With his most comprehensive release to date, 26 year-old Brandon Nembhard has delivered ‘IF NOT KNOW, WHEN?’, a six-track EP, with accompanying self-directed short film to follow.
The past year has seen Brandon Nembhard drop a string of high impact singles, adhering the same visual approach with each release. After the success of recent offerings ‘CEILING’, and ‘MIND YOUR MANNERS’, this era of creation from the multifaceted artist has culminated in ‘IF NOT NOW, WHEN?’.
The EP begins with ‘CEILING’, a bold opening statement, with orchestral instrumentation. It finds a balance between atmospheric and accessible, with hard-hitting drums giving it a listenable bounce, and poignant lyricism providing substance.
‘MIND YOUR MANNERS’ is a powerful sophomore offering, with Brandon giving his own perspective on knife crime in London. The instrumental contains bright musicality and melodic vocal sampling. Impressively, space is still found amongst the kicks and snares to deliver his message, with thought-provoking lines like "The only time we'd hold a knife in our hand / Is when we were minding our manners".
Track 2 gives way to ‘THE STORM’, where Brandon continues to discuss personal topics, this time in the form of his experience with depression. He talks about this stemming from eldest-child pressures, and the responsibilities and expectations that follow. Speaking on this, he shares, “There was a period when I was 16-17 in Jamaica where I battled severe depression, and my relationship with my parents was strained. [the track] speaks to that experience".
‘STORY OF US’ serves as an apt follow-up, with it acting as a rallying cry for those hesitant to realise their full potential, due to their fears surrounding their own achievement. It’s here that Brandon gently encourages listeners to step into the potential they have, perhaps seeking to impart some of the wisdom he’s fought hard to earn, as he now comes to terms with his own new found success.
To close, ‘L&F’ sees the young rapper touch on his experience with romantic love and partnership. Speaking on the track, he says; "The internet and social media can create an illusion of endless choices, but in reality, our options are finite. The message is to find someone you can grow with and not let pride hinder that connection’. A sentiment that will likely be relatable for many in the modern world, Brandon surmises this in ‘L&F’ with care and clarity, making the final offering on this project stand out as one of the very best.
With his impressive consistency over the last two years, Brandon is shining as one of the hardest working newcomers in the game right now. He has a clear flair for the visual side. In fact, that seems undercutting. Brandon Nembhard’s visuals have been incredible, and with a full self-directed short film dropping imminently, it seems he’s as much a visual talent as he is a musical one. Considering how impressive his music has been, this is certainly high praise. If the trailer is anything to go off, the short film should be the crowning moment in this era of Brandon’s work, putting him in pole position to ascend the levels as one of the finest multi-medium creatives currently active in the UK scene.
NEXT SHOW - OCTOBER 23RD @ THE SOCIAL
'IF NOT NOW, WHEN?' - LISTEN BELOW
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