry Dexter
03. In God We Trust
04. Let It Go feat. Emmanuel
05. Slide feat. Robert Owens
06. Ready
07. Synth Interval
08. Be Hungry
09. Bang Bang feat. J Noize
10. Lights Come Down feat. Terry Dexter
11. Never Alone feat. Infinite
12. Forever Summer feat. Terry Dexter
13. My Nation feat. Terry Dexter
Mile End Records will release Destroy And Rebuild on April 14th, 2014.