Planting Culture
Honest, soulful and fresh. I love this whole album. Those in the know have been waiting a long time for this. Thanks to the band for creating such beauty. Can't wait to see the band live someday
Favorite track: Give A Little Love.
starsprae
By far the best album I've heard in YEARS!! Don't Shoot and Love Liberates literally moved me to tears. Every song has an undeniably relevant message. This is my idea of what music is meant to do: make you move and make you think! My body cannot help but MOVE as I'm listening to this incredible music!! I hope y'all are working on more!! Cannot wait to hear you live! THANK YOU FOR THESE INCREDIBLE VIBES!! THIS ALBUM IS FIRE!
Favorite track: Make Me Surrender.
“Freedom Is Love” is the debut album from Kansas City’s newest soul juggernaut, The Freedom Affair. The album explores themes of love, heartache, empowerment, and togetherness through a varying landscape of hard-hitting funk, luscious soul, and everything in between. The Freedom Affair is a unique collective featuring 3 powerhouse female vocalists in front of a dynamic 6-piece band. On “Freedom Is Love”, each of the ladies get their time to shine individually, but the magic is on full display when all 3 come together in unison and harmony, symbolically embodying the messages that they sing about. The album was recorded and produced by Chris Hazelton, utilizing the best of vintage and new recording technologies to create an authentic experience, befitting of a soul record that would have been relevant 50 years ago as much as it will be 50 years from now.
credits
released September 25, 2020
The Freedom Affair:
Misha Roberts - Vocals
Paula Saunders - Vocals
Seyko Groves - Vocals
Cole Bales - Guitar, Sitar (Track 3)
Branden Moser - Guitar
Chris Hazelton - Bass Guitar, Organ (Tracks 1, 2, 9, & 10), Tambourine (Track 1), Glockenspiel (Track 3), & Chimes (Track 4)
Dave Brick - Drums
Pete Carroll - Trumpet
Brett Jackson - Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax (Tracks 1 & 5), & Tambourine (Tracks 5, 6, & 8)
Additional Musicians:
Pat Conway - Congas (Tracks 1, 3, & 6)
Alyssa Bell - Viola (Tracks 3, 4, & 7)
Elizabeth Codd - Violin (Tracks 3 & 4)
Matt Bennett - Violin (Tracks 3 & 7)
John Wickersham - Timpani (Track 4)
Pamela Baskin-Watson - Piano (Track 10)
Nick Howell - Tambourine (Track 10)
The Freedom Family Choir (Track 10) - Misha Roberts, Erica Hazelton, Seyko Groves, Paula Saunders, Jordyn Saunders, Cole Bales, Chris Hazelton
All Horn & String Arrangements by Chris Hazelton except:
"Heartaches Don't Come Easy" and "Give A Little Love" by Pete Carroll & Brett Jackson
"Don't Shoot" by Chris Hazelton & Allyssa Bell
Produced, Recorded, & Mixed by Chris Hazelton
Assistant Produced by Dave Brick
Rhythm Section on Track 10 recorded by Chad Meise
Mastered by JJ Golden at Golden Mastering
Design and layout by Matt "Mo" Manley
Band portraits hand drawn in graphite pencil by Kristin Shafel
Front cover photograph of civil rights protesters in Kansas City, MO (April 9th, 1968) provided courtesy of LaBudde Special Collections, UMKC University Libraries.
Anchored in Harden's radiant vocals, the Brooklyn ensemble's debut showcases an exuberant blend of ’70s soul, R&B, and psychedelia. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 14, 2023