Lucas de Mulder’s 2025 release, New Land, is a warm, masterfully restrained exploration of instrumental soul-jazz, vintage R&B, and crisp funk. Serving as his second studio album as a bandleader for the Color Red label, the soundscape is anchored by his pristine, hollow-body electric guitar tones—alternating between silky, lyrical jazz phrasing and sharp, syncopated funk rhythms. Recorded in a tight, highly interactive trio format alongside bassist Diego Portugal and drummer Joe Sturges, the production carries the label’s signature analog-tape warmth, capturing the lively, organic feel of a classic 1960s or 70s soul-jazz session. While upbeat cuts like "Frontman" and "Mafia" lock into deep, pocket-heavy grooves driven by strutting basslines and crisp drumming, much of the album actively leans into a softer, breezier side of soul-jazz. This spaciousness allows de Mulder’s fluid solos to breathe naturally, resulting in an album that feels effortlessly cool—capturing the intimate, relaxed atmosphere of a late-night club date where groove and subtle nuance take precedence over flashy virtuosity.
Lucas de Mulder’s 2025 release, New Land, is a warm, masterfully restrained exploration of instrumental soul-jazz, vintage R&B, and crisp funk. Serving as his second studio album as a bandleader for the Color Red label, the soundscape is anchored by his pristine, hollow-body electric guitar tones—alternating between silky, lyrical jazz phrasing and sharp, syncopated funk rhythms. Recorded in a tight, highly interactive trio format alongside bassist Diego Portugal and drummer Joe Sturges, the production carries the label’s signature analog-tape warmth, capturing the lively, organic feel of a classic 1960s or 70s soul-jazz session. While upbeat cuts like "Frontman" and "Mafia" lock into deep, pocket-heavy grooves driven by strutting basslines and crisp drumming, much of the album actively leans into a softer, breezier side of soul-jazz. This spaciousness allows de Mulder’s fluid solos to breathe naturally, resulting in an album that feels effortlessly cool—capturing the intimate, relaxed atmosphere of a late-night club date where groove and subtle nuance take precedence over flashy virtuosity.