Audio: SonReal – “My Friend” (Prod. by Babyface & Charlie Handsome)
The Vancouver-Based Rapper Pens a Heartfelt, Acoustic Guitar-Led Ode to His Late Father as He Prepares for the One Long Dream Tour
10.20.2017
Critical Praise for SonReal:
“SonReal’s One Long Dream Is Pop-Rap at Its Finest” – Highsnobiety
“It’s about time you got familiar with the Vancouver rapper who is on his way to becoming one of the biggest rap exports from Canada.” – Noisey
“SonReal’s unique, developed flow allows him to lay out his style of everyman rap successfully.” – The Source
The Audio:
Vancouver-based singer-rapper SonReal uses his massive hooks and direct, emotional storytelling to satisfy his legion of devoted fans. Both of those qualities are very evident in “My Friend,” SonReal’s moving new single. Produced with spare elegance by Charlie Handsome (Kanye West, Young Thug) and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, one of the most successful writer/producers in music history, “My Friend” is a loving portrait of SonReal’s relationship with his father, who was the most important person in SonReal’s life until he passed away last summer. Showcasing his expressive singing voice over gently rhythmic acoustic guitar, SonReal lays his feelings bare with a display of naked emotion and vulnerability that’s rare in pop music, and extremely rare in hip-hop: “If I got you I know I got something,” SonReal sings, “If we ain’t got time, then we ain’t got nothin/If we ain’t got hate, then we ain’t got lovin’/If we ain’t got each other, then we ain’t got nothin’.” Premiered by Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio, who praised the song calling it “A piece of music that had to be made…it’s one of those songs that become things that you add to your playlist or collection and stay with you for the rest of your life,” “My Friend” is sure to tug on your heartstrings and inspire you to give your old man a call.
Born in a small town in rural British Columbia, SonReal is one of the most acclaimed and popular rising stars in Canada, earning six Juno Awards nominations and ten nominations and a win at the MuchMusic Video Awards. Known for his creative and often goofily humorous music videos, such as the post-apocalyptic slapstick of his recent “Repo Man,” SonReal recently released One Long Dream, his debut album. An infectious and inspiring record with Indian-American singer-songwriter Sid Sriram as the only guest artist, One Long Dream showcases SonReal’s facility with melody, his relatable charisma, and his sense of humor. Premiered by Highsnobiety, the album features singles and highlights such as the hit single “Can I Get A Witness?,” which has over 4.5 million streams on YouTube, “Potential,” a moving power ballad with a China-set video, and the uplifting “Problems,” with over 1 million streams on Spotify and a place on Spotify’s Pop All Day playlist. SonReal recently announced the 23-date One Long Dream Tour, which commences on November 7th and makes stops in New York City, Toronto, and his home base of Vancouver. Tickets for the One Long Dream Tour are on sale now.
Listen to “My Friend”:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.
Soundcloud: https://
Linkfire: https://umc.lnk.to/
Buy One Long Dream: https://umc.lnk.to/OneLongDream
Buy tickets to the One Long Dream Tour: http://iamsonreal.com/
Tour Dates:
November 7 – Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
November 9 – Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
November 10 – Vogue, Vancouver, BC
November 12 – Columbia City Theater, Seattle, WA
November 14 – Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT
November 15 – Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
November 16 – Blue Moose, Iowa City, IA
November 17 – 7th St. Entry, Minneapolis, MN
November 18 – Schubas, Chicago IL
November 19 – The Basement, Columbus, OH
November 21 – The Shelter, Detroit, MI
November 23 – Maxwell’s, Waterloo, ON
November 24 – The Opera House, Toronto, ON
November 25 – Theatre Fairmount, Montreal, QC
November 28 – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
November 29 – Middle East, Cambridge, MA
November 30 – Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
December 1 – Songbyrd D.C., Washington D.C.
December 2 – The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
December 4 – House of Blues, Houston, TX
December 5 – The Parish Room, Austin, TX
December 7 – Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
December 8 – The Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic for more info.
The Background:
About SonReal:
Born in the small town of Vernon, British Columbia, SonReal is poised to be the next great Canadian export. A YouTube sensation, SonReal’s first video boasted the best talent show sequence since Napoleon Dynamite and racked up over a million plays in the first month. His next mixtape, the Juno-nominated For The Town, continued the visual tradition, including some of the most creative music videos on the web in “Preach,” “For The Town,” and “Woah Nilly.” After completing an American tour and signing to a major label, SonReal began to work on his debut album, One Long Dream. The first single of the project “Can I Get A Witness” was an instant success, achieving platinum status and entering the Top 15 in Canadian pop radio. SonReal immediately jumped onto Jon Bellion’s sold out Human Condition tour, and then headlined his own No Warm Up Tour. Already a 6-time Juno Award nominee and 10-time MMVA nominee, as well as a MMVA winner for Best Music Video of The Year, for “Everywhere We Go,” SonReal is primed for takeover in both Canada and the US.
About Black Box Music:
Black Box Music is a record label, artist management and music publishing company based in Toronto, Canada. Their eclectic roster/discography includes the likes of SonReal, Classified, Shad, Clairmont The Second, Blaq Tuxedo, The OBGMs, The Glorious Sons, songwriter Lisa Scinta and more. www.weareblackbox.com
Links:
twitter | instagram | soundcloud | facebook | website
“Repo Man”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eU6OU15b0
“My Friend”: https://open.spotify.
“The Open Letter”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ0ZpOXLK0s
One Long Dream: https://umc.lnk.to/OneLongDream
“Who Care”: https://open.spotify.com/track/350gAlFU8BAsWIGBN3GQPv | https://soundcloud.com/sonreal/who-care-official
“Problems”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwJDJcr7FjM | https://soundcloud.com/sonreal/problems | https://itun.es/us/mTgvkb?i=1247046490 | https://open.spotify.com/track/5h2TALUWTh66rr4bKueusj
“Supersize”: https://soundcloud.com/sonreal/supersize-1 | https://itun.es/us/uifvkb?i=1247040026 | https://open.spotify.com/track/1WcHUJ9Q2uURBpvsKVJJgj
“Potential”: https://youtu.be/u7iQ-DuiOUs // https://umc.lnk.to/Potential
“Can I Get a Witness”: https://youtu.be/pyXhsTTD0Tk
“Everywhere We Go”: https://youtu.be/UNVtM9P-yLM
Bio, photos, and streams available here: http://www.audibletreats.com/sonreal/