_BY.ALEXANDER

A modern jazz side project of L.A-based producer Alexander Grant -- aka Alex da Kid -- who launched the endeavor in 2020, along with a fashion range of the same name. Born in Bristol, England, Grant played football professionally for Bristol City's youth team until the age of 19, when he became interested in music production, leading him to study for an MA in Audio Technology at the University of West London. First in London, and then in L.A. following a move to the U.S., he built up a network of contacts in the music industry via work experience and recording studio time. When his composition "Airplanes" became an international success for hip-hop artist B.o.B and Paramore's Hayley Williams in 2010, it set a course for him to produce and co-write multiple hits for the likes of Eminem, Rihanna, Imagine Dragons, Dr. Dre, and X Ambassadors between 2010 and 2017. After that level of global commerciality, Grant's _by.ALEXANDER project was essentially a left-field bolt from the blue. The slick, measured, piano-based jazz material that comprised August 2020's 000 CHANNEL BLACK was masterfully produced and arranged. Mainly backed by a rhythm section of double bass and acoustic drums, Grant also introduced electronic elements to the presentation. This forward-looking approach was embraced by Blue Note, which issued the album internationally following its success with Yussef Dayes' and Tom Misch's similarly inventive What Kinda Music. 000 CHANNEL BLACK was preceded by the singles "Le Merveilleux Résumé" and "TRUMPETS," the latter of which featured New Jersey rapper 070 Shake. ~ James Wilkinson