New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Jonah Mutono - the songwriter once known for his mysterious sound and persona under the pseudonym Kidepo - releases his "beautiful" (The Daily Beast) debut album GERG, out on True Panther / EQT Recordings. GERG is a response to a trying personal time for
Jonah — deportations, visa troubles, dealing with his family and a secret relationship — that yielded a creative explosion of songs. NPR
Music draws connections to "the cool vulnerability of
Frank Ocean and the sleek balladeering of Khalid," but
Jonah imbues his music with a unique biographical specificity. Whether he's discussing discrimination on "Smith Johnson Williams Brown" or pining for a traditional happy ending on "1949," Jonah's songwriting is empathetic and vulnerable as he explores what he describes as "the most human aspects of feeling dehumanized."
Recently,
Elton John featured Jonah's track "Circulation" on his Rocket Hour show on Beats 1 Radio. Pigeons and Planes, in naming
Jonah one of its Best New Artists, describes the track as "powerful...a theatrical, expansive leap," and them named it one of 10 New Songs By
Queer Artists You Need To Hear.
Recently,
Jonah penned a personal essay for The Daily Beast, detailing the relationship that inspired the stories portrayed on GERG. Take a look here:https://bit.ly/2VKlJAd
Also,
Jonah sat down with NPR World Cafe to perform live and discuss elements of his new project. Take a look/listen to his interview and performance here:https://n.pr/3dJM0Vd
Stream/Order GERG here: https://smarturl.it/JMGERG
Praise for
Jonah Mutono and GERG:
"Jonah Mutono's infectious, blissed-out R&B reflects on a desire for comfort and community amid arrangements that meet at the midpoint between the cool vulnerability of
Frank Ocean and the sleek balladeering of Khalid." - NPR Music
"Powerful...a theatrical, expansive leap."
- Pigeons & Planes
"Beautiful...Mutono writes about finding romance and embracing his queer self."
- The Daily Beast
"A fresh level of artistry."
- Clash
"A more expansive, open sound for Mutono...hypnotic." - them
"Enamoring." - Variance Mag
GERG Track Listing
Smith Johnson
William Brown
Shoulders
If You Mean It
The Low
Circulation
1949
Southbank
I'll See You
H4AD
