Black Pumas at Canton Hall

A collaboration between producer and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Quesada and singer/songwriter Eric Burton, Black Pumas fuse cinematic neo-soul, light psychedelia, and a touch of urban grit. Rising from their studio origins to become a hard-hitting live act, the group released their debut album in 2019.

Through a mutual friend, Quesada — a Grammy-winning Austin-based producer known for his work with Grupo Fantasma and Brownout — connected with Burton, who’d been making the rounds in Austin’s singer/songwriter scene since busking his way from Los Angeles in 2015. Burton’s dynamic and soulful vocals were a perfect match for the retro-funk- and R&B-flavored tracks Quesada had been working on, and the two joined forces in 2018 as Black Pumas. Working out their material both in the studio and on-stage during a weekly residency at Austin’s C-Boys Heart & Soul Bar, they signed a deal with ATO Records and released a pair of singles, “Black Moon Rising” and “Fire” in early 2019. Their acclaimed debut LP followed in June of that year and helped to earn the duo a Grammy nomination for best new artist.

– allmusic.com