Beloved Syracuse-based hip-hop jam band Sophistafunk has a new soundtrack for your summer festival fun. Inspired by the vibes of peace, love, unity, and respect that are such a big part of music festival culture, their new video “Other Side” celebrates the universal feeling of getting separated from someone at a crowded show and the joyous moment when you are finally reunited. Today the band is premiering the new single along with a music video exclusively through Live For Live Music.
“This song was definitely inspired by the feeling you get at music festivals,” Sophistafunk MC Jack Brown shared. “When I was walking around Electric Forest, I saw an entire ecosystem of people interacting on a different wavelength. I saw new definitions of sexual freedom and artistic expression. I saw young and old alike, representing many cultures and backgrounds, all coming together. It was beautiful.
“We wanted to make a song that could be a soundtrack for the changes that we’re all seeing. Music for the next generation of artists, lovers, and free spirits. Something we could bring back to our home festivals in New York, but also something that people around the world could dance to.”
“Other Side” was produced by Sophistafunk and J. Glaze at the House of Dreams Studios in New York City. The video was filmed by Ninja Monkey during Sophistafunk’s performance at the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, NY.
With a deep house groove, articulate verses from Jack Brown, and a chorus sung by drummer Emanuel Washington, the song encourages the listener to approach life with an open mind, suggesting that fulfillment is sometimes the result of a shift in perspective: “Open up your heart / open up your mind / Stop reaching for something that’s already there / The answer is waiting on the other side (for you to find).”
Watch the video for “Other Side” below. The track is now available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Sophistafunk recently joined the esteemed ranks of late-night bands as the official house band for Guy Fieri‘s new show, Guy’s Ultimate Game Night. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and we rocked it,” Brown said about the gig. “[We] had everybody dancing. It’s us being us, and it’s all for charity! It’s a dream come true.”
Tune in to the Food Network or Discovery+ Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET to hear Sophistafunk on Guy’s Ultimate Game Night hosted by Guy Fieri. For more information about Sophistafunk, visit Sophistafunkband.com.
Sophistafunk – “Other Side”