Easy Living

What happens when you couple a virtuoso jazz pianist with a curiosity for synths, warm analog sounds and an appetite for beats? Latvian producer Artis Boris will answer exactly that question. The newest signee of Funk Embassy Recs is making his first entry into the scene currently inhabited by Dam Funk, Temu, Dan Kye, Benedek and XL Middleton.

"Easy Living" is the début EP for Artis Boris that caters to modern funk, electro and lo-fi enthusiasts. The 5-tracks pack a bunch: from the moody, dance-floor craving lead single "Can You Dance?"; to the princesque "Scream"; and the nostalgic lazy days anthem "Throwback." Add a contemporary take on cocktail hour smooth jazz, that's ripe for a Better Call Saul soundtrack - "In The Mall." On "Ryo" we see Mr. Boris nod to the late great Ryo Kawasaki, a legend in fusion who worked with Korg and Roland on guitar synthesizer sounds. Before passing in 2020, Kawasaki spent decades actively working in Estonia, where Artis Boris is based as well.

The crown-jewel of Estonian soul and female artist of the year Rita Ray collabs on the sole lyrical song "Can You Dance?" So "Easy Living" is mostly an instrumental journey, made audiophile friendly by analog gear put to good use. The moods go from dreamy visions of summer in the city to smokey club rooms right into ecstatic hypnosis. We see Artis Boris show his powers, which have been in the making since the idea took root during his jazz piano studies in Riga Cathedral Choir school. By now, he's well-versed in the harmonies, rhythms and sounds donned by funk and synth music pioneers from early 80s to the present day modernists. We see Artis Boris provide his first take on the genre in "Easy Living." It's music to soundtrack that special something we all yearn for this time of the year - freedom.