Exclusive Track Premiere: ‘Activate,’ Govales

ABOVE: GOVALES. PHOTO COURTESY OF LUNCH$.

Mike Hurtt–better known as Govales–is part of a fresh crop of R&B artists who are creating their own renaissance, taking an established sound and obscuring it, improving it, and carrying it into the future. After one listen to the artist’s soon-to-be released debut album Lovetron, it’s easy to see him going far: certain tracks, like the Supremes cover “Set Me Free,” have an energetic sound that’s altogether nostalgic and refreshing, while others, like “Freakazoid,” ooze with a sex appeal reminiscent of Miguel. Here, we are pleased to premiere the “Activate,” the first single from Lovetron.

“‘Activate’ set the precedent for what was possible to come out of me melodically,” Govales explains. “Up until that point I had never dared to make a recording like that, but being in my creative bubble at the time and having no one to tell me no, I took the plunge and haven’t looked back since.“

Influenced by the likes of Rod Temperton, James Ingram, Qunicy Jones, Brian Eno, The Hitmen, and Organized Noise, “Activate”—and Lovetron as a whole—is filled with what some might call unorthodox funk, but what Govales describes as a melting pot of styles and sounds.

“I want to take you on a journey with this music, to use the soundscapes to transport you to another plane of existence and being,” he says. “Music is one of the most powerful, spiritual tools. Through music, we can open ourselves up to things we never thought possible.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ARTIST, VISIT HIS TWITTER, AND TO DOWNLOAD ‘ACTIVATE,’ VISIT HIS WEBSITE.