Words by Bailey Agbai
This week, we profile the experimental sound of Thundercat – an artist who consistently proves he’s ahead of the curve.
As time rolls on, it seems as though coherence is becoming less important in the music industry. Artists in pursuit of commercial success are likely to prioritise single releases over the creation of albums made up of songs that flow into one another to comprise a unique body of art. Thundercat’s talent, though, is largely reliant on the fact that he concentrates his efforts on the coherency of his albums, and as a consequence, his songs are beautifully co-dependent on one another.
Born Stephen Bruner, Thundercat’s artistry draws influence from a variety of greats ranging from Miles Davis all the way to funk band Slave. As a singer-songwriter, his talent for crafting songs is perhaps only overshadowed by his status as a bass prodigy, often incorporating his aptitude for the bass guitar into the instrumentals of his catalogue.
With his third studio album, Drunk, Thundercat proved he was ahead of the curve. Built upon 1970s funk and soul sounds, the 2017 project can be considered ahead of its time considering the similar sounds now found in popular music. For instance, take Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s “Leave the Door Open”. The song is a love letter to ’70s soul and also a smash hit, going as far as to peak at #1 in the US and garnering near-universal acclaim. Perhaps Thundercat’s ’70s-tinged album lacked crossover appeal four years ago, but – from a 2021 perspective – Drunk’s standout tracks, such as “Show You The Way”, are clear evidence of why the album is worth a revisit.
Thundercat’s follow-up album, It Is What It Is, was released last year but, prior to its release, the American artist released a chopped and screwed version of Drunk, titled Drank. Drunk already stood as a cohesive project deserving of a regular re-listen, but Drank takes the album to new heights by offering a completely fresh perspective on the original songs. Most artists finish a project and move on, but Thundercat’s commitment to Drunk’s longevity has resulted in two albums that use the same building blocks but arrange them in different formats to provide two distinguishable experiences.
As his career progresses, Thundercat continues to experiment with his sound; It Is What It Is seeks to explore the intersection of jazz, electronica and lo-fi, proving that, as an artist, he’s still evolving. We can only hope that as he does so, his profile expands – and so will his roar.
Check out the other artists in our Discover Weekly series.