Hailing from Evanston, IL, Kweku Collins may be the Midwest's brightest star. With the Closed Sessions label behind him, at the least, he's got definitive star power. Dropping the acclaimed, indie-rock meets hip-hop meets experimental Nat Love in 2016, and following up with the grey EP in 2017, Collins has evidenced himself to be the youngest artist with the most range. At any moment Kweku can move from an acoustic ballad to breezy raps and vocals reminiscent of the glory days of Kid Cudi. Collins' writing is honest and lithe, telling hyper-specific stories in equally accessible ways. "Home Tree" is yet another display of Collins' seemingly endless array of skills.
The first track Collins has released since grey, "Home Tree" takes the artist in yet another direction. Where grey was a chilly snapshot of Collins' time in Europe and his coping with newfound fame, "Home Tree" is fighting off the chill and giving into contemplation. The warmth of his vocal envelops you in phases, and the writing is, as always, heartfelt without drowning in sentiment. As Kweku releases more and more music, it becomes clearer that he is an artist devoted to capturing the spirit of memory, how it laps up against you before seizing you unexpectedly.
Lablemate Femdot completes the track with his gritty and leveling voice. He's right in his pocket over the hazy beat, spitting survival bars. The gravity of his voice says more about his passion that I could ever hope to convey. "Home Tree" is the perfect snapshot of the duo's highs, their willingness to expose their emotive lows, and their chemistry.
If you like what you're hearing, make sure to catch Kweku Collins and Femdot as they head out on their East Coast tour, dates below:
12/7: DC – Songbyrd
12/8: NY – Baby’s All Right
12/9: Philadelphia – Johnny Brenda’s
Connect with Kweku Collins: Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram
