Mad Satta – “Simpler Times” (audio) (Premiere)

Featuring sultry singer Joanna Teters, New York eight-piece Mad Satta marry funk, soul, R&B, and jazz in a way that hearkens back to the ’60s but still keeps its sights set forward, bringing an old-school sound into the modern era. Because it’s so organic, backed by a brilliant horn section, the temptation to call the band a throwback is there, but in actuality this music is timeless, especially when it’s done as well as on the dreamy, languid “Simpler Times”, selection from the band’s upcoming EP Break Me Free.

“Simpler Times is a title that speaks for itself; the song is an ode to my Hudson Valley hometown and is an expression of the longing that we often feel for the less complicated lives we used to lead when we were young,” Teters tells PopMatters. “It is musically and lyrically inspired by some of the musicians that we grew up listening to, like Bonnie Raitt and the Beatles.”

Break Me Free will be released 30 June via Bandcamp.