New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Erick the Architect has dropped a new single today, from a surprise EP release out Friday called ARCSTRUMENTALS 3. The single, "REVIVAL," features vocalist Joyce Wrice. Erick - a celebrated solo artist and founding member/primary producer of influential Brookln rap trio Flatbush Zombies - is known for keeping fans guessing with each of his projects, and ARCSTRUMENTALS 3 is no different, with the rapper/producer exploring a new world of R&B-heavy dance and DJ music that was partly inspired by recent collaborations with Jungle, and L'Imperatrice, as well as his love for collabs with artists like James Blake. Erick created and produced these three new songs over the past year in his Los Angeles studio, and also picks up on some of the musical threads from his debut full length solo release from last year (I've Never Been Here Before), like the mid-tempo club jam "Ambrosia" featuring Channel Tres.
Says Erick: "REVIVAL is a song about longing for a change, while reminding your significant other of the things that make them special. I leaned a bit on gospel because: although it's secular at its core, the devout love for someone/something you can't physically see can appear in other ways. I feel like that's what love is." On the full project, he adds: "As the third release of ARCSTRUMENTALS, I decided to release (3) records that are resemblant of the music I've been playing most recently. I was searching for a way to be uplifted and reminded that it's okay to smile and enjoy yourself. In typical ARCSTRUMENTALS fashion, I've landed on a concept and produced these songs as an introduction to a style of music I've always loved. The songs feature a myriad of live instruments and force you to get up on your feet!"
This is Erick's first music to be released in 2025, following a prolific 2024 in which he released the 16-track I've Never Been Here Before as well as an expanded deluxe version of the record with four additional tracks at the end of the year. The project was deemed "a winding, perilous and deeply personal body of work that celebrates [Erick's] mastery as both a storyteller and conductor of his own authentic sound" by Rolling Stone, and earned praise from The Fader, Stereogum, Hypebeast, SPIN, the NY Times, Consequence, Billboard and beyond. The album features Joey Bada$$, Westside Boogie, George Clinton, Channel Tres, Kimbra, Lalah Hathaway, RUDE CAT, Boy Boy, Pale Jay and FARR, with production from James Blake, Linden Jay and T Minus. Erick toured across the U.S. and internationally last year with his band; watch them perform on KEXP.
Erick first introduced his ARCSTRUMENTALS series in 2015, and released a second volume in 2018 - freewheeling, exploratory collections of beats and studio work that he has revived in 2025 with a new sonic direction in ARCSTRUMENTALS 3.
Erick will also perform at Wonderfront Festival in San Diego on the EP's release day, May 16.
ARCSTRUMENTALS 3:
REVIVAL featuring Joyce Wrice
LUNCHIN
ALL THAT I NEED featuring Haile Supreme
