Six years after ‘Shikantaza,’ Chinese Man returns with a new single, “We’ve Been Here Before,” the first extract from their eponymous album scheduled for March 2024. Initially, on this track, only the voices and words of Tumi (Stogie T), a South African MC with whom the group had previously collaborated, and Isadora, a Belgian singer who had worked with Matteo on a solo project, were supposed to appear on this track. But in music, as in life, beautiful accidents happen.
Miscellaneous, present for the initial listens of the song, spontaneously added his voice and mumbled what would become the catchy chorus… Déja-vu… thereby crystallizing the critical themes of the album. From a simple, unexpected hum, the identity of the single was born, blending Tumi’s very hip-hop and poetic delivery and phrasing with the trip-hop influence brought by Isadora’s voice.
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Like a sample playing on a loop, all the facets and vocal ranges of the group intertwine, separate, respond to each other, and come together in an endless cycle. However, exploring new territories is essential for Chinese Man, resulting in more instrumental and lyrical sounds than usual.
How do we break free from certain pre-established patterns, from déja-vu, while remaining true to who we are and what defines us? This is what the trio wanted to reflect on in this first single. These are a multitude of experiences, encounters, surprises, and reinventions that, when put together, form a plurality of stories and 20 years of music.
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