LION BABE gives a roaring lesson in music history

R&B duo extraordinaire LION BABE is set on achieving roaring success (yet again). Hailing from New York City, the multitalented pair—singer/songwriter Jillian Hervey and producer Lucas Goodman—blew up big in 2012 with the sultry debut single Treat Me Like Fire. The video got half a million views within days, and it wasn’t long before domino effect took hold, with one career high swiftly coming after another. They toured the globe, recorded with industry heavyweights Childish Gambino and Pharrell, and signed a deal with Polydor Records, issuing two introductory projects, self-titled 2014 debut EP and the inaugural full-length album, Begin, in early 2016. Speaking to Glamcult back in the day, both artists asserted that life just keeps getting better, predicting 2016 to be their “best year yet”.

It’s 2019 and life is still looking pretty damn good. Today LION BABE’s members are more confident than ever, truly mastering their own destiny with the luscious sophomore album, Cosmic Wind, which dropped in March as an independent release. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—at once deliciously rich and laid-back, Cosmic Wind paints a splendid soundscape for those long sensual summer nights where conversations (and drinks) flow effortlessly and gazes linger… Ahead of the band headlining Paradiso Noord on the 27th of July—their first European date following a sold out US tour—we asked LION BABE to curate 5 tracks that have been essential to their sonic journey.

“This song is the first song we made together, and in turn ignited the beginning of LION BABE, starting us on our journey as musicians and creatives.”

“We were listening to this song a lot when first started hanging out and collaborating together. Still today we love the feeling and colour of this record. It helped set the tone for the textures and sounds we would get into.”

“Ms. Badu is a big influence on our sound. We always love the mix of sensuality and emotion with hardness and groove.”

“This was our summer jam when it came out. We’re fans of 60s rock and psychedelia, this song has such a cool mix of that with a modern feel.”

“The soundscape to this track was in our heads when we started making our most recent album, Cosmic Wind. We have always loved Outkast’s ability to be eclectic, funky and experimental all while still having a true sound.”