The first time I heard this track was during a Nicolas Jaar set at the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival a couple of weeks ago. It kind of stopped me in my tracks at the time, forcing me to take a breath and examine my surroundings. Unfortunately at the time, I could not find the name of this track, all I knew was that it was a supreme embodiment of perfection.
The original track, a Earth, Wind & Fire classic, remained unharmed in the creation of this unique cover. The vocals that create both the music and lyrics without other instrumentation give us the opportunity to feel the energy of this song, in a way that perhaps we hadn’t felt during the original. The quietness and pitch of this song remain engrained forever in my memory, directly correlated to Nicolas Jaar but for you, it will probably be different. Maybe the repetition of “down” will take you for a ride, directing your attention away from the stresses of now, reminding you that this song is one about dancing but not every groove has to be intense and eventful. Sometimes letting a groove move you is just about allowing your body to be free from the constraints of the now. Maybe things are really stressful in this moment for you. I know I advocate nowness a lot, especially on here. I stand by that always, although I also am a huge contender for music’s ability to elevate you, if only for a moment. It’s the same reason music can remove us from the intensity of a present day moment, like for example, dealing with a death of a loved one, or any other sad event.
Let this groove, get you to move, alright
Let this groove set in your shoes
Stand up, alright