Black Pumas (@blackpumas) is a seven-time GRAMMY-nominated duo comprised of singer-songwriter/producer Eric Burton and guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada. Not too long ago, they released their long-awaited sophomore album, “Chronicles of a Diamond,” via ATO Records.
The project finds Black Pumas broadening their palette to include a dazzling expanse of musical forms: heavenly hybrids of soul and symphonic pop, mind-bending excursions into jazz-funk and psychedelia, and starry-eyed love songs that feel dropped down from the cosmos. Wilder and weirder and more extravagantly composed than its predecessor, “Chronicles of a Diamond” arrives as the fullest expression of Black Pumas’ frenetic creativity and limitless vision.
Black Pumas – “Chronicles of a Diamond” album
In creating the follow-up to one of the most celebrated debuts in recent years, Black Pumas made a point of tuning out any sense of anticipation from the outside world. “I knew the first record was good when we finished it, but I had no idea people would respond like they did,” says Quesada. “This time around there was a lot of pressure and expectation that we hadn’t felt before, which was overwhelming at times, but we did our best to tune that out and focus on trusting ourselves like we always have.” As a result, “Chronicles of a Diamond” wholly echoes an essential intention behind its creation. “More than anything I wanted to make something we’d be thrilled to play live 200 days a year,” says Burton. “I wanted to be able to laugh, cry, bob my head, do the thing: it was all very much a selfish endeavor.”
Like their massive debut, “Chronicles of a Diamond” once again harnesses the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry between Burton (a self-taught musician who got his start busking on beaches and subway platforms in his native Los Angeles) and Quesada (a GRAMMY Award winner whose background includes playing in Latin-funk orchestra, Grupo Fantasma, and accompanying legendary artists like Prince). Produced by Quesada and primarily mixed by six-time Grammy Award winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs), the ten-song LP finds Burton as a co-producer and infusing his free-spirited musicality into every track.
“More Than A Love Song” music video
Highlights on “Chronicles of a Diamond” include the first single, “More Than A Love Song,” which has amassed 3.5+ million streams and landed at #1 at Triple A Radio, #1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Chart, and #1 at Americana Radio. Also, the album contains other undeniably catchy bangers, “Ice Cream (Pay Phone),” “Mrs. Postman,” and the moving ballad, “Angel.”
“Ice Cream” (Pay Phone) (Official Video)
One of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years, Black Pumas have made a major cultural impact, selling one million albums worldwide. “Colors,” from their 2019 debut, is a gold-certified anthem nominated for Record of the Year with over 450 million streams.
“Colors” (Austin F1 Grand Prix 2023) (Sky Sports)
Black Pumas’ meteoric rise saw them playing exhilarating live shows and sold-out multiple tours across North and South America and Europe, as well as performances at the GRAMMY Awards and President Biden’s inauguration, multiple television appearances, and winning the Emerging Act of the Year from the Americana Music Association in 2020. Most recently, Quesada was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY for “Best Rock Song” for his collaboration with Diamanté Eléctrico.
We recommend adding songs from Black Pumas’ “Chronicles of a Diamond” album to your favorite alternative soul and R&B playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and positive entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, support our merchandise, and become a Patron of Bong Mines Entertainment. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our site. That little compensation will be used towards keeping this website up and running.