Staff WriterHailing from an island which boasts a rich musical and cultural heritage, one of the most exciting young talents in Jamaica right now ushering in a new generation of sound – Tessellated builds on the mass of international hype surrounding him as he partners with Independent for the release of his latest single “No Ansa,” which features emerging Afrobeats act Crayon.
Tessellated continues his distinctive streak of smooth releases with a new sensual jam that effortlessly blends elements of R&B and Afrobeats, proving that when it comes to the art of making music for the young upstart, there are no boundaries. Embodying his stage name, which has a literal definition of “decorated with mosaics,” Tessellated is very much a vanguard for genre fusion. Co-produced by Tessellated himself, alongside UK producers Footsteps and Bayo, “No Ansa” showcases the artist’s versatility with the bounce of the strings, an infectious bassline, warm vocals, and a sugar-coated flute hook that just feels like summer. “No Ansa” is a hit for the global stage, with Lagos-based Crayon making the diasporic connection on a hot guest verse.
Famed UK DJ Seani B exclusively premiered the track on his BBC Radio 1xtra Thursday evening program, before the song was released to all digital services on Friday. “When it comes to production, Tessellated is fire! Listen to the flutes! Tessellated, gwan sing fi dem mi boss,” shouted the award-winning selector, as he let the tune play.
With influences that span from jazz to R&B to hip hop, and a foundation in his island’s native reggae and dancehall, Tessellated’s artistry reaches far beyond his Jamaican roots. His ear for music lends itself to experimentation with different soundscapes, and his releases so far attest to his worldwide appeal. He made major waves in 2018 with “Pine and Ginger,” drumming up over 22 million total streams to date and landing on the pages of major media outlets like Pitchfork, The FADER, and High Snobiety, among others. Tess’ breakout 2019 hit “I Learnt Some Jazz Today” marched to the top of the Billboard Jazz charts and earned a major sync placement with tech giant Apple for their promotional film Bounce.
Already making fans of industry heavyweights such as Camila Cabello, Lily Allen, Diplo, Major Lazer, Jorja Smith and others, it speaks to the gravitas Tessellated commands, while he still has yet to reach the peak of his powers. Currently gearing up to release his first solo project; Tess is set to become rightfully recognized as a pioneer to a sound that personifies ‘The Modern Reggae Intrigue’.
DL “No Ansa (feat. Crayon)” single here
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