104.3

Description

Based in Los Angeles, Sam Wilkes has made a name for himself in the experimental and jazz scene through his unclassifiable solo work and numerous collaborations. For his first project with the Psychic Hotline label, he delivers 14.3, a new installment in the ongoing single series. This time, the artist puts down his bass in favor of a Fender Stratocaster borrowed from his long-time friend Brian Robert Jones (Paramore, Vampire Weekend). The experience begins without premeditation: on the first night with the guitar, Wilkes records a looped version of Tom Petty's "Learning to Fly" in a single take, which he then enriches with bass lines and backing vocals. A few weeks later, during his final session with the instrument, he captures the A-side of this record, an instinctive reinterpretation of Fleetwood Mac's "I Know I'm Not Wrong." For him, it was primarily about documenting a moment, without a specific goal, and rediscovering the freedom of exploration offered by a new instrument. The result, spontaneous and unadorned, offers two understated and intuitive tracks, perfect for a summer road trip. With 14.3, Wilkes joins a list of artists such as Kieran Hebden, Sam Gendel, Blake Mills, Flock of Dimes, Anjimile, and Bartees Strange, already celebrated in the Psychic Hotline Singles Series, which continues to embody a space for audacious musical experimentation.