Today, Black Pumas announce the release of their self-titled debut, out June 21st. Produced by Adrian Quesada  (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, 2018’s Look At My Soul) in his home studio and colored by Eric Burton’s dark imagery and haunting vocals, the album is equally indebted to East Coast hip-hop as it is to classic funk and soul, resulting in a project that is of the moment rather than retro.

Following their ambitious slate of performances during last month’s SXSW, it’s clear that the collaboration between 27-year-old Burton and Grammy-winning guitarist/producer Quesada are due for a big 2019. Listen to their new single “Colors” below.

Quesada had been working on a new project inspired by a mix of woozy Ghostface Killah instrumentals, crispy Motown soul, and the introspective grandeur of dusty highway folk-rock, and, after hearing him audition over the phone, Burton slotted in beautifully. Pulling from his myriad performance backgrounds — singing in the church, acting in musical theater, and busking at the Santa Monica Pier — Burton injects Quesada’s instrumentals with a howling croon and surrealist lyrical bent. From the roiling, solar eclipse-inspired noir of “Black Moon Rising” to the ponderous yet epic “Oct 33,” these early collaborations provided the basis for Black Pumas.

Burton and Quesada were thrilled with the songs, but Black Pumas truly began to make their name with a weekly residency at Austin’s C-Boys that quickly became “the hottest party in town” (Austin-American Statesman), with lines wrapping to see their whip-sharp band and Burton’s “whirlwind of movement and gesture” (Chicago Tribune). What followed was a quick and dirty ascent through the Austin music scene, culminating in a coronation as Best New Band at the 2019 Austin Music Awards.

Listen to their 2019 Austin Music Awards Song Of The Year-winning debut single “Black Moon Rising,” deemed “psychedelic, funky, bold, cinematic, but above all, soulful and sincere” by KUTX above.

Black Pumas have also announced their debut New York show at the Knitting Factory for May 15th. Current tour dates below, keep an eye out for more tour news coming soon.

Tour Dates:
5/15 – Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
5/21 – Bush Hall (w/ The Heavy) – London, UK (SOLD OUT)
5/23 – La Maroquinerie (w/ The Heavy) – Paris, FR (SOLD OUT)
5/24 – De Helling (w/ The Heavy) – Utrecht, NL (SOLD OUT)
5/25 – Lido (w/ The Heavy) – Berlin, DE (SOLD OUT)
5/28 – Trinity Centre (w/ The Heavy) – Bristol, UK (SOLD OUT)
7/2 – Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
7/4 – Drake Hotel – Toronto, ON
7/6 – Festival d’été International de Québec – Quebec City, QC
7/10 – Club Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA
7/11 – WTMD First Thursday Festival – Baltimore, MD
7/12 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
7/14 – Third and Lindsley – Nashville, TN
7/16 – Triple Crown Whiskey Bar & Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA
7/17 – 7th St Entry – Minneapolis, MN
7/18 – Shitty Barn – Spring Green, WI
7/19 – Space – Evanston, IL
7/20 – El Club – Detroit, MI
7/23 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
9/27-29 – Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival – Columbia, MO