Grammy nominated vocalist, songwriter and producer Taali unveils her new video for “Is It Right?” today in BUST Magazine. Directed by Dutch rising star Lyon Pol the video was filmed both in Giverny (the European homebase of legendary impressionists Claude Monet and Mary Cassatt) and on the shore of the Hudson overlooking Manhattan's skyline. Shot entirely on film, the video offers a beautiful, sometimes haunting and introspective glimpse into the experience of an artist grappling with uncertainty.

Essay by Taali
Photos by Janette Beckman
Directed by Lyon Pol
DP Joseph DiGiovanna

Taali also begins her first headlining European tour next week in the following cities:

May 24 - Brussels, AB

May 26 - Paris, Sunset-Sunside

May 28 - Amsterdam, Paradiso

Photo by José James, design by Taali

Following on the heels of her 2021 Grammy nomination, Taali delivers “Is It Right?” the first single from her strikingly ambitious self-titled sophomore album. The song, written in the epicenter of the 2020 NYC COVID pandemic as Taali narrowly skirted death herself, reflects on what was lost and looks to the future. Produced by Taali and Brian Bender its sweeping universe of synths, drums and layered vocals nod to Beck, St. Vincent and Sufjan Stevens. 

Listen/Buy: https://www.rainbowblonde.co/isitright

Produced by Taali and Brian Bender
Taali - vocals, synths, piano
Ben Williams - bass
Dustin Kaufman - drums
Brian Bender - guitar, synths
Recorded by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA and Lily Wen at Figure 8 Studios, Brooklyn
Mixed by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA
Mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios
Photo by José James
Design by Taali

Rainbow Blonde Records announces its first US tour featuring label stars Taali, Ben Williams and José James. With a collective of innovative musicians (including keyboardist Big Yuki, guitarist Marcus Machado and drummer Jharis Yokley), RB Live showcases the fearless visionary spirit of a label dedicated to the best in R&B, indie pop and jazz.

“Rainbow Blonde is about freedom of expression,” says James. “Every artist on this label has something unique and powerful to say and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Label co-founder and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter/producer Taali will debut new songs from her forthcoming album “taali.” (out Sept 9th). The self-titled album is a stunning combination of both her NYC singer-songwriter roots and her LA indie pop sensibilities, referencing artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Regina Spektor, Beck and Joni Mitchell. Created between New York, LA, Sfinari and Amsterdam, the album reveals the vision of a world traveler, exploring hard-won personal revelations through a landscape of exquisitely woven synths, strings and pristine vocals

Grammy Award winning bassist and vocalist Ben Williams will perform songs from his Rainbow Blonde debut “I Am A Man.” The album boasts a humid and hazy sound that recalls Soulaquarian albums released by The Roots, Erykah Badu, Bilal, D’Angelo, Common, and Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor. “I wanted to make this not just a musical statement, but sonically, I wanted to dig into a different sound. I wanted this record to deal with the past, present, and future,” Williams says. On I Am A Man, he makes a grand departure from the mostly acoustic instrumental settings of his previous albums and brings his love for modern R&B and hip-hop and his socio-political awareness to the fore with mesmerizing vocal-centric songs that will surely raise his profile higher in modern soul and rap circles. 

Closing out the night, José James will perform songs from his album “No Beginning No End 2,” a future soul classic featuring collaborations with Aloe Blacc, Ledisi, Lizz Wright and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. “I’ve waited a long time to share this music with my fans” says James. “But it’s worth the wait: This is the right moment for this music and for this label.”

Tour dates:

6.09 – DC, City Winery | Tickets

6.10 – Philly, City Winery | Tickets

6.11 – Portsmouth, NH Jimmy’s on Congress | (Tickets available 3/27/22)

6.12 – Boston, City Winery | Tickets

Taali will be releasing her appropriately titled, “When Did The World Start Ending?” March 12, 2021. Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios, the album encompasses Taali’s work in a deeply honest and vulnerable state.

Listen to the first single: rainbowblonde.co/endofworld

“When Did The World Start Ending?” is a necessary relic of a fraught time. A songwriter in the truest sense of the word, Taali confidently connects the dots between the urgency of the late 60’s/70’s folk explosion & the modern cutting-edge expression of artists like Sufjan Stevens and St. Vincent. Deeply immersive, thoughtful and poignant, Taali’s sweeping live album rises to the creative & energetic pitch of 2020, expressing both the deep pain of a city’s loss & an optimistic path forward.

Preorder on digital and CD: https://rainbowblonde.co/whendidtheworldstartendingpreorder

Tracklisting:
Live at Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock

1. Whenever You’re Ready (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
2. When Did The World Start Ending? (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
3. That Song About The Midway (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
4. Wayward Star (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
5. Champagne and Fires (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
6. Climb (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
7. To Be With You (feat. José James) (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
8. What Are You Afraid Of? (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
9. Los Angeles (Live at Levon Helm Studios)
10. Ruti (Live at Levon Helm Studios)

Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios on August 13th, 2020 by Pete Hanlon
Mixed by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA
Mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios

Photos by Janette Beckman
Design by Hayden Miller

José James will be releasing his first live album on February 19th 2021. He leads with gorgeous first single “Come To My Door (Live at Levon Helm Studios),” available worldwide.

José James: New York 2020" is the first highly anticipated live album from an artist with a decade long career built on his electric live show. Despite an entire year without shows, James found a way to create & connect with audiences during the peak of Coronavirus NY lockdown. José James is known for assembling some of the best live bands in the world, & his "New York 2020" crew is no exception. Each song resonates with the creative urgency of an effervescent, resilient 2020 New York City.

Preorder: https://rainbowblonde.co/newyork2020preorder

Tracklisting:
CD 1
Live at Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock

1. Blackmagic
2. Turn Me Up
3. Come To My Door
4. I Found a Love (feat. Taali)
5. Saint James
6. Do You Feel
7. Trouble
8. Park Bench People

CD 2
Live at (Le) Poisson Rouge, NYC

1. Code
2. Save Your Love For Me
3. Blackmagic
4. Promise in Love
5. Made For Love
6. I Need Your Love
7. Park Bench People
8. Baby Don’t Cry (feat. J. Hoard)

José James - vocals
Taali - vocals
J. Hoard - vocals
Big Yuki - piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3, synth
Marcus Machado - guitar
Ben Williams - bass, vocals
Jharis Yokely - drums

Recorded live at Levon Helm Studios on August 13th, 2020 by Pete Hanlon
Recorded live at Le Poisson Rouge, NYC on October 3rd, 2020 by Jay Eigenmann
Mixed by Brian Bender at The Motherbrain West, LA
Mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios

Photos by Janette Beckman
Design by Hayden Miller

Congratulations to our label boss and favorite resident songwriter Talia Billig aka Taali on her first Grammy nomination! Talia is nominated for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals on her Becca Stevens collaboration “Slow Burn.” Listen to more Talia songs here: https://rainbowblonde.co/taali

José James' No Beginning No End 2 out worldwide: https://rainbowblonde.co/nobeginningnoend2 Rainbow Blonde: In The Lab Is an in-depth discussion with the art...

Ben Williams' I Am A Man out worldwide: https://rainbowblonde.co/iamaman Rainbow Blonde: In The Lab Is an in-depth discussion with the artists and creators b...

Rainbow Blonde Records proudly joins the YouTube community with an exclusive channel featuring artist interviews, behind the scenes footage and music from José James, Taali, Ben Williams and Bright & Guilty. 

Subscribe here: www.youtube.com/rainbowblonderecords

“In The Lab,” the channel’s first series, offers an in-depth look at the creative process of songwriting, recording and mixing. Filmed by collective member Joseph DiGiovanna in Brooklyn at Electric Garden Studios, the series features conversations with studio owner and engineer Ben Kane, producer Brian Bender, engineer Jaclyn Sanchez, Ben Williams and José James.

Rainbow Blonde Records proudly announces the special edition vinyl and digital release of José James’ iconic second album “Blackmagic,” out worldwide today.

Available for digital and 180 gram vinyl purchase here: rainbowblonde.co/blackmagic10

Limited edition 180 gram neon pink vinyl also available through VinylMePlease.

Featuring lo-fi hip-hop production from legendary producers Flying Lotus, Moodymann and Taylor McFerrin, Blackmagic saw James embracing his role as “the Jazz singer for the hip-hop generation.” Highlights include the Soulquarian meets Curtis Mayfield vibe of “Code,” the Moodymann-produced Marvin Gaye tribute “Detroit Loveletter” and the spaced out jazz meets hip-hop of “Blackmagic.” Across 13 songs James throws down the gauntlet and takes a soulful journey into the history of Black music, skillfully connecting the dots between soul, R&B hip-hop and London’s brokenbeat and dubstep movements. The 10th Anniversary Edition also includes four new live tracks recorded at Brooklyn Recording with an all star band.

Double pocket gatefold LP jacket includes all new photography by Hassan Hajjaj.

In a world of increasing uncertainty, Rainbow Blonde is proud to move with the times. Join us on August 13th as we present livestream concerts by Taali and José James live from the legendary Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. This special live multi-camera performance will be filmed by the award winning Framework Productions and styled by Art Comes First ©️.

Tickets available here: https://noonchorus.com/jose-taali/

9pm Taali // solo set - EP release of “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” 
Taali - vocals, keys 

9:45pm José James // live band set - LP release of “No Beginning No End 2”
José James - vocals
Taali - vocals
Marcus Machado - guitar
Big Yuki - keys
Ben Williams - bass + vocals
Jharis Yokley - drums

August 13th | 9pm EDT | 9pm BST | 9pm JST

Rainbow Blonde Records is proud to present “Mentals Month,” beginning with No Beginning No End 2: Mentals, the full instrumental album of José James’ return to form.

Each Friday of July, Rainbow Blonde will release a full album of instrumentals, showcasing the innovative and groundbreaking RB sound.

From the genre bending jazz meets post neosoul of Ben Williams and José James to the cutting edge synthpop of Taali and Bright & Guilty, July will be an opportunity to highlight the rich instruments, production, musicians and sound too often relegated to the background.

July 3: José James, No Beginning No End 2: Mentals (out today and available worldwide here): https://rainbowblonde.co/nbne2mentals
July 10: Ben Williams, I Am A Man: Mentals
July 17: Taali, I Am Here: Mentals
July 24: Bright & Guilty, B&G: Mentals

“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

-Toni Morrison

According to the Washington Post’s database tracking police shootings 1,265 Black people have been killed by police since Jan 1, 2015. Many others have died at the hands of civilians. Say their names: Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and so many more.

Originally intended for Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed drama “When They See Us,” today we release this music in solidarity with the families, activists, protesters and communities actively working to end police brutality and systemic racism against the Black community. 

Listen here: rainbowblonde.co/whentheyseeus
Watch official video here: https://youtu.be/Nm743DPJXpQ

100% of all sales and streams from the track will be donated to Black Visions Collective MN.

Donate directly here: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/

For more information on how to support #BlackLivesMatter https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Written by José James + Talia Billig
Produced by Brian Bender 
José James - vocals
Taali - vocals + piano
Recorded by Nolan Thies at The Bunker BK 
Photos by Janette Beckman

Prolific singer, composer and producer Taali releases her EP “Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out?” today on Rainbow Blonde Records. Her newest work examines the complex dynamic of female friendship, including its potential and deeply painful dissolution. It follows 2019’s EP Were Most of Your Stars Out?, an acoustic collection filled with unparalleled honesty, expressive lyricism and vulnerable fragility. The titles both borrow from Salingers' "Seymour an Introduction," to complete a quoted phrase that informs Taali's entire creative life: "Were most of your stars out? Were you busy writing your heart out?"

Listen / Buy here: https://rainbowblonde.lnk.to/heartout

After a long hiatus, The 1+2+3+4 Podcast kicks off its second season with three time Grammy nominated trumpeter and composer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. In this episode, he and José James discuss Christian’s new album Ancestral Recall, creating Stretch Music and the future of jazz.

In the midst of global tumult, Taali shares a timely cover of Jackson Browne's “These Days” today. Debuted on Brightest Young Things, it features beautiful celestial vocals & live intertwined synthesizers à la Imogen Heap. Taali explains the track:

“As a songwriter, "These Days" is hallowed ground. It is dangerously close to (if not included in!) that list of songs you're not allowed to cover. Right up there with Aretha's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," Prince's "Purple Rain," The Beatles' "Let It Be," etc. Though it has been covered to death, Nico's version of the song grabbed me first. I remember hearing it at 15 years old. Her subtle, enigmatically emotional delivery spoke to my soul. 

15 years later, with a litany of my own experience to finally sing to, I played this song live at Joe's Pub in NYC, and knew immediately that it had to be a release on our label. I wrote a synthesizer line and choral interlude instead of using Nico's iconic guitar part. I tried to honor Jackson Browne's spirit of repetition, resignation, and understanding in the hollow arrangement. And I think it's the closest I've come to objective musical truth. I really don't do that much talking these days. I "wonder," constantly, "If I'll see another highway." I have no idea how Jackson Browne got that sentiment so right at 16 years old, but he deserves all the medals for it. I have now lived inside and outside of the song, and couldn't not cover it. I'm grateful to have it both to listen to and to sing ... a modern day musician's prayer.”

Taali’s cover follows soaring first single "What Are You Afraid Of?" off her Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out? EP, coming May 15 on Rainbow Blonde Records -- a label and worldwide collective the artist runs with creative partner R&B/jazz vocalist José James and engineer/producer Brian Bender. She’ll also be opening for José James on tour this summer - dates below & here.

Tour Dates

5/7: Evanston, IL @ SPACE*

6/23: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*

6/25: Washington, DC @ The Hamilton Live*

*w/ José James

You waited.

It’s here.

Not much else we need to say.

Available worldwide.

Digital
Physical

"Nobody Knows My Name" (ft. Laura Mvula) is José James’ exploration of identity and fame in today’s Trump America and post-Brexit UK. He explains, “What does it mean to be a Black artist now? Musically we’re paying homage to Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Max Roach and Charles Mingus.” Premiered on BrooklynVegan, this is the final single from James’ future soul album No Beginning No End 2, out this Friday, March 6.

The project also features Aloe Blacc (“Turn Me Up ”), Ledisi & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (“I Need Your Love”), Lizz Wright, Erik Truffaz, Hindi Zahra and Taali, who will be joining James for a few dates on his Independence Tour, celebrating artistic freedom from genres, labels and boundaries - tickets here & dates below.

Listen / Share: "Nobody Knows My Name"

(ft. Laura Mvula and Kris Bowers) 

The Independence Tour is José James' live celebration of over a decade of making music worldwide. From his early discovery by Gilles Peterson in London to his major label debut with Blue Note Records, José has produced and written 8 albums covering the best of jazz, pop, hip-hop and R&B. Now signed to his own Rainbow Blonde Records, James is taking his music to new heights of expression with his 9th studio album No Beginning No End 2. "This is a celebration of my artistic freedom and I want to invite the world," James said. "I've spent my entire career searching for a way to express what I love about music. This is Minneapolis Funk and me growing up as a child of the hip-hop generation. And it's a tribute to the Jazz greats who weren't able to own their own masters - Miles Davis, Nat Cole, Billie Holiday and John Coltrane.”

Prolific chamber-pop singer/songwriter Taali today shares a soaring new single confronting fears and weakness, "What Are You Afraid Of?" It’s off her newly announced Were You Busy Writing Your Heart Out? EP coming May 15 on Rainbow Blonde Records. She’ll also be opening for José James on tour next month - dates below & here. 

Listen / Share: "What Are You Afraid Of?"

This new EP examines the complex dynamic of female friendship, including its potential and deeply painful dissolution. It follows 2019’s EP Were Most of Your Stars Out?, an acoustic collection filled with unparalleled honesty, expressive lyricism and vulnerable fragility. The titles of both EPs borrow from J.D. Salinger's "Seymour an Introduction," to complete a quoted phrase that informs Taali's entire creative life: "Were most of your stars out? Were you busy writing your heart out?"

 José James shares a playful new single today, “You Know What It Do.” His homage to Prince and the Minneapolis Funk sound he grew up with in the 80s, the track is from his newly announced future soul album, No Beginning No End 2. Coming out March 6 on his own label Rainbow Blonde Records, the record also features the talents of Aloe Blacc (from previous single “Turn Me Up”), Ledisi & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah (from first single “I Need Your Love”), Laura Mvula, Lizz Wright, Erik Truffaz, Hindi Zahra, Taali and more. '

Listen / Share: “You Know What It Do”