Busty and the Bass Announce New Album 'Forever Never Cares' with Terrace Martin, Magi Merlin

Hear "Give Me a Smile" — a collaboration with Son Little — now

BY Megan LaPierrePublished Oct 3, 2023

Montreal soul-jazz collective Busty and the Bass have announced their fourth studio LP, previewed today by new slow-burn single "Give Me a Smile," featuring Son Little.

Drawing its title as a reminder to let go, Forever Never Cares arrives November 17 via Arts & Crafts. It follows the group's 2020 album, Eddie, as well as last year's KARNEVAL EP, and features additional guest appearances from Terrace Martin, Magi Merlin, Katie Tupper, Clerel and Jordan Brown.

"The album is about leaving behind the small things in life that we obsess over. It's about embracing uncertainty," vocalist Alistair Blu explained in a press release, gesturing toward the 2022 departure of founding vocalist-saxophonist and songwriter Nick Ferraro.

"This album is the culmination of 10 years as a band," Busty's Christopher Vincent said. "All the ups and downs, members coming and going. But it's also a crystallization of what we've been trying to achieve for years."

Of "Give Me a Smile," bassist Milo Johnson added, "It speaks to the dance of longing for moments of connection while trying not to be consumed by the tension of the present moment." The new single was inspired by '60s and '70s 6/8 gospel, especially the B-side ballads of Funkadelic.

Listen to the song below, where you'll also find the album tracklist.


Forever Never Cares:

1. All the Things I Couldn't Say to You
2. Starstruck (feat. Jordan Brown)
3. Never Get Enough (feat. Katie Tupper)
4. Smoke and the Pine
5. Wandering Lies
6. Holiday Drive (feat. Clerel)
7. Far from Here (feat. Magi Merlin)
8. No Angels
9. Give Me a Smile (feat. Son Little)
10. No Self Control (feat. Terrace Martin)

Pre-order Forever Never Cares.

Tour Dates

Latest Coverage