First Listen: Alvin Garrett wants you to "Hang With Me"

(December 31, 2022) Believe it or not, there used to be a time in life, and R&B, that was much more mellow than the present: songs weren't all about the conclusion, so to speak, and focused on the heady, heart-fluttering 'getting to know you' stage (remember Musiq Soulchild's early 2000s hit, "Just Friends (Sunni)"?). Injecting equal parts soulful swagger and a cool edge of quirk is how Alvin Garrett entices the listener---and a potential lady love---with the fun and flirty mid-tempo, "Hang With Me."

An Alabama native with gospel roots and a flair for combining inspirational music with activism roots, Garrett is an award-winning bassist, producer and Grammy-nominated songwriter who has collaborated with dozens of well-known R&B stars, including Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Johnny Gill and Joe. His lauded 2012 debut, Expose Yourself, introduced the industry to his Southern-flavored style, and 2019's follow-up, The Hill, further entrenched his reputation as an empowering, energizing performer. "Hang With Me, " from his newly-released set, The Lightness of Love, posits him as an evening delight and what to expect if they take it further: "I'm a chill kinda guy, we ain't gotta have a drink, I was born with this smile and don't mind saying what I think/I believe in respect (yes I do), I won't be leaving the check (not with you)."

A traditional gentleman's approach with modern finesse: Alvin Garrett is a Soul Train, Dove and Stellar Award winner for a reason, and just as he's one of soul's go-to sound providers, he's destined to become one of yours. One quick "Hang" is all it will take.

By Melody Charles

Alvin Garrett – “Hang With Me”