Vela Veda's album Borrowed Ladders is not just the
debut album of an up-an-coming artist that you haven't yet heard of. This is
the fruit of Brian Danos' labor; electronic musician, producer, and tech
professional. With this piece of work, Brian has fused technology with soulful
music in a way that I have not seen done before.
The nine-track album opens with Se Lavi and it immediately
encompasses you with smooth esoteric ambiance punctuated with exotic beats. The
horn section in the middle of the track brings a true New Orleans flavor to the
glassy piece, but they don't overpower it either which is quite refreshing. The
songs flow into one another seamlessly, scaling up euphorically then winding
down whimsically. Imagine floating in the water being gently moved up and down
by the waves. That's what this feels like.
The word "borrowed" in the album's title may refer to the
many featured artists that Vela Veda has chosen to feature. He's "borrowing"
their immense talent and creative to add even more layers to the music. "Wake
Me" featuring the raspy, sexy vocal abilities of Maggie Koerner is a fantastic
song with dark, jazzy horns, danceable drum rhythms, and poppy electronic
beats. I could definitely see this song because used in a movie soundtrack soon.
I particularly like "War Cry" featuring the 79rs Gang because it's got a fast,
upbeat rhythm with a very Caribbean feel to it, yet it has a macabre bent to it
which makes the song feel entirely New Orleanian.
In addition to creating a unique album, Brian Danos, a tech entrepreneur,
has created several versions of the album cover which can be purchased via NFT
only. Vela Veda will discuss this new way of interacting with music/art and more
on the New Orleans: Then and Now panel presentation happening in virtual
reality on Thursday, August 4th, 4 PM Central. Info on how to join
here.
