Growing up in the tiny village of Frillesås, on the western coast of Sweden, sir Was – real name Joel Wästberg – is a man of many talents. Inspired by the likes of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, Wästberg began studying jazz saxophone at an early age. Soon, he was flying around the world to perform with a variety of ensembles, including jamming with a pajama-clad Sean Lennon and playing with José González.

Eventually, however, the time came to strike on his own, and his debut album Digging A Tunnel is the result. Boasting a continually evolving sound with an exhilarating Beck meets D’Angelo groove, the record is lent its unique atmosphere by the strange background noises Wästberg employs, many from field recordings he compiled during his travels through Mexico and Mozambique. “Revoke”, his new single from the record, is a dreamy mix of hip-hop, funk, soul and electronica, joined together by the effortless flow in Wästberg’s vocals.

Directed by Swedish artist Fredrik Egerstrand of Egerstrand&Blund, the beautiful video is a journey through the trials of everyday life. “We might be stuck with our situation in life, our regrets and our wish for things to be different from what they are but sometimes between our dreams of something else there are glimpses of beauty and the ability to enjoy it.” explains Wästberg.

sir Was’ debut album Digging A Tunnel is due out March 10th via City Slang. He’ll be playing at Birthdays in London on April 11th.