Fate, whether you believe in it or not, is a powerful force, one that could be credited for some of the best musical collaborations of our time. And, it is safe to say that the chance encounter between Jay Atohoun and Willem Ardui at a gig in Brussels, that led them to form the musical duo Blackwave, was just that. Now, following on from their breakout success, the pair are back with their latest track “Recluse”. Offering a contemporary twist on the jazz and funk genres, the track features an infectious beat and classic instrumentation that has been manipulated by masterful production. The song’s introspective lyrics are provided by a range of shrill vocals and rapping, furthering the proof that the pair’s juxtaposing talents work together in a truly complementary manner.

“While the process of making ‘recluse’ started about two years ago, the content of it is as relevant as ever to us. It encompasses a lot,” explains the pair. “Among other things it’s about feeling isolated, it’s about love and loss, it’s about looking inward and trying to understand yourself. These are themes we were dealing with prior to the pandemic but came to the surface even more during all of it. We worked on the song restlessly for the last months, ever-changing the arrangement, redoing vocal recordings, reharmonizing different parts… It was a journey. Sound-wise we were really inspired by 70s soul like Curtis Mayfield and Al Green. Listening to those records made us experiment with different recording and mixing techniques like sending the drums through vintage tape and echo machines to get that warm, retro sound.”

Accompanied by a set of visuals directed by Michiel Venmans and Jaan Stevens, it is evident that the pair’s latest offering has been carefully crafted. And, with a love of performing at the heart of Blackwave’s history, we are looking forward to receiving more groovy tunes and, hopefully, live displays from the dynamic duo very soon.

Listen to “Recluse” below…