Seven-time GRAMMY nominees Black Pumas have shared, ‘Mrs. Postman’ the second track released ahead of their anticipated sophomore album, Chronicles of a Diamond, out 27 October via ATO Records/Cadence Music Group. The track is accompanied by a playful new music video directed by Amos David McKay who also directed a live session of ‘Colors’ from the band’s debut album, which has racked up over 220 million views.
Black Pumas reaffirm their status as a vital force in moving the genre of soul music forward with ‘Mrs. Postman.’ Co-written by the band’s singer/songwriter/producer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada, along with keyboardist JaRon Marshall, the song marks the first time Black Pumas have co-written with another musician. Also produced by Quesada and co-production by Burton, ‘Mrs Postman’ is a piano-driven serenade spotlighting the phenomenal versatility of Marshall’s keyboard playing. The timeless yet exquisitely left-of-centre track took shape from an off-the-cuff collaboration between Marshall and Quesada.
Quesada explains, “JaRon and I used to get together on afternoons and make hip-hop beats for fun, and ‘Mrs. Postman’ ended up coming out of one of those sessions.” In adding his contribution to “Mrs. Postman,” Burton imbued his lyrics with equal parts idiosyncratic poetry and humanistic sensitivity. “I was partly thinking about how much joy the postmen can bring to people’s lives, but I also wanted to encourage the people in my family and anyone else working a blue-collar job,” Burton says. “I know from firsthand experience how arduous it can be, and I wanted to send a message saying, ‘I still see all the beauty and light in you.’”
‘More Than A Love Song’ was the first single to be unveiled from Chronicles of a Diamondand was met with unanimous praise. The track has amassed 2 million streams to date and landing on multiple radio charts. The single was praised by the likes of The Guardian, Observer, NME, The Line Of Best Fit, Guitar World (“superbly crafted and supremely soulful”), and more. MOJO also recently included Black Pumas in their 30 Artists Who Will Shape The Next 30 Years, alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and Lana Del Rey
Chronicles of a Diamond brings the band’s singular vision to life with more power, passion, and daring originality than ever before. Produced by Quesada and primarily mixed by six-time Grammy Award winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs), the ten-song LP finds Burton taking the role of co-producer and infusing his free-spirited musicality into every track.
One of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years, Black Pumas have made a major cultural impact, selling one million albums worldwide. ‘Colors,’ from their 2019 debut, is a gold-certified anthem that was nominated for Record of the Year with over 450 million streams. Burton and Quesada first discovered their once-in-a-lifetime chemistry back in 2017, after Quesada began searching for a potential collaborator and connected with Burton through a mutual friend. Thanks to the potent collision of their distinct sensibilities—Burton is a self-taught musician who got his start busking in his native Los Angeles, Quesada is a Grammy winner whose background includes playing in Latin-funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma—Black Pumas were on their way. Their meteoric rise saw them playing exhilarating live shows and sold-out multiple tours across North and South America and Europe, as well as performances at the GRAMMY Awards and President Biden’s inauguration, multiple television appearances and winning the Emerging Act of the Year from the Americana Music Association in 2020. Most recently, Quesada was nominated for a Latin Grammy for “Best Rock Song” for his collaboration with Diamanté Eléctrico.
