Neo-soul outfit Chanti Darling make R&B music made specifically for dancing. Their hometown shows in Portland famously loosen up even the stiffest show-goer for a near-religious and incredibly fun experience. Our song of the day, “Wake Up The Night,” could be considered Chanti Darling’s anthem, considering they’re the reason behind waking up many nights. Made up of singer Chanticleer Trü and producer Damon Boucher, with occasional contributions from Natasha Kmeto, the band’s goal is reclaim the genre that has recently been repurposed by those who don’t understand its history. "Natasha and I have lots of conversations about unsung heroes of popular music,” says Trü in a press release. “RNB musicians that don’t get the shine that they deserve because they are women, or black, or queer. Then a blonde-haired blue-eyed dude from someplace trendy literally 'borrows' from this genre and all the sudden RNB is cool. No. It’s never not been cool.” Chanti Darling released their debut album, RNB Vol.1, last week via Tender Loving Empire. Below, watch Chanti Darling's KEXP performance for this year's Upstream Music Fest at The Little London Plane.
Finding good new music can be a full time job, so let KEXP help! In Our Headphones brings you five song recommendations every Monday, straight from KEXP’s DJs and Music Directors. Join hosts Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili on this never-ending journey of music discovery.
Host Emily Fox and KEXP’s editorial team talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
