THE JOURNEY OF MOSES SUMNEY

Moses Sumney, a 32-year-old Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter, is celebrated for his unique music, which defies any genre. His style incorporates jazz, soul, and art-rock elements, creating a distinct sound that captivates audiences. Sumney gained significant attention with his EP Mid-City Island release in 2014, which he recorded independently. The EP features five tracks, showcasing his innovative approach to music.

Sumney was born on May 19, 1990, in California. He was raised by pastor parents and moved to Ghana with his family at 10. Having been Americanized by then, he found adjusting to the rural setting and cultural differences in Ghana challenging. His family eventually returned to California, settling in Riverside when he was 16.

Despite his deep love for music, Sumney learned to play instruments when he was older. Instead, he focused on writing a cappella music for many years. He publicly performed his compositions for the first time at 20. Sumney pursued higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied poetry and majored in creative writing, further honing his songwriting skills.

In 2014, Sumney released his debut EP, Mid-City Island, which was recorded on a four-track recorder by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. The self-recorded album made a significant impact on the Los Angeles music scene. Despite receiving offers from various record labels, Sumney turned them down, preferring to discover his artistic identity independently.

Sumney's first full-length album, Aromanticism, was released in 2017 through Jagjaguwar. The album features 11 tracks and received widespread critical acclaim from The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, which named it one of the year's best albums. Songs from Aromanticism, such as "Doomed," have been featured in TV shows like Orange is the New Black, and "Quarrel" was included in HBO's Insecure.

In addition to his music, Sumney has made appearances on television and in film. He played himself in the fourth episode of the first season of HBO's Random Acts of Flyness. He also appeared in Creed and contributed to its soundtrack alongside Tessa Thompson and Ludwig Göransson.

Sumney's second studio album, Græ, was released in two parts in 2020, with a subsequent physical release of the double album. In March 2020, he released a self-directed music video for the song "Cut Me," followed by the single "Bless Me" in May 2020.

Throughout his career, Sumney has received numerous accolades. He won the Special Jury Award at the SXSW Film Festival in 2018 and was nominated for a UK Music Video Award (UKMVA) and a Camerimage award. His self-directed video for "Cut Me" was nominated for Best Alternative Video – International at the UKMVAs. His studio albums have topped year-end lists from NPR, Pitchfork, The New York Times, and more.

Moses Sumney continues to push the boundaries of music and art, solidifying his place as a groundbreaking artist in the contemporary music scene.