Richmond, Virginia’s finest genre-benders, Butcher Brown, are back with Letters From The Atlantic, an album that stretches their sound even further. Taking jazz, funk, rock, R&B, soul, bossa nova, and more, the band continues to mix everything up while delivering a record that feels both deeply rooted and forward-thinking. Following 2023’s Solar Music, the new album leans into an indie groove, bringing fresh voices into the mix. A powerhouse lineup of guests - including Yaya Bey, Melanie Charles, Leanor Wolf, Mia Gladstone, Victoria Victoria, Nicholas Payton, and Neal Francis - adds so many new layers to an already expansive soundscape.

The album’s recent single, “Ibiza,” showcases Butcher Brown’s deep house influences, with a slick saxophone finding its way through hypnotic beats. “We recorded that joint with the idea of it tapping into something you’d hear in a dance club in New York or the UK,” the band explains. “We’re all producers, so we’re thinking of the samples a DJ would find and chop up - but doing it all live, no samples, reimagining it in our own way.” Like much of the record, the result is a song that shimmers with cosmic energy, transporting listeners to a sun-soaked dancefloor.

Much like the title suggests, Letters From The Atlantic plays like a musical travelogue, tracing Butcher Brown’s inspirations from their Virginia roots to New York, down the East Coast, and across the ocean. “We want this full record to feel like you’re floating on a trip - it’s taking you on a journey, and you can determine what each song reminds you of,” the band wrote.

Opener “Seagulls” channels the tranquility of Virginia Beach, while “Unwind” (featuring Melanie Charles) exudes the cool energy of New York’s Lower East Side. “Something New About You” with Neal Francis taps into yacht rock vibes straight from the Florida Keys, while “Hold You” feels like a meditative train ride through Europe. The closing track, “Infant Eyes,” pays homage to jazz legend Wayne Shorter, a fitting nod to the band’s deep respect for the genre’s lineage.

Progressing from the angular beats of Solar Music, this new album is more laid back, intentional, and immersive. Butcher Brown’s five-piece collective - DJ Harrison (keys), Corey Fonville (drums), Andrew Randazzo (bass), Marcus “Tennishu” Tenney (trumpet/sax/MC), and Morgan Burrs (guitar) - continues to refine their groove-driven sound, and Letters From The Atlantic is an invitation to get lost in the music.