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1.
Nowhere 04:23
I’m gonna take you to a place that’s far away Baby just free your mind, let’s go where dreams are made Come on now, don’t you fight it just let me take you high I’ll take you where you wanna go, let me come inside   We ain’t got to go nowhere Ain’t got to go nowhere We ain’t got to go nowhere Ain’t got to go nowhere We ain’t got to go nowhere Ain’t got to go nowhere We ain’t got to go nowhere Ain’t got to go nowhere   You gotta have some fun, come on let down your hair Where in the moment now, we ain’t going nowhere Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t go
2.
Just A Man 04:11
Many moons ago, I loved this man And I loved him more than I can stand Deceitful was he in his disguise Broke my mother’s heart ‘cos he told her lies, told her lies   But he is just a man He is no God He’s just a man He was not the one Just a man He’s just a man Just a man   Use to wait for him in evening time But he never came and that blew my mind He was the one I idolized In every man I meet I see his eyes, see his eyes Should I open up my eyes So I can see what is in front of me I m pretending he’s my kind of guy Just like in my dreams Living more and becoming wise Still full of dreams but they don’t cloud my eyes I forgive and leave the past behind Moving on and taking back my life, back my life
3.
Air Castle 05:04
In a trance, my eyes wide open Got on my colored spectacles Peculiar party in my head Ending unpredictable You should know V.I.P only attends Its that superstar guest list in the sky But if you name’s not on the list You can still learn how to fly   Up at the air castle Up at the air castle   Oooooooooooooooh   Opulently, decadently, beautiful things everywhere Mystical, magical fantasies Shinny people, crystal chandeliers Sprinkled with stardust courtesy of Tinker Bell Up at the air castle Up at the air castle Up at the air castle Up at the air castle   Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah Up at the air castle Up at the air castle   Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah, ah
4.
Don’t you dare try to hide that smile of yours Please don’t keep it inside you should let it show (It’s so easy to smile) Show me your smile Show me your smile Show me your smile (So never forget to smile) Show me your smile Show me your smile Show me your smile Bright like diamonds but their worth so much more (bright like diamonds, worth much more diamonds) Beaming shining lighting the way to love When you’re feeling low put on your glow and just smile You’ll feel better I promise if you’ll just smile
5.
Maybe we are all on borrowed time, while the meter is still running And one day, we’ll leave it all behind. So, live like the future’s begun We are all on borrowed time, while the meter is still running And one day, we’ll leave it all behind.  So, live like the future’s begun Please take my hand of love let it guide you to find your way Tomorrow’s not today.  We’re on borrowed time   Well, now they say that it is a sign, when the birds fly south in the winter (live like the future’s begun) While men make skyscrapers heaven high, you’d better live like your future’s begun (live like the future’s begun) On borrowed time, borrowed time, borrowed time, borrowed time

about

Imagine if you will, a time capsule aboard a deep spacecraft headed to eternity. The past informed by the present, and the present informed by the past. It’s an accurate description for the gravity defying EP Air Castle, a sonic journey through space and time launched by soul icon N’Dambi and All Cows Eat Grass front-man T.Brown.

Brown, former musical director for Janelle Monáe, joined forces with the always musically adventurous N'Dambi for the cosmic soul outing which pairs the organic warmth of N'Dambi's honeyed vocals and sophisticated songwriting with electronic synthesizer layers, 80's sonic cues and retro-future compositions that in the end defy easy categorization. “This project is an experience....a trip. Depending on where you come from determines how you hear it" declares N'Dambi. T. Brown characterizes it as an "Innocent exploration through different styles and concepts aiming to please and intrigue," ultimately taking you back to your future.

The burbling synth bass in the intro to "Nowhere" draws the listener into a delicious retro-production informed by 80's sonics complete with syndrum snare hits and layers of synth fills. The vocal effects which at first suggest the vast nowhere of outer space evolve into an impassioned plea "we ain't got to go nowhere" - and as a listener we are invited to settle in.

Next on display is N'Dambi's now legendary storytelling through song. "Just A Man" - an ode to an enduring love for an absent father, N'Dambi swoops around a nearly anthemic melody detailing a penchant for projecting her idealized love onto potential love interests - until in a moment of clarity declares "he's just a man."

"Air Castle" is the north Memphis born T.Brown's electro-soul production on full display. With Bowie-esque shifts in movements, "Air Castle" deftly blends a futuristic sonic aesthetic with funk, soul, and gospel vocals, building beneath a jazz-rock electric guitar lead by Jeff Gitelman which earns the song a berth on the short list of "songs to trip to." Literally and figuratively.

"Show Me Your Smile" returns N'Dambi back to terra firma with the breezy warmth of a simple lyric extolling us to smile. Kellindo Parker, in his third appearance on the release, shines particularly for his syncopated guitar figure which invokes Convertion's 1980 groover "Let's Do It." Paired with an easy melody, N'Dambi proves she can make grown men wistful for days gone by, yet it is T. Brown’s counter melody that’s all about the science of mind. Research proves that smiling changes brain chemistry by raising serotonin, the body’s feel good chemical. Once you smile, you’re bound to feel better. One smile leads to a thousand smiles and we all feel better. Now isn’t that mind-blowing?

With "Borrowed Time", a song about being present in this moment, we find the Dallas native in a setting that would befit Oleta Adams in her "Tears For Fears" prime. N'Dambi, with her contralto on full glorious display, implores us to take her hand - which we are willing to do - for no matter where she takes us on her sonic journeys - we know we are enveloped by the essence of her soul.

So there you have it. N’Dambi and All Cows Eat Grass. The Air Castle EP, taking you through your mind’s eye on a cosmic journey through the sky. What’s in your time capsule?

credits

released May 4, 2018

Nowhere:
- written by: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- vocals: N'Dambi
- production: All Cows Eat Grass
- guitar: Kellindo Parker
- mixing engineer: Brian Sterling
- mastering engineer: Rafael Pereira at Tribo Studios

Just A Man:
- written by: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- vocals: N'Dambi
- production: All Cows Eat Grass
- guitar: Kellindo Parker
- mixing engineer: Brian Sterling
- mastering engineer: Rafael Pereira at Tribo Studios

Air Castle:
- written by: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- vocals: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- production: All Cows Eat Grass
- guitar solo: Jeff Gitelman
- mixing engineer: Brian Sterling
- mastering engineer: Rafael Pereira at Tribo Studios

Show Me Your Smile:
- written by: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- vocals: N'Dambi
- production: All Cows Eat Grass
- guitar: Kellindo Parker
- mixing engineer: Brian Sterling
- mastering engineer: Rafael Pereira at Tribo Studios

Borrowed Time:
- written by: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- vocals: N'Dambi & T. Brown
- production: All Cows Eat Grass
- mixing engineer: Brian Sterling
- mastering engineer: Rafael Pereira at Tribo Studios

All recording, mixing and mastering in Atlanta, GA

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N'Dambi Dallas, Texas

Singer. Songwriter. Musician. Daydreamer.

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