Switched On: Son Little

American singer-songwriter Son Little, moniker of Aaron Earl Livingston, is an artist who continually revolutionises the modern understanding and expectations of R&B sound. Delivering an unadulterated transmission of Black American music, Son Little possesses a body of work made up of slick melodies, stomping gospel organs, brash psych-rock arpeggios and timeless emotional depth.

Son Little, praised by American Songwriter as "one of the best songwriters working today,” conceived his latest album, Like Neptune, in a cabin overlooking the Delaware River in upstate New York. Trading in the existential dread permeating his previous work for unbridled joy and self-acceptance, Son Little transmutes the chronic pain of self-doubt into a beautiful and freeing opus about overcoming generational trauma. Hailed by Afropunk as "a stunning statement of purpose," Like Neptune decorates the altar of the primordial blues and elevating the labour of healing to high art. “I’ve always felt as though I was making music because I had to, something inside compelled me. Fuelled me,” Little shared. “This the first time in a long time I’m making music for the pure joy of creating.”

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Supporting Son Little is Mo'Ju.

Recent years have seen ARIA-nominated musician and songwriter Mo’Ju enter new realms of renown, their brand of visceral storytelling striking at the heart of a country whose social and cultural climate was manoeuvring a particular state of unrest and change.

A full spectrum of emotion and sonic textures marry together in Mo’Ju’s music, producing sounds that can be equal measures of sensuality, vulnerability and hard-hitting strength. When their 2018 studio album Native Tongue was released to widespread acclaim, it was not without debate, Native Tongue ignited and inspired some long overdue, sometimes tough, conversations.

The inability to categorise where an artist such as Mo’Ju fits has been a common narrative throughout their career. However, the Naarm-based musician, songwriter, storyteller and third culture kid (Filipino/Wiradjuri), is not here to be boxed in and commodified. Their music is created in alignment with a central artistic vision that is built on truth, authenticity and most importantly, legacy.

For Mo’Ju, the last few years have been monumental in terms of professional and personal change. Becoming a parent as the world was entering a period of unprecedented turmoil, dramatically shifted their perspectives and priorities.

Mo’Ju enters 2023 with a fresh perspective and presenting a new body of work with their fourth studio LP, ORO, PLATA, MATA. Shedding the pressures that carried over from the huge success of their last record, Mo’Ju engages in this new creative phase, reawakened, refreshed and looking to the future, while drawing strength and inspiration from the past.

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Switched On flicks the switch on an iconic venue and activates the Hall in a new light. A sonic shift to contemporary music and a whole new dimension in listening.