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Photo: Jake Herman

Ever since Marvin Gaye released “Distant Lover” over 50 years ago, artists have spent countless hours in the studio trying to make a song that is good enough to be released under the same name. Over that five-decade period, countless wars have been fought, but inside the studio, a different kind of warfare has taken place—a spiritual warfare where artists, producers, and engineers have all tried and failed to follow up the iconic Let’s Get It On deep-cut. Legends say Brian McKnight came close, but opted to cover the original at the last minute, leaving the song’s spiritual successor a mystery, until now.

Last week, the prophecy was fulfilled when LA-based artist and producer bLAck pARty finally released “Distant Lover,” a song that rivals (if not exceeds) the tranquility and romance found in Marvin Gaye’s “Distant Lover” released half a century ago. In bLAck pARty’s newest release, psychedelic guitar chords and perfectly polished vocals meet in sacred harmony, working in tandem to create a song that will be sure to immediately dominate your weekly rotation. 

While bLAck pARty might not be “One To Watch” in the sense that he is a “new” and upcoming artist, he is certainly deserving of the title as an artist whose prolific yet simultaneously under-the-radar releases consistently demand the attention of both your eyes and ears. With “Distant Lover” being his first formal release in over two years, it feels like a cause for celebration, perhaps a new national holiday that his fans will observe for years to come. With more music hopefully on the horizon this year, bLAck pARty is an artist that shouldn’t be sliding under your radar in 2025.

Watch the "Distant Lover" visualizer below: