Since their debut as Brijean, the project of percussionist/singer-songwriter Brijean Murphy (the percussive heartbeat for live bands like Mitski, Poolside, and Toro y Moi) and multi-instrumentalist/producer Doug Stuart has moved with ingenuity, fusing psych-pop abstraction with dancefloor sensibilities. Through the body and mind, rhythm and lyricism, they make sense of the worlds around and within; 2021's Feelings celebrated self-reflection; 2022's Angelo processed loss, coinciding with the duo's first headlining tour, which doubled down on the material's desire to move. Now, across the playful expanse of Macro, arriving in 2024 on Ghostly International, Brijean engages different sides of themselves, the paradox of being alive.   Murphy, an accomplished DJ, session and live player in Oakland’s diverse music scene has emerged as one of indie’s most in-demand percussionists. In 2018, she began recording songs with multi-instrumentalist and producer Stuart, who shares a background in jazz and pop in bands such as Bells Atlas, Meernaa, and Luke Temple. Eventually dubbed Brijean, the project grew out of marathon sessions at their intimate home-studio. Their first effort, Walkie Talkie (released by Native Cat Recordings in 2019), found Murphy taking the mic for the first time to deliver dreamy dance tracks that felt home-cooked and effortlessly chic. Her layered percussion and hypnotic, expressive vocals coupled with Stuart’s production and harmonic palette evoked shades of disco, ‘90s house, and a sly pop sensibility. ”A smooth, sumptuous, and soulful record,” said Bandcamp, who helped propel the group’s early following.   Murphy’s musical talents are family heirlooms: her father, percussionist and engineer Patrick Murphy, taught Brijean her first patterns on a pair of congas that she inherited from the late Trinidadian steel drum legend Vince Charles (of Neil Diamond). Growing up in LA’s Glassell Park, Murphy was raised by a cadre of honorary aunts and uncles – a deep bench of jazz, Latin and soul musicians in their own rites. This meant she grew up regaled by musical lore – larger-than-life tales of jazz luminaries, psychedelic trips and obscure cultural enclaves – sampling some of those family stories and weaving them into her work. Growing up outside of Chicago, Stuart found his way into jazz clubs and festivals as a teenager, frequently going to hear Jeff Parker, Fred Anderson, and other members of the AACM. While attending the University of Michigan, he studied under Detroit jazz royalty, Robert Hurst and Geri Allen. After college, Stuart became intrigued by the music of J Dilla and Moodymann, and began learning production and exploring the connections between jazz, house, and hip-hop.

The Seshen is a San Francisco Bay Area six-piece band whose songs exist between the lines: in the space between waking and dreaming, ego and collective consciousness, and that blurred horizon where earth meets sea meets sky.   Anchored by Lalin St. Juste's sly, silver vocals and cerebral yet danceable rhythms from producer-bassist Akiyoshi Ehara, their music pulls from a deep well of electronic influences, R&B, and indie rock. Drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman, and sequencer Kumar Butler make the music three-dimensional, blending live and digital instrumentation to create the band's signature transportive sound. Since 2012, the Seshen’s live show has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase on multiple continents, as they’ve shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, PetiteNoir Tune-Yards, and Thundercat.   “A lot of artists tout, in their minds at least, that they’re the epitome of cool. But few exemplify that through their music like The Seshen.” – MASS APPEAL   “The Seshen continue to impress with every release.” – OKAYPLAYER   “It's always cause for celebration when there's new music from The Seshen” – AFROPUNK   “A resounding success and refreshing listen…” BANDCAMP   “Beautiful, soulful, and just a little otherworldly…Lalin St. Juste’s voice is the perfect counterpoint, pouring through the spaces between keys and loops like honey” – POPMATTER

Doug Stuart is a producer, composer, and session musician based out of Los Angeles. His debut album, Familiar Future, was released on ropeadope records in the fall of 2020 and featured guitarist Jeff Parker in the context of Stuart’s compositions, production, and arrangements. He co-writes and produces as part of the electronic indie duo, Brijean, along with Brijean Murphy. The duo has several releases on Ghostly International. In addition to producing and playing on records for many other artists, Stuart also composes music for the NPR podcasts Snap Judgment and Spooked.

Stanley Ipkuss is a beat maker from Oakland, California.  In his free time he enjoys collecting records, clothes, samplers and video games.  He has previously worked with artists Fly Anakin, DJ Spinna, Danny Watts, Ahwlee, ewonee & many more.  His latest project “Among Other Things,” was released on January 20, 2022 through the Oakland cassette label Hot Record Societe.  The album is entirely produced by him.  Currently his go to music equipment is the MPC Live 2 and Roland’s SP-404 MK2.