The Social Experiment—the four-member band comprised of Chance The Rapper, Donnie Trumpet, Peter Cottontale, and Nate Fox—is gearing up for the release of a new album. Called Surf, it's got their trumpet player's name first on the marquee. "We're working on all this music together, but this project in particular is a Donnie Trumpet project," Donnie, whose real name is Nico Segal, told The FADER. "My music, with their influence and ideas, plus us all coming up with crazy shit to do. But at the end of the day, it's my directing."
As a first taste of what's to come on Surf, "Sunday Candy" is equally indebted to modern gospel legend Kirk Franklin and Chicago's bop scene. Featuring vocalist Jamila Woods and a couple steel pans, it's uplifting, like the resolution scene of a holiday romantic comedy. It's about waiting to see and then cherishing someone who makes you better. On a day like this one, that sentiment is especially needed, and a great comfort.
"This song specifically is a great representation of [The Social Experiment's] collaborative efforts," Segal explained. "It's my curation, but then bringing it to the table with all these beautiful people and including them in their own way. Jamila sang on that hook, then I brought it to the collective. Peter added some great layers of texture and helped produce, Nate added a bunch of drums, tons of our friends from Chicago played instruments and added their ideas."
Chance grew up with Segal, who previously played with Vic Mensa in the band Kids These Days. More recently, Segal and Chance have toured the world, playing Chance songs and developing new material (like that incredible Arthur cover) as The Social Experiment. "I bring a musical side to what Chance is doing and he appreciates that and likes writing over it, so we make a good team," he said.
