Listen To Raiden Freeman's New Album 'Stay Sharp'

As Aotearoa lurches back into yet another lockdown period of indeterminate length, Raiden Freeman aka Jack Mells (The Scrussian) has gifted housebound listeners a kaleidoscopic new record to lose (and maybe find) themselves inside of. Snappily titled Stay Sharp and out today via Bankrupt Records / PRISON TAPES, the collage-like collection stitches together adept, emotionally affecting song-craft with an evident love for contemporary hip hop / club production — sounding refreshingly unbeholden to the past while strumming up a storm with visionary verve. Mells' rap skills hold up too, notably on the shapeshifting 'Sutures (Stay Sharp)'. The artist usefully provided an essay unpacking his thoughts about the intricately detailed record's themes and aims over on Bandcamp here, including a heartfelt dedication to Reuben Winter (who co-ran Bankrupt Records with Skymning)...

"... I guess my advice with this record is exactly the title, to keep your head in this climate of constantly having to pretend you’re feeling differently to the way you are, to keep your wits about you enough to keep from being distracted from what’s in front of you. The walks I’ve taken this year are the most overwhelmingly beautiful of my life, because I’m trying to pay more attention to what I’m seeing in front of me. Almost all the time, anything you are looking at is incredibly beautiful. In a time where we are pushed to do things “for our own sakes” that really end up damaging us, I want you for truly your own sake to stay sharp." — Raiden Freeman

Raiden Freeman Stay Sharp album release tour

Friday 10th September - Whammy Backroom, Auckland w/ Annabel Lee, P.H.F., Skymning, DJFK
Friday 24th September - The Stomach, Palmerston North w/ Synthetic Children, Ludus, Skymning, DJFK
Saturday 2nd October - Moon, Wellington w/ Bodyache, The Hectet, Skymning, DJFK

Tickets available HERE via UTR