Amsterdam, an emcee from Bend, OR and Goodwill, a producer from Vancouver, WA have collaborated on a 16-song record called Earth & Sky that will be available for free download across the internet on February 14th, 2012. The record’s first single, “Living It Up,” was released today and features a verse from Amsterdam’s Top Shelf teammate Middle as well as the voice of Mica Parris, an up-and-coming R&B vocalist from Portland, OR.
While Amsterdam and Goodwill have worked together extensively in the past, Earth & Sky certainly represents a sharp change in creative direction for the two artists. At the heart of the collaboration was a steadfast determination to bring a “feel-good” vibe to a region mostly known for overcast weather & a relatively dreary musical landscape. “We both just wanted to bring something new and different to our music scene,” Amsterdam told WeOutHere Magazine in May. “It all starts with Will, his beats are the foundation. He’s the Earth part of the equation. The tangible. The lyrics are just a part of my imagination I’m unable to otherwise control. The sky stretches for as far as the eye can see and may even be moodier than I am, so in a way I guess my delivery represents that mercurial nature, that unpredictability.”
Recorded at Terminill’s Flatline Studios (located in downtown Portland) over the course of just six weeks and three sessions , the recording environment stressed collaboration while keeping the laid-back vibe of the music intact. Earth & Sky features artwork from Davey Cadaver, as well as guest appearances from Portland legends Luck-One & Mila Gordana. Earth & Sky will be available for free download on February 14th, 2012.
