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Illuminate: YELLOW

by ASCENDANT

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Stacey Collins
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David Gurney
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Chris Greene
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Illuminate: YELLOW includes the Top 30 Digital Radio hit, It's Not Over featuring Angela Johnson and the new radio single, In Your Arms
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
Do You Remember 04:49
lyrics
Chorus Do you remember? Remember? Do you remember? Can we go back there again? Verse I Do you remember? When music touched your soul Remember? It made you lose control Do you remember? I wanna go back there again Can we go back there again? Verse II Do you remember? When your favorite song was played Remember? All your cares were wiped away Do you remember? I wanna go back there again Can we go back there again? Verse III Do you remember? When you could close your eyes Remember? And music gave you life Do you remember? I wanna go back there again Can we go back there again? Chorus/vamp out
2.
Ascendant and Angela Johnson - It's Not Over 04:47
lyrics
IT'S NOT OVER Chorus It’s not over / It’s not over U can find a way The best is still inside It’s not over / It’s not over Come and follow me Spread your wings and fly Verse I Look at the mirror on the wall U can’t see what’s inside / U just have to know In your heart / in your soul This is not how it will end Make a promise to yourself U don’t need to prove this to no one else It’s your truth you're truth alone So come on and sing this song Chorus It’s not over / It’s not over U can find a way The best is still inside It’s not over / It’s not over Come and follow me Spread your wings and fly Verse II Nothing is going as you planned Your pride is bruised / your ego scarred Find the strength / you've come too far You only fail when you don't try Now your next chapter has begun Turn the page your story isn't done The book of life just goes on and on Now come on and sing this song Chorus It’s not over / It’s not over U can find a way The best is still inside It’s not over / It’s not over Come and follow me Spread your wings and fly Break It's not over/ If you try You can fly high It's not over/ Look inside Spread your wings Chorus It’s not over / It’s not over U can find a way The best is still inside It’s not over / It’s not over Come and follow me Spread your wings and fly © 2021 Ascendant Music Inc. / Ascendant Sounds ASCAP
3.
Simple 03:03
lyrics
Simple Love should be so simple but it’s not Life got in the way and I forgot To tell you all the things I feel inside Let’s just take a ride Let’s just up and fly away The universe is waiting let’s go out and play Let’s just leave our troubles on the moon Never be too late never too soon Crazy This world we live in is such a crazy place Until I see that smile upon your face It tells me everything is gonna be alright No more run and hide Let’s just up and fly away The universe is waiting let’s go out and play Let’s just leave our troubles on the moon It’s never too late never too soon Let’s just up and fly away Let’s just leave our troubles on the moon Never be too late never be too soon
4.
Faults and All 02:54
lyrics
Chorus You love me faults and all You love me faults and all Verse I used to want to be perfect Until I realized I’m not But that won’t stop me from giving everything I’ve got Change 1 Even when I said I’d fix it Then forgot and never fixed it Hold it to my head and not my heart And sometimes when I leave the dishes You say I hear but don’t listen I’m not trying to make things hard Chorus You love me faults and all You love me faults and all Change 2 You say that I steal the covers Always leave the closet cluttered My methods aren’t always ideal I know I can be so frustrating We need more communicating Let me say what I really feel Chorus You love me faults and all You love me faults and all
5.
In Your Arms 04:33
lyrics
Verse I Hello my love, morning came too soon We climbed so high, I left my heart on the moon The darkness we just shared has given in to the sun We found a moment called magic we became one My eyes are open wide you are not a dream A vision of loveliness is all I see Chorus There is no place I would rather be (In your arms) I'd give anything if you'd stay here with me (In your arms) If I have to die tonight let it be in your arms Verse II I feel your breath, feel U in my skin And I realize that I don't want this to end If a day could last forever it wouldn't be enough Drowning in your softness, lost in your touch My eyes are open wide U are not a dream Flawless in every way, you're all I need Chorus There is no place I'd rather be (In your arms) I'd give anything if you'd stay here with me (In your arms) Let me die in your arms Vamp We climbed so high I left my heart on the moon Can we go back there again Let me die... in your arms
6.
Angel 04:39
lyrics
Verse I Like a cool breeze on a warm summer day U make my life a little easier Even when the clouds surround me I know I’ll see the sun again When the weight of the world falls on me I close my eyes - I hear your voice - I can go on Change I But I’ve got one question – Tell me did it hurt when you fell from heaven Do you hide your wings so that I can’t see - God sent me an angel Verse II Like the whisper of a sweet melody U make my life a little easier With the soft touch of your hand on my skin Somehow you take the pain away In the middle of the storm you are my shelter Keeping me warm - There is no doubt - I can go on Change II But your love is the answer – And I won’t take it for granted Do you hide your wings so that I can’t see - God sent me an angel Bridge A million words could never say all the things I want to say Your love is like the wind and it’s lifting me Higher and higher we’ll fly trying to touch the sky Let’s spend our lives in this rapture Vamp Do you hide your wings so that I can’t see - God sent me an angel God sent me an angel…
7.
Unspoken 05:26
lyrics
Verse I This is a dedication U know who U are Although the miles may separate us know that I’m not far Do U remember how we used to run the neighborhood We thought it would last forever no cares in the world I’d give anything if we could do it all again Chorus Though the words may go unspoken Know the bond cannot be broken Verse II We don’t talk like we used to we just don’t have the time When I look back at where I’ve been U always come to mind From playing cards and amusement parks the best times of my life From broken hearts to brand new cars U gave some great advice U know things about me no one else could know Chorus Though the words may go unspoken Know the bond cannot be broken

about

ILLUMINATE: to enlighten, as with knowledge; to brighten with light; to make clearer

Illuminate is a concept album (e.g. Songs In the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, Sign of the Times by Prince) done in 4 parts, spanning the band’s lives, loves, and hopes. It’s about false starts, comebacks and 2nd chances. It’s about perseverance -- having the strength to endure.
“The band went through changes while we were working on the album. We started with one set of members. That original set broke up and we began another one -- but then that set broke up, and we picked up another set. Life imitates art (and art) imitates life. We began to live what we were writing, and in the process of living it, that shaped what we were writing again.”

26 songs, 4 parts

Illuminate:
• BLUE: Wisdom
• GREEN: Rebirth
• YELLOW: Joy
• RED: Love

YELLOW finds Ascendant reminiscing on how music can touch the soul on the 1st track, Do You Remember. It’s a moody groove with warm harmonies from Renee Ruffin, Michael Lockett, Kael Mboya and a spiritually luminous synth solo by Kael Mboya ending with a pointed percussion solo by Michael Lockett.

It’s Not Over featuring Angela Johnson follows with its encouraging message, moving bassline and tight harmonies (Lockett, Johnson, Ruffin and Mboya). Its stellar lead vocals from Lockett and Johnson keep pace with the infectious production of Kael Mboya as they collectively encourage us to rise above.

The 3rd track, Simple takes a different turn and brings in the full band to help us take flight to heights unknown. Lockett’s harmonies float on top of a tight performance from band members Kael Mboya on piano and synths, Curtis Kincaid on guitar, Kenery Kent Smith on bass and Eric Johnson on drums.

Faults and All is a stripped down tune about how real love can be messy but is solid and true. This tune shows off Lockett’s fluid vocal skills and Curtis Kincaid’s colorful acoustic guitar strumming.

A lovely moment of passion is captured on the next song, In Your Arms. Now, Lockett’s strong lead is supported by Mboya’s tender backing vocal harmonies and spacey keyboards along with Kincaid’s grounded and soulful guitar work.

Next up is Angel, a soothing ballad showcasing, once again, the warm vocal skills of Michael Lockett. Heavenly strings sway over a sweet melody driven by acoustic and synth guitars as Lockett proclaims “God sent me an angel…”

Illuminate: YELLOW ends with the final track, Unspoken. Vibrant horns (Chris Greene on saxophone, John Moore, Jr. on trumpet, Bryant Smith on trombone) dart on top of the playful melody driven by the mixture of Afrobeat drumming of Eric Johnson, the moving bass of Kenery Kent Smith and energetic sounds of Kincaid and Mboya (on guitar and keyboard, respectively). Lockett and Mboya’s warm and cheerful vocal blend flows throughout the choruses as the group cherishes lifelong friendships.

Beautiful. Genre-defying. Uplifting. Ascendant takes you on a journey full of musical delight. Come along for the ride.

credits

released May 13, 2022

ASCENDANT is:
Kael Mboya – Vocals/Keyboards/Composer/Writer/Producer
Michael Lockett – Vocals/Writer/Percussion
Curtis Kincaid – Guitars/Composer/Vocals/Producer
Kenery Kent Smith – Bass
Eric Johnson – Drums
Renee Ruffin - Vocals

Illuminate: YELLOW features:
Chris Greene – Saxophone (on Unspoken)
John Moore, Jr. – Trumpet (on Unspoken)
Bryant Smith - Trombone (on Unspoken)

Chris Greene appears courtesy of Single Malt Recordings

Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Kael Mboya for Ascendant Music Inc. except:
Track 3, 7 recorded by Dennis Tousana at Soundmine Studios
Track 4 Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Curtis Kincaid
Track 4 vocals Recorded by Michael Lockett

Copyright 2022 Ascendant Music Inc./ Ascendant Sounds ASCAP

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ASCENDANT Chicago, Illinois

Soulful Inspiring. Just a few words that people use to describe them & their artistry, and yet ASCENDANT is simply that, ascendant...rising above. ASCENDANT has been rising above their fears, their obstacles & creating meaningful, soul-filled music in an era when such artistic statements just aren't made but desperately needed. ASCENDANT rises... and asks us all to join them in flight ... more

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