Seven Davis JR

The Red Bull Music Academy continues its monthly Club Night series in April with the Australian debut of Seven Davis Jr, a future soul veteran who has spent much of his career behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.

Born Samuel Davis in 1981, the man now known as Seven has been active for at least 15 years. While his 1999 demo recordings have recently surfaced on Kutmah’s IZWID Records, The Lost Tapes Vol. 1 doesn’t sound like a trip down memory lane. The unquantised beats and wonky keyboard sounds on that effort could’ve been minted in early 2014, with Seven’s confessional soul vocals the link between his past and his man-of-the-moment present.

The intervening years saw the California-based all-rounder knock back several major labels to focus on writing, recording and anonymously assisting other artists with their own careers - often while battling his own addiction demons and music industry disillusionment. It was while taking a year’s sabbatical that Seven’s music found its way into the hands of Kutmah.

In July 2013 his track Thanks was featured on Kutmah’s Worldwide Family Vol. 2 compilation for Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings. The gospel-trained singer’s momentum has built from there, with his current fusion of R&B, funk and house –
think a slightly twisted early ‘80s Prince – perfectly showcased on the recent P.A.R.T.Y. EP, his official debut for Funkineven's Apron label.

He took Europe by storm in early 2014, and Australia is next to get a taste of Seven Davis Jr in the flesh thanks to RBMA.

Catch him on Saturday 12 April at Melbourne’s Boney, backed up by Australia’s RBMA NYC 2013 participant Julien Love, Funk Bast*rd (Darker Than Wax) and Harvey Sutherland (Live).

RSVP for free entry is essential, though entry is on a first come, first served basis. If recent Club Nights are any indication, you’d best get there early.