Back in April, The Brand New Heavies gave us an unexpected treat when they released their single "Getaway." The song not only served as the group's first new material in years but also saw them reuniting with singer N'Dea Davenport (albeit temporarily). We speculated what it could mean then and now we know for a fact: The Heavies are back! The acid jazz group — which now consists of core members Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy along with a rotating cast of vocalists — are all set to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their debut album with the release of their newest effort TBNH this September. With that on the horizon, the fellas give us another listen with the release of their next single, "These Walls."
"These Walls," interestingly enough, is a cover of Kendrick Lamar's song of the same title, though it definitely has the Heavies' unique spin. They, along with producer Mark Ronson, reinterpret the track to fit more with their aesthetic, building upon the already jazzy groove and adding a few of their own embellishments like horns and a swinging rhythm shepherding. Meanwhile, N'Dea returns to the fold once again to take on the role Anna Wise served for Kendrick, though she takes a few liberties with the lyrics as she adds a few here and there to flesh out the lyrical story.
N'Dea isn't the only familiar voice coming into The Brand New Heavies fold for TBNH. Other vocalists who will appear on the record, which you can pre-order now, include Siedah Garrett, Angie Stone, Beverly Knight, Honey LaRochelle, Angela Ricci and more. Take a listen to "These Walls" below and stick around to check out the cover art for the album, which will arrive in stores on September 6th.