_thesmoothcat and Wino Willy have dropped off a fresh new album, titled Ready, Set. Hypnotic and refreshing, this potent new record finds the two creative, eclectic artists discovering a common ground with jazzy, psychedelic soundscapes. Wino Willy’s dusty, astral instrumentals suit the focused musings of _thesmoothcat, who drops verse after verse of engaging material. Introspective and hypnotic, Ready, Set presents a wide variety of jazz-tinged soundscapes drenched in an otherworldly atmosphere that sets this record apart. From the glowing, pensive sonics of “Brand New”, to the lo-fi abstractions of “OFFTOP”, Ready, Set is a mind-expanding record from two artists deeply in their bag creatively.
Regarding the conception of Ready, Set and the unique circumstances that led to the record coming together- in late 2020, beat-maker/ producer Charles Corpening ( Wino Willy ) took a gig mixing a live- stream for a mural dedication in New Orleans featuring a performance by _thesmoothcat ( Josh Henderson) & 9th Life. Corpening was so moved by their sound that he captured the raw audio on the spot and began flipping it as soon as he got home. The levity and joy in the streets that he heard in Josh’s music in contrast to the darkness of the times conjured feelings of his youth in Philadelphia and the cultural similarities across both cities. Shortly after, he reached out to Josh and the collaboration that led to Ready, Set was born.
Take a listen to _thesmoothcat and Wino Willy’s refreshing new album Ready, Set here- an LP full of life and self-awareness that reflects the two artists’ outside-the-box approach and poignant work ethic. Support the artists directly on BandCamp HERE.
Watch the music video for “OFFTOP” here:
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 