Since their debut as Brijean, the project of percussionist/singer-songwriter Brijean Murphy (the percussiveheartbeat for live bands like Mitski, Poolside, and Toro y Moi) and multi-instrumentalist/producer DougStuart has moved with ingenuity, fusing psych-pop abstraction with dancefloor sensibilities. Through thebody and mind, rhythm and lyricism, they make sense of the worlds around and within; 2021’sFeelingscelebrated self-reflection; 2022’sAngeloprocessed loss, coinciding with the duo’s first headlining tour,which doubled down on the material’s desire to move. Now, across the playful expanse of Macro, arrivingin 2024 on Ghostly International, Brijean engages different sides of themselves, the paradox of beingalive.

Murphy, an accomplished DJ,session and live player in Oakland’s diverse music scene has emerged asone of indie’s most in-demand percussionists. In 2018, she began recording songs with multi-instrumentalist and producer Stuart, who shares a background in jazz and pop in bands such as BellsAtlas, Meernaa, and Luke Temple. Eventually dubbed Brijean, the project grew out of marathon sessionsat their intimate home-studio. Their first effort,Walkie Talkie(released by Native Cat Recordings in 2019),found Murphy taking the mic for thefirst time to deliver dreamy dance tracks that felt home-cooked andeffortlessly chic. Her layered percussion and hypnotic, expressive vocals coupled with Stuart’s productionand harmonic palette evoked shades of disco, ‘90s house, and a sly pop sensibility. ”A smooth,sumptuous, and soulful record,” said Bandcamp, who helped propel the group’s early following.

Murphy’s musical talents are family heirlooms: her father, percussionist and engineer Patrick Murphy, taught Brijean her first patterns on a pair of congas that she inherited from the late Trinidadian steel drumlegend Vince Charles (of Neil Diamond). Growing up in LA’s Glassell Park, Murphy was raised by a cadreof honorary aunts and uncles–a deep bench of jazz, Latin and soul musicians in their own rites. Thismeant she grew up regaled by musical lore–larger-than-life tales of jazz luminaries, psychedelic tripsand obscure cultural enclaves–sampling some of those family stories and weaving them into her work.Growing up outside of Chicago, Stuart found his way into jazz clubs and festivals as a teenager,frequently going to hear Jeff Parker, Fred Anderson, and other members of the AACM. While attendingthe University of Michigan, he studied under Detroit jazz royalty, Robert Hurst and Geri Allen. Aftercollege, Stuart became intrigued by the music of J Dilla and Moodymann, and began learning productionand exploring the connections between jazz, house, and hip-hop.