It’s not been long since we explored the San Francisco-Oakland music scene through releases by a handful of artists, including Othered, KnightressM1 and No Captains, among others. Today we introduce our readers to one more collective from the Bay Area called Seal Party, presenting their new single ‘Maison’. The video complements the song well, giving a fun improvised sense of music collectivism, on the one hand, and mutual respect through musical symbiosis on the other. Each artist involved in this song clearly has brought their own notable talents to the table on this sonic offering.
Seal Party is the songwriting-production duo of Chris McGrew (drums/production) and Kevin Seal (keyboards/vocals). This project came to light after many years of helping other artists realize their visions. On their debut record, these studio veterans let their own voices come to the fore, revealing their fury and beauty, both rock and groove..
This track is lifted from the band’s debut album ‘MMXXII’, which will be released this summer. Since this album is a star-studded affair involving dozens of renowned artists, it should come as no surprise that this track involves R&B organ wizard Chris Rob (Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Anita Baker, Talib Kweli). Soulful, optimistic and uplifting, Seal Party’s music packs a powerful mix of rock, soul and R&B, created and performed with taste, along with a good sense of groove.
Recorded by Liam Wesley Craddock and Chris McGrew, the ‘MMXXII’ album was mixed by McGrew and Jaimeson Durr (Sammy Haggar, Joe Satriani, Hope Sandoval).
Seizing the moment, they invited world-class horn players, violinists, organists and vocalists, each equipped with hand sanitizer and throwing their best ideas into the mix. ‘MMXXII’ features an all-star cast of 22 collaborators, including blues and RnB royalty like Isaiah Sharkey (D’Angelo, John Mayer, Patti LaBelle) and Keyon Harrold (D’Angelo, Maxwell), punk icon Larry Boothroyd (Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine, Victims Family), bassist Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake, Fantastic Negrito), Ben Misterka (Collectivity), saxophonist Kenneth Whalum (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Maxwell, Justin Timberlake), trumpeter Rich Armstrong (Spoon, Boz Scaggs, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Thomas Dolby), guitarist Jonnie Axtell (Psychefunkapus, Dee Snider, Tone Loc) and saxophonist Daniel Casares (Atta Kid, Jazz Mafia, the New Mastersounds).
Prior to the Covid lockdowns, both McGraw and Seal were session musicians, but the pandemic means that the two had greater access to Studio C of Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco (AKA Wally’s HydeOut), which was sitting empty. In the room of the former Wally Heider Studios, Seal Party follows in the footsteps of many other famous artists to have recorded there, including the Dead Kennedys, the Grateful Dead and Herbie Hancock.
The result is ‘MMXXII’ – a continuous, expansive, engrossing album that is eclectic and beautiful. Decades of studio magic seep into the tracks, like the casks flavoring the Scotch. Stretching across genre boundaries, jazz luminaries and punk stalwarts join together to create a series of unique songs.
As of June 10, the ‘Maison’ single will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify,Apple Music andBandcamp, where the full ‘MMXXII’ album can also be pre-ordered – https://sealparty.bandcamp.com/album/mmxxii. On August 5, the digital version will be released via New Age Distribution and the CD released by X Racer Productions. The album release party will take place on June 30 at San Francisco’s Rickshaw Stop. Tickets can be obtained at https://bit.ly/3PHCUML.
CREDITS
Chris McGrew – drums, percussion
Liam Wesley Craddock – percussion
Kimiko Joy – vocals
Renee Padgett – vocals
Rich Armstrong – vocals, vocal arrangement, and trumpet
Daniel Casares – saxophone
Scott Thompson – bass
Chris Rob – organ
K-Seal – vocals, piano
Written & produced by Chris McGrew & Kevin Seal
Recorded by Liam Wesley Craddock & Chris McGrew
at Wally’s HydeOut in Hyde Street Studios, San Francisco
Mixed by Jaimeson Durr & Chris McGrew
Mastered by Justin Weis
‘Maison’ single cover artwork by Serena Di Pinto’s
Artist photos by Maryzelle Ungo
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