Looking Back at Jameson Distilled Sounds' Inaugural Year with Anderson .Paak

Earlier this year, Jameson set out to bring artists, producers, and musicians together for boundary-pushing music collaboration under its dedicated program: Jameson Distilled Sounds.

The inaugural year of the first-of-its-kind, Jameson Distilled Sounds – led by Anderson .Paak – welcomed a cohort of talent from India, South Africa, Australia and beyond. Although they had never met before, the prospect of creating new music together was put into play at a real-life Sound Distillery experience in Cork Ireland. Home to Jameson, the quaint town that hosted the week-long retreat lent an idyllic backdrop where music could be produced without distraction.

At the escape, the artists were paired into groups and undertook a series of workshops. Ranging from digital music production to discussing music experimentation with Anderson .Paak, the workshops were delivered by Fender and NTS to help the artists navigate the collaboration journey through the exchange of their unique sounds. Hailing from Malaysia, participating artist Claudia shared, “The experience introduced me to so many talented artists. I learned so much about their cultures that influenced me when creating my new track with KAIIT.”

Not only did the Sound Distillery offer a hotbed for colliding global sounds, it also allowed artists to share their latest ideas with other creatives. Freak Slug, an Indie artist from Manchester said, “Although I haven’t collaborated with many women before, working with Aoife has opened me up to creating art in a raw and pure way that is enveloped in the feminine psyche.” For Lady Donli, however, it’s the “musical family and community that has been built on learning from each other” that she hopes to take with her following on from the experience.

“What I loved about working with Jameson on Jameson Distilled Sounds was the vibe. It was the energy of bringing people together around something real,” reflects Anderson .Paak on supporting the 20 artists at the Sound Distillery. “Jameson’s got that authenticity, that craft, and we got to weave our own stories into it. It felt like we were creating something bigger than just a project. The whole process was like a great jam session — fun, organic, and full of good energy. And at the end of the day, it’s about sharing that moment, It’s about the connection.”

Recently, Jameson released the result of their collaborations through a live sessions series on YouTube. On a green-lit stage, the videos saw the duos perform their songs in front of the camera, showcasing new blends of traditional African percussion with pop undertones as well as soul powered by jazz.

You can now listen to the artist’s collaborative tracks on Jameson’s YouTube channel. To find out more about Jameson Distilled Sounds, head to its dedicated hub now.