Black Pumas were the featured musical guest on Tuesday’s episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, where the breakout duo performed one of their new originals, “I’m Ready”. Prior to the pre-recorded performance, leaders Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada shed some light on how the Grammy-nominated project came together.
In their pre-performance interview, Burton explained how the psychedelic soul outfit came about through lucky coincidence. As it happens, Quesada was looking to get into the studio and make some of his instrumentals into full-fledged songs, whereas Burton was gearing up to launch a solo career. Rather than venturing out solely on his own, Burton elected to instead integrate some of his best material into what Quesada had brought to the table. Thus, Black Pumas was born.
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In light of that informative chitchat, the band’s performance of “I’m Ready” makes even more sense. The song appears as a bonus track on the recently released deluxe edition of the band’s self-titled debut album. The instrumental R&B groove set up by Quezada that establishes the group’s vintage sound. Burton then comes in with his voice that bolsters that classic sound, with lyrics about the California coast and making love to Marvin Gaye records that make Black Pumas simultaneously old school and brand new.
Watch Black Pumas perform “I’m Ready” and share the origins of the group on Corden.
Black Pumas – “I’m Ready”
[Video: The Late Late Show with James Corden]