Music
A guide to the guests on Ryan Hemsworth's album Elsewhere
From the Bay Area to Japan, here's all the singers, rappers, and producers featured on the Canadian producer's new record
From his work with artists including E-40, Mitski, Tinashe, and Tory Lanez, to his label Secret Songs, Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth’s career has shown he thrives making music in collaborative environments. Nowhere is this mindset more evident than on his third studio album, Elsewhere (out Sept. 21 via Secret Songs/Last Gang), which he recorded over the past two years with singers, rappers, and producers from around the world. Here’s a guide to all the guests featured in order of appearance.
Marco McKinnis
The first voice we hear on Elsewhere belongs to Marco McKinnis, a Virginia R&B singer who has collaborated with artists including DJDS and Rex Orange County. Last month, he released his six-song debut EP Underground, which showcases his soulful croon and poet’s romantic sensibilities.
Lake Stovall
Elujay
JULiA LEWiS
Another Bay Area talent whose real name is Benjamin Falik, JULiA LEWiS contributed to two Elsewhere tracks, “Sade” and “One of One.” The jazz-trained musician and producer has worked with artists including Mr. Carmack, DUCKWRTH, and BOSCO, the latter two being featured on his 2018 single “Pink and Blue.”
B La B
Hemsworth is no stranger to working with Atlanta rappers—see last year’s “Hunnid” featuring Yakki—so it makes perfect sense that he’d recruit relative newcomer B La B for the upbeat “Beep Beep.” He’s received co-signs from the likes of Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan, and his 2018 mixtape LaB CaRteL is a baker’s dozen of cold-blooded, trunk-rattling trap songs.
Ambré Perkins
You might not be familiar with her name, but Ambré Perkins has been one to watch since Kehlani enlisted the New Orleans R&B singer to appear on her remix of Drake’s PARTYNEXTDOOR-assisted “Preach” in 2015. She’s also put out two projects, Wanderlust and 2090’s, and appeared on Toronto electronic duo Keys N Krate’s 2017 single “Glitter.”
Rexx Life Raj
From his early remixes of Lil B to production work for Main Attrakionz and Kossisko (formerly known as 100s), many of Hemsworth’s most fruitful collaborations have been with Bay Area rappers. The prolific Rexx Life Raj hails from Berkeley, California, the son of a churchgoing mother and Black Panther father, and his music reflects this upbringing. Start with his albums Father Figure and sequel Father Figure 2: Flourish, which feature guest spots from G-Eazy, Nef the Pharaoh, and Russ.
P-Lo
One of the founders of Bay Area collective Heartbreak Gang, which includes Iamsu!, Sage the Gemini, and Kehlani, P-Lo is a rapper and member of production team The Invasion. This summer he dropped his sophomore album, PRIME, and opened up for G-Eazy and Lil Uzi Vert on their North American tour.
Nebu Kiniza
His stage name is a reference to Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II, but Atlanta-via-NYC MC Nebu Kiniza is able to back up the regal moniker with his achievements. He first gained attention after his 2016 platinum single “Gassed Up” (which he allegedly made in 15 minutes), but has since signed to RCA, and recently put out the excellent project From Me 2 U.
Daniela Andrade
Fans of Hemsworth’s Secret Songs might be familiar with Andrade, the Montreal singer-songwriter who got her start uploading bedroom covers of songs by artists including Radiohead, Gnarls Barkley, Shakira, and more to YouTube. She’s lent serene vocals to fellow Canadians, Daylight in Swim Good Now (which also features Hemsworth) and Harrison’s “Atmosphere,” and her latest single “Genesis” contains perhaps her most personal songwriting to date.
NewAgeMuzik
The first single off Elsewhere, the album version of “Four Seasons” is slightly different than the original, but thankfully NewAgeMuzik’s K4mo (who also guests on “Beep Beep”) and Prince’s playful, romantic verses remain intact. Hailed as torchbearers of the burgeoning UK Afrobeats scene, their 2017 album CarTunes proves they’ve got no shortage of anthems.
SK
One of the record’s highlights, the multi-continental collaboration “Special Girl” is anchored by British-Nigerian Afrobeats vocalist SK’s breezy harmonies. He’s yet to drop a full-length tape, but singles like “Ose” and the recent “Life is Gucci” have dominated London airwaves.
Tomggg
Another Secret Song alumnus, Tomggg is a Japanese producer whose bright, infectious music is heavily influenced by anime and video game soundtracks. He also teamed up with Hemsworth on the 2017 one-off “Cream Soda.”
Joji
A former YouTube comedian, Joji is a Japanese-Australian singer, rapper, and member of label slash media company 88rising, which also includes Rich Brian, Keith Ape, and Higher Brothers. Previously Hemsworth remixed his melancholic track “Will He,” and the multi-talented artist will release his debut album BALLADS 1 in November.
Robin Dann
Robin Dann is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Toronto experimental pop group Bernice, whose 2018 album Puff: In the Air Without a Shape (released on Arts & Crafts) was longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.