Puma Blue is exactly what London has been looking to showcase: young soulful vocals permeated with jazzy undertones and downtown vibes. His sound is the perfect soundtrack for Summer 17, having been compared to an amalgam of King Krule and Jeff Buckley. Here, Puma Blue discusses his influences and his debut video for “Want Me.”
The video for your single “Want Me” was recently released – how does it feel?
It’s actually been about for a while because I put it up on SoundCloud at the end of last year, but it feels good to share it with more people you know.
How did your musical career start out? Have you always known this is what you wanted to pursue as a career?
Music has been pretty much all I’ve done since I was 7. I was into drums first & then taught myself guitar and it was just this natural progression into song writing and producing at home once I heard guys like Elliott Smith + Radiohead. I feel like I couldn’t really do anything else to be honest, maybe writing or something.
Your music reminds me of Amy Winehouse in the way that it parallels the genre of jazz with London as a city. Does London as a city influence you as a musician?
Ah big up, I take that as a real compliment, she was a queen. I think London influences all the musicians here you know, how can you not be influenced by your surroundings? The city is such a vibrant yet bleak place so it has a way of working itself into your head. Everything is blue and orange in the evening & that always makes me wanna write.
Who are your main musical influences and who did you grow up listening to?
Such a difficult one cos I discover new music all the time, but D’Angelo, Jeff Buckley, Billie Holiday, John Frusciante and J Dilla have to belong in some kind of top 5. My parents played loads of stuff growing up, I remember Frank Sinatra & Stevie Wonder mostly. I was really into the Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine at school but I listened to loads of music, good and bad.
Do you think there is a budding future for the development of the jazz using more modern production techniques?
I don’t see my music as jazz. Although obviously it’s a big influence. Jazz has already developed with new production techniques, especially since the 70s. It still is as well, look at Kendrick. I think I just mix the old and new ways of producing. Hasn’t jazz been developing using modern production techniques for ages?
The video for “Want Me” is incredibly beautiful and intimate, watching you doused in melancholic red light, for me it resonated the rawness of young love. Were you happy with how it conveyed the narrative of the song?
Thank you. I got to make the video with a couple friends who are two of my favourite directors so it was a good time. We were going for this Wong Kar-wai vibe which I hope comes across. In terms of narrative though, who cares.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Playing a couple nights at Montreal Jazz Festival! I’ve never been West, so I’m gassed. Also Joey Bada$$ is playing so I wanna try catch his set.
What can we expect next from Puma Blue?
Well the EP is out soon, so I guess we’ll see what happens. More shows, hopefully less videos of me lying on the floor.
Bonus question: Do you own a pair of blue Pumas?
No.
Puma Blue’s debut EP, Swum Baby, which drops on June 14. He will be playing at the Montreal Jazz Festival this Summer.
