They’re new to us, but they have a sound that is instant classic. The Motet - Dave Watts [drums], Joey Porter [keys], Garrett Sayers [bass], Ryan Jalbert [guitar], Lyle Divinsky [vocals], Drew Sayers [sax], and Parris Fleming [trumpet]— combine funk, soul and attitude to create something special that classic soul lovers with dig.
“The essence is always going to be the groove, but we wanted to expand the idea of what a funk album could be,” says Lyle. “Of course, you want a driving backbeat. However, with the division that’s going on in this country and the world, I think it’s every artist’s responsibility to create a conversation. That conversation doesn’t have to be political either. It can be about love or an introspective journey. I think the commentary should be on what it’s like to be alive today. By drawing on funk, we create a fun, palatable musical vehicle for the message to go down. Our goal is for you to recognize we’re all dancing on the same dance floor—even though our steps may look a little different.”
Later this month the group will issue their newest album, Death or Devotion, as the Denver act marks 20 years and eight full albums together. And the first song to hit us from the disc is as infectious as it gets, a song that sounds like classic AWB brought forward into a modern funky stew.
Check out “Highly Compatible,” our newest First Listen, and welcome The Motet to SoulTracks.
The Motet – “Highly Compatible”
