Hear the American rapper and multi-instrumentalist’s 7 piano sketches now.
André 3000 has reemerged with the release of a new solo EP.
The befittingly titled 7 piano sketches finds the seminal American rapper and multi-instrumentalist turning his attention to the piano for a series of improvised solo performances that were largely recorded at home during the decade that preceded the creation and release of his flute-focused solo debut album New Blue Sun. Released without any prior announcement, the project’s accompanying artwork depicts the outfit recently worn by the OutKast alumnus to the Met Gala’s 2025 edition, which notably featured the musician carrying a piano designed by Law Roach and Burberry CCO Daniel Lee on his back.
André 3000 explains of his newly released project,
“These piano sketches are improvisations. To conjure them up, I spread my fingers out on the keys and randomly but with purpose move them around until I find something that feels good or interesting. If it feels really good I will try to repeat it. I cannot name which notes, keys or chords that I’m playing. I simply like the sound and mechanics of piano playing. Some of my favorite piano music composers and players that inspire me are Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Philip Glass, Stephen Sondheim, Joni Mitchell and Vince Guaraldi.
These piano pieces weren’t recorded with the intention of presenting them in any formal way to the public. They were personal, at home recordings. I would sometimes text them to my family and friends.
Pardon the sound quality, they were all recorded with my iPhone sitting directly on the piano or my laptop microphone with the exception of “Blueberries.” (recorded in studio)
Most of these were recorded in Texas. The house my son and I were renting had no furniture at all. Only a piano, our beds and tv screens.
This collection of songs was recorded almost a decade before New Blue Sun. The original title for it was The Best Worst Rap Album In History and here is an excerpt from the original liner notes.
“It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all. It’s the best because it’s the free-est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s the best because it’s like a palette cleanser for me.”
Stream and view the track list for 7 piano sketches below.
7 piano sketches
1 ‘bluffing in the snow’
2 ‘and then one day you’ll …’
3 ‘when you’re a ant and you wake up in an awesome mood, about to drive your son to school, only to discover that you left the lights on in the car last night so your battery is drained’
4 ‘hotel lobby pianos’
5 ‘blueberry mansions’
6 ‘off rhythm laughter’
7 ‘i spend all day waiting for the night’
7 piano sketches is out now digitally via Epic Records. Pre-order the EP on vinyl here.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
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