Curtis Millen – Driver’s Seat (2024)
With a hard-hitting fusion of soul, funk and jazz, singer-songwriter Curtis Millen embodies the energy of old-school funkiness in modern-day society. Hailing from Northern Ireland but residing in The Netherlands, Millen’s contagious, intoxicating, vibrant gut-punching grooves have him established as a musician in Rotterdam. Electric, energetic and enthusiastic, Millen and his crew ooze raw passion in their performances quickly garnering a loyal following. This is my, and most people’s, introduction to Curtis Millen with his debut single, ‘Driver’s Seat’, and after a brief listen, I can understand the attraction. Join us as we dive headfirst into ‘Driver’s Seat’.
Inspired by the likes of Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder and Prince, Millen’s music wraps around a vintage funk tone; however, he has another card up his sleeve. Nostalgic and reminiscent of yesteryear, ‘Driver’s Seat’ keeps the kaleidoscopic groove of the Stevie Wonder era – so all cool in the groovy familiarity. Yet, pushing the soul and funk genres to their borders, ‘Driver’s Seat’ is a flash of Millen’s unconventional eclecticism twirling you about in a sound that is Curtis Millen and no one else.
Recorded and produced with Niels Jakko Onstenk, Millen’s debut single teeters between sophisticated elegance and raw passion. Vivid and vibrant, the bold bass, soaring guitars, shimmering keyboard and pounding drums twirl in a silvery sonic pool – each instrument adding its own sheen to the bubbling concoction. The arrangement is already intriguing, but it is the horns that dominate the track enhancing the funk-filled shove in their grandeur.
While ‘Driver’s Seat’ is streaming through my speakers, it offers the intensity of a live performance. I can’t imagine the band before my eyes, but I can feel the crazy ride and rush of soul-stirring music running through my veins. The melody is fantastic, but it is Millen’s vocals that add weightiness and full-bodied sexiness to the song.
Touching on the theme of “taking the lead in the bedroom… having your romantic partner assured that their pleasure is in good hands”, ‘Driver’s Seat’ sets the scene where your deepest desires will be met. With the sensual thrill of a good funk tune, it captures the intensity of those unbridled nights of lust; the desire, the rush, the rapturous passion in a haze of utter decadence. A rollercoaster of sound takes you from the first delicate touch to a head-spinning blast of ecstasy, all perfectly orchestrated by Curtis Millen.
Find out more about Curtis Millen on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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