THEO CROKER – BY THE WAY 5-TRACK EP “BY THE WAY” OUT NOW
GRAMMY®-nominated artist THEO CROKER debuts his new collaborative EP alongside UK singer-songwriter EGO ELLA MAY entitled BY THE WAY – LISTEN HERE. An exploration of love, heartbreak and self-discovery, the 5-track collection combines Croker’s genre-fluid instrumentation with May’s compelling lyricism and vocals to create a distinct yet universally resonant collection of music. Making its debut alongside the EP is the official, AI-generated music video for “Slowly” – watch here. Through a delicate process of curatorial experimentation and refining, the AI-fed prompts were inspired by the track’s lyricism to mimic the stream-of-conscious style writing, creating a visual as striking as the song itself.
The By The Way EP release also arrives alongside Croker’s first-ever NPR Tiny Desk concert, released today as part of NPR Music’s celebration of Black History Month. The multitalented trumpeter, vocalist, producer, and composer performs selections across 4 of his most recent albums and is joined by special guest vocalist MALAYA to deliver a rousing rendition of their 2021 collaboration “Happy Feet (for dancers)” – check it out here.
First working with Ego Ella May on his 2021 full-length album, BLK2LIFE || A FUTURE PAST, followed by his 2022 LP, LOVE QUANTUM, Theo Croker created five distinct soundscapes for May to explore on the new EP, BY THE WAY. Alongside frequent collaborator and producer D’LEAU, each track was envisioned, in Croker’s words, as a “little vignette” for May’s lyricism and vocal stylings to flourish. From the breeziness of lead single “Theo Says” and the continuous loop of positive vibes in “Good Day” to the cinematic evolution of “Slowly,” the alternative-leaning “If I Could I Would” and the Black rock music-inspired “Something,” the EP manages to traverse a range of traditions, genres and approaches while remaining grounded by May’s deeply moving vocals.
Looking ahead, Croker is set to hit the stage at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, February 27th. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets available HERE.
THEO CROKER – BY THE WAY EP: LISTEN HERE
TRACKLIST:
1. THEO SAYS
2. SLOWLY
3. IF I COULD I WOULD
4. GOOD DAY
5. SOMETHIN’ (Extended Take)