Listen to Sam Evian and Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead Reimagine “Next To You”

Sam Evian, the project of songwriter Sam Owens, has shared a reimagined version of his song “Next To You,” with Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead providing lead vocals. The track is off Evian’s latest album, You, Forever, out now through Saddle Creek.

The collaboration between Owens and Makino arose out of a mutual respect for each other’s work. Owens helped co-produce Makino’s solo album in 2017, and “Next To You” finds Makino returning the favor by lending her distinctive vocals to the You, Forever cut. The track is a beautiful little diamond of “Sunday Morning” guitars and Marvin Gaye-style bass grooves. Makino’s voice is the key here, shifting the track into a more relaxed and effortless pose.

“I had always envisioned other voices in my songs, so it made sense,” Owens said in a statement. “I was nervous to ask Kazu to do it, but she agreed without hesitation. I brought a mic over to her house, and we drank a few glasses of champagne and knocked out the new vocal in a few passes. It was a victory lap of sorts.”

Sam Evian will be touring Europe for the remainder of the year. A full list of those dates can be found further down.

Listen to “Next To You” below.

Sam Evian Tour Dates:

October
18 – Newcastle, U.K. @ The Cluny 2
19 – Manchester, U.K. @ YES
21 – Leicester, U.K. @ The Cookie
23 – London, U.K. @ Hoxton Hall
24 – Brighton, U.K. @ The Hope & Ruin
26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ London Calling festival
28 – Gent, Belgium @ De Centrale
31 – Cologne, Germany @ Acephale

November
01 – Berlin, Germany @ Berghain Kantine
02 – Hamburg, Germany @ Nachtasyl