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Will Bates Delivers Masterful Album ‘The Pirate Album’

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With the release of his album, The Pirate Album, Will Bates—who is well-known for his vast body of work in cinema and television composition—has entered uncharted musical ground. Sketches from a forgotten project and a fifteen-foot balafon were the strange starting points for this project. First envisioned as a budding film score, the partnership with friend and drummer Mathias Kunzli took an unexpected turn when the renowned composer turned it into a significant release.

After the movie idea was abandoned, Bates repurposed balafon drawings to create The Pirate Album. He assembled a talented group of musicians, including drummer Spencer Cohen and jazz musician Quentin Collins, who helped transform the original doodles into complete tunes. Their input helped Bates create a unique and original musical experience.

Sonically, the Pirate Album is influenced by a wide range of genres and is thought to fall between Talking Heads and Eden Ahbez. But the album’s route wasn’t a straight line. Bates balanced his composing commissions over a period of eighteen months with sporadic record revivals. A breakthrough occurred when Bates’s own production firm, Fall On Your Sword, music supervisor Lucy Alper, was able to obtain a sync for one of the tunes. This encouraged Bates to finish the record.

In conclusion, the album is a creative collaboration by Bates, that showcases his creative spirit and rejection-response relationship. The album features nine diverse and sonically striking tracks, showcasing Bates’ status as an important artist in the music scene. The unique sound design and atmosphere make it a sensational listen, regardless of the setting.

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Rising Stars Roundup: Bantunani, Chris Errera, and More

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This week, we discovered some great acts from all over the globe and rounded up some of our favorite releases. The eclectic roundup list features Bantunani, Chris Errera, Dani W + Drew, Joze Wonder, and Medha Krishna.

Bantunani – Secret Pen (About Music) (feat. Misato)

Chris Errera – Gears Of Time (2025 Remastered Version)

Dani W + Drew – The Finer Things

Joze Wonder – Canción de Amor

Medha Krishna – Ishaare

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