John-Robert
Healthy Baby Boy Pt. 1
Nice Life Recording Company/Warner Records
John-Robert’s musical ascent is the stuff of dreams. Hailing from Edinburg, Virginia—a small town north of Harrisonburg—he was tapped to play Something in the Water, Pharrell’s inaugural Virginia Beach festival, before super-producer Ricky Reed offered him the opportunity of a lifetime: Come to L.A. to record. (Reed’s worked with some of pop and indie’s biggest stars, with hits like Lizzo’s breakout “Truth Hurts” on his resume.) John-Robert took the leap—he signed with Reed’s Warner Records imprint and switched coasts during the pandemic. The result is the 20-year-old’s debut EP, Healthy Baby Boy Pt. 1. The moody, slow burn of “Move It to the Side,” and the swagged-out kiss-off “USMO” (an acronym for You Should Move On) brim with pop gusto. But the EP draws its name from the standout track “Healthy Baby Boy,” which maintains the down-home heart of rural Virginia. With his voice reduced to nearly a whisper, John-Robert sings over a hushed, finger-picked guitar, “Alex died and JJ had a kid.” These details are from his life; around the time that his friend’s brother died by suicide, another friend was experiencing the birth of his first child. John-Robert brings richness and depth to this project, and he’s just getting started. (Released April 2)
Prabir Trio
Haanji
Self-released
Prabir Metha immigrated to Richmond, Virginia, from India when he was 8 years old, and he’s spent nearly two decades furthering the city’s rich art scene—from his musical output to his work with the Richmond Symphony, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the founding of Gallery 5, among other efforts. As frontman for Prabir Trio, he takes the lead on vocals and guitar, with bandmates Kelli Strawbridge on drums/vocals, Kenneka Cook on vocals, and Russell Lacy on bass. The group’s debut, Haanji, explores Prabir’s bicultural experience as an American immigrant who is just as connected to his roots in Richmond as he is to the customs of India. Sonically, Haanji reflects this duality: Tinges of American rock ’n’ roll, lo-fi garage, and British pop are interwoven with traditional Indian elements forged with sitar, tanpura, harmonium, and tablas. According to Metha, haanji in Hindi loosely translates to yes in English, and it has been a guiding principle for him in his immigration journey. (Released May 11)
The Root Cellar Remedy
The Quarantown EP
Self-released
Charlottesville quartet The Root Cellar Remedy has honed its chops on the live music scene for years. The Quarantown EP marks the band’s first official studio recording, which was produced by James McLaughlin at his newly finished studio in North Garden. As the release’s title suggests, the group was motivated by the disruption of daily life and the cultural shift that ensued during the pandemic. The track “Quarantown” encapsulates the feeling of restlessness that arose for many throughout the shutdown, while songs like “My Joy” and “Red Velvet” channel the electricity of lust and love. With an amalgamation of straight-ahead rock, folk, and alt-country, The Quarantown EP captures the spirit of The Root Cellar Remedy’s live show and packages it into a nice summer listen as we gear up for the return of musical gatherings. (Released June 5) —Desiré Moses