“I've always wanted to record as a band,” Japanese singer-songwriter SIRUP told Apple Music about recording two songs for an Apple Music Home Session. SIRUP is known for slinky R&B beats and hip-hop- and electronic-influenced production. He's predominantly known as a solo artist, which only made this Apple Music Home Session all the more special, as it allowed him to record two tracks—his own song “I won’t be” and a cover of Joyce Wrice’s “That's On You” featuring UMI—with a full live band. The original version of “I won't be”, from his album cure, glides along over a slow trap beat, but the live arrangement feels warm and organic, thanks to the addition of guitar, bass, piano and drums. “We recorded a live session as a band, not part by part,” he says. “It was so fun, we wondered why we hadn’t done this earlier.” As for his cover selection, SIRUP chose “That's On You” because it was on constant repeat and provided solace throughout the pandemic. “I listened to it repeatedly during quarantine,” he says of the track, to which he also added a new verse of his own. “I really like how it turned out.” And though these sessions were recorded to be heard online, he found so much meaning and enjoyment in recording them with a full band. “We are currently allowed to do live shows as long as we follow COVID protocols, but restrictions such as the crowd not being able to cheer really stifles the atmosphere,” he says. “I really long for the days that we can do ‘normal’ shows. When that happens, I think I will really feel a sense of freedom that I was never really aware of—until now.”
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