Win Tickets to Emily's D+Evolution

Esperanza Spalding Presents: Emily's D+Evolution will play The Orpheum on November 3, and we have a pair of tickets to give away.

The Faux/Real Festival grew out of New Orleans Fringe Festival, and it kicks off Thursday, November 3 at The Orpheum with Esperanza Spalding Presents: Emily D+Evolution. My Spilt Milk has a pair of tickets to give away to the show. Register here for a chance to win. The contest closes Wednesday, November 2 at noon.

Spalding made her name as a jazz bassist and upset Justin Bieber, Florence + the Machine, Mumford and Sons and Drake for the Best New Artist Grammy in 2011. Later that year, she released two albums—Chamber Music Society and Radio Music Society, the latter of which explored the space where jazz, hip-hop and contemporary R&B coexist. Emily’s D+Evolution is another step in that direction with more rock and funk elements in pieces that conform to conventional song structures.

Pitchfork reviewed Emily’s D+Evolution positively, giving it an 8.6 and writing:

On Emily’s D+Evolution, she’s reemerged emboldened. "See this pretty girl, watch this pretty girl flow," Spalding asserts boldly at the top of "Good Lava," the first track and mission statement. Using a dissonant guitar riff, thumping drums, and lurching time signature, it almost feels like a dare to stick around. The album has the feel of a nervy gauntlet throw, seething with the sort of ferocity that only comes from time spent alone, far away from the limelight. These are exuberant, confrontational songs, amplified in the same sort of rock/funk hybrid style that brings Prince and Janelle Monae to mind. Gone is the Afro, replaced with long braids, wide-rimmed glasses, and ornate outfits.   

Emily’s D+Evolution isn’t only a new sound a new look; it’s a new persona. According to Spalding:

the role-playing of being Emily is helping me get in touch with her energy. And I have been outside of the project, where I'm in situations and thinking — not "what would Emily do?" — but putting her hat on and her skin on. [That] role-play can help me get more in touch with qualities in myself that I want to enhance.

The Faux/Real Festival runs from November 3-13.