Today, Jake and Abe — the duo of Jake Sherman and Abe Rounds, who are respectively behind some of modern music’s most acclaimed records — announce their new LP Finally!, due out on October 25, with lead single “Incognito Mode.” Listen to “Incognito Mode” and preorder Finally! here.
Finally! sounds like a 70’s funk-rock album that never was. Melt together Stevie Wonder’s idiosyncratic production with the yacht-rock breeze of Loggins & Messina’s chart toppers, and the gem that is Jake and Abe’s sonic world starts to form. But it must be said, if you have an ear for detail Finally! is more than just a retro recreation. The album’s pockets are deep as the duo fold magic tricks and stunning surprises into pop songs, something akin to 10cc, but serendipitously stemming from the vast range of their other musical work.
As an introduction to the album, “Incognito Mode” has big funky bass that moves like a lava lamp left on all night, striding with twangs of a steel pedal guitar that groove alongside Jake’s earnest lead and Abe’s soaring falsetto vocals, and heavy-hitting keys that dance to the stomping groove.
Jake and Abe have a decorated resume of studio and live work across an array of artists and genres. They are both members of groundbreaking artist Meshell Ndegeocello’s band and this year Abe accepted a GRAMMY for his work as a co-producer, writer, and performer on Meshell’s Omnichord Real Book, which won the award for "Best Alternative Jazz Album."
Abe has worked with prolific producers such as Rick Rubin, Blake Mills, and Mark Ronson; recorded with Sheryl Crow, Peter Gabriel, Seal, Beabadoobe, Lake Street Dive, Lizzo, and Marcus Mumford among others; worked with the great Robbie Robertson before his passing on the film score of “Killers of the Flower Moon” directed by Martin Scorsese; co written songs with Emily King, Robert Glasper, and Meshell Ndegeocello; scored all seven seasons of Ava Duvernay’s Queen Sugar and 50 Cent’s Black Mafia Family; and is playing with Joni Mitchell as part of the Joni Jam Band this October at the Hollywood Bowl.
A maestro of the keys who played gospel organ at a Baptist church for almost a decade, Jake was the writer and pianist on Rosalia’s “Hentai” from her GRAMMY-winning Motomami, as well as playing the organ heard in Chance the Rapper’s GRAMMY-winning “No Problem.” He’s the keyboardist and writing partner of Nick Hakim, and played keys for Bilal for four years. Sherman toured and/or recorded with the likes of Andrew Bird, Blood Orange, Benny Sings, Luke Temple, and Doobie Powell as well as opening for Louis Cole’s album release tour with his solo project.
The duo met while playing with Meshell Ndegeocello for the first iteration of her "No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin" piece in 2016, which they're currently on tour with. They quickly bonded over a love of music and began writing songs — some now appearing on Finally!, material made up and gathered from seven years of work. With such in-demand solo careers, Jake and Abe have “Finally” found the time to release this eclectic collection of their own music.
"Incognito Mode" is out now, buy/stream it here.
Finally! is out October 25, preorder it here.
