L.A. VanGogh • "Bitter Berries"
Songwriting-producer L.A. VanGogh adds “bitter berries” to his consistent stream of releases. The new track comes entirely engineered in house by way of the Private Stock team. L.A. takes production into his own hands, allowing “bitter berries” to casually comb through the several frequencies dwelling under the vocals. The instruments evolve among one another without overcrowding the sound waves.
The release came with a link to Reggie “RJ EL” Eldridge’s spoken word performance. RJ EL and L.A. share a tragic semblance between their pieces, expressing frustrations on related issues troubling the Afro-American Community. Eldridge said, “What it mean to be white [and] sold too? What it mean to be white and want soul too? What it mean to be white and exonerated, cuz’ nobody told you, who did you tell? What it mean to be white and not have to tell nobody nothing?”. The quote comes during his explanation concerning the misinterpretation of reverse racism and how those of European descent have benefited from advancements sustained during slavery and long after. VanGogh’s statement “They say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice, well I must be pretty bitter, according to you, they called my daddy a n***** and spilt his blood on a fruit…” serves as a parallel. L.A. being a light-skinned mixed race person of color makes “bitter berries” the voice for those outwardly excluded from their natural blackness, while facing the same prejudices they’re considered “too white” to understand.
With his second album shpeshftr (shapeshifter) swirling with anticipation, 2017 has been marked for conquest. Take a look at his previously released compilation “friends first” featuring appearances and handiwork from his family on Knox. If you haven’t noticed already, music is not L.A.’s sole medium of expression - upon the arrival of “bitter berries” he also dropped a hat coinciding with the single. After listening, find him on twitter, his fashion sense feeds attraction so you know they’ll sell fast.
