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Artist
Black Eskimo
12+ albums
Ingrid Chavezelectronictrip hopdowntempofemale vocalists
about
There is a thumping in the woods of New England. Black Eskimo combines the gritty urban beats of Chicago native Marco Valentin with the ethereal poetry of famed New England-based songwriter Ingrid Chavez. The result is a hypnotic hybrid of deep and heady tales that fuse the duo's influences, from Jazz, Soul, and Hip Hop to Rock, Electronica, and World Music. The synthesis paralles the convergence of two artists’ lives. Chavez is no stranger to pop music or collaborations. Previously, she co-wrote Madonna's smash "Justify My Love" with Lenny Kravitz; worked with Prince during the early 90s, releasing her solo debut on Paisley Park records; and performed with Japan’s David Sylvian, and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. After several years as muse, collaborator, and solo artist, Ingrid took time off to focus on her family life. During the hiatus Chavez met Valentin, a self-taught producer who took an innovative route to becoming a musician. As a teenager growing up on the south side of Chicago, Valentin had originally set out to be a rap artist, but he didn’t have any beats so he got crafty, lifting loops off Wu Tang and Mobb Deep records using an old Karaoke machine. The results were choppy but he liked what he heard and kept working, expanding his sonic palette beyond childhood favorites like ‘90s Hip Hop and Fania Allstars, to include everything from international ‘60s and 70s underground music to classic rock. Their initial collaboration (with Valentin programming beats while Chav
