Tessellated drops "Sweeter (feat. Protoje)" video

Unclassifiable Jamaican singer-songwriter-producer Tessellated has released the official video for his "Sweeter" collaboration song with contemporary reggae star Protoje. The brand new visuals premiered on Tessellated's YouTube channel today.

Co-directed by Gabrielle Blackwood and Tessellated himself, the video was filmed on location in Kingston, Jamaica at Comfitanya Restaurant and Lounge. Tessellated and GRAMMY-nominated RCA recording artist Protoje are seen dueling it out (musically, of course) for the attentions of a fiery barmaid at a local cantina. Some of Jamaica's hottest young creatives like Naomi Cowan, Zac Jones, Joshua Solas, and Anna-Lisa Guthrie add their star power with cameos.

Incorporating Spaghetti Western-style filmmaking, the video serves to complement the Jamaican and Latin fusion of the song's rhythm and lyrics, which read: "Sweeter (feat. Protoje)" was originally included on Tessellated's critically-acclaimed debut EP Tropics Vol. 1 (December 4, 2020 via Independent Co.).

LISTEN TROPICS VOL. 1

The track, produced by Tessellated and Circa Eleven, is characterized by a lush horn arrangement that accompanies the spitfire deejays as they trade verses over an unexpected Latin rhythm that crescendos with a Santana-esque guitar solo, served up by Phillip Myers of Circa Eleven. Renowned UK DJ Seani B initially world premiered the collaboration on his BBC Radio 1xtra just hours before the EP dropped.

"'Sweeter' has been a creative triumph for me in getting to collaborate with one of my biggest inspirations and then making something that pushes the boundaries for both of us," said Tessellated of the collabo. He went on, "the actual process was a little unorthodox, where the song was pieced together from a bunch of different ideas, but Protoje was super cool about it and was just focused on making sure we had some fire at the end of it all."

"For the video, I really wanted to tell a story that would tie in with the lyrics and feel of the song and add another layer of meaning to it. In the same way the song blends the Jamaican and Latin feel for the setting and then added a Western twist for the cinematics. It took a lot to bring it to life, but Gabrielle made the idea a reality," said Tess.

"Tess reached out to me as being a part of this song for his project. I've been following his career and always knew we could make something fresh. I love what he's making as an artist and this song merged our worlds perfectly," added Protoje, who has also helped launch the careers of emerging Jamaican artists like Lila Iké, Sevana, and Jaz Elise through his In.Digg.Nation Collective label.

Before dropping the Tropics Vol. 1 EP in late 2020, Tessellated had some early success with "I Learnt Some Jazz Today," which topped the Billboard Jazz charts and earned Tess an Emmy nomination for its inclusion in an Apple commercial.

With influences that span from Jazz to R&B to Hip Hop, and a foundation in his island’s native Reggae and Dancehall, Tessellated’s artistry reaches far beyond his Jamaican roots. His ear for music lends itself to experimentation with different soundscapes, and his releases so far attest to his worldwide appeal. He first made waves in 2018 with “Pine and Ginger,” drumming up over 22 million total streams to date and landing on the pages of major media outlets like Pitchfork, The FADER, and High Snobiety, among others.

Already making fans of industry heavyweights such as Camila Cabello, Lily Allen, Diplo, Major Lazer, and Jorja Smith, this universal appeal speaks to the gravitas Tessellated commands, while he still has yet to reach the peak of his powers. It is clear why the SXSW festival organizers recently dubbed Tess the "Modern Reggae Intrigue."

Tessellated

1. Rendezvous

2. No Ansa (ft. Crayon)

3. Santeria

4. Sweeter (ft. Protoje)

5. Me and My Lady

6. Tropics

7. I Learnt Some Jazz Today