When you hear Ohio-based soul vocalist Van Hunt’s self-titled debut, you’ll need to drop any conventions of the term “neo-soul” you may have encountered before. Unexpectedly attention grabbing, Hunt’s full-length debut is a sleek monument that flows effortlessly from song to song. It’s a truthful, lenient and low-key assembly that remains unmistakably loyal to the unique vision of this artist. You get personal with Hunt, as he traverses under explored themes en route to what is ultimately a highly meritorious journey. He describes his father as a part-time painter and pimp; not to mention a summer resident at an insane asylum, resulting from a faked mental illness in order to get a break from the hardships of his job as a factory worker. Hunt has always admired his father’s lifestyle, presenting it as fascinating. "He and his friends would put on some fly-ass clothes, smoke a lil' herb, talk a whole lot of shit and chase beautiful women. He would often take me along with him. And, I loved it. I loved watching him take a lady into the back room, loved seeing the door close behind him... I loved sitting in the corner of a smoke filled dope house, tapping my feet to the music while my father and his friends cussed each other out over a game of cards. It seemed to me the beat of the drums urged on their behavior, and drove the alcohol that flowed through their veins out of their bloodshot eyes. Guitars and horns percolated and made their hands tap out the rhythm uncontrollably, 1-2-3-4. All kinds of people - some I knew, some I didn't - would be coming and going every five minutes. It was intoxicating. It sparked my imagination. There was an explosion of thoughts and ideas inside of me. I began singing my new songs to the thousands of people I saw in the mirror. And, I played scintillating guitar licks with a broomstick." Hunt grew up in Dayton, Ohio, but traveled to Texas, and then on to Atlanta for school. As a child, he was never one to play with toys, or be involved in the "regular kid thing." And although it seems Hip Hop isn’t an influence, it was prevalent in most of his teen-to-adult life. Jumping into demos trying to pay the bills, landed him with notables like Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, and TLC; which later lead to writing a memorable song for Love Jones’ first single, "Hopeless" (Dionne Farris). Hunt gained a publishing deal and went on to write for Rahsaan Patterson, Cree Summer, and Joi; which sprouted his record deal. Capitol Records eventually caught ear, signing him and allowing listeners to experience his self-titled, debut album - poetically written and professionally delivered. The album offers 12 refreshingly original tracks Van Hunt has found an unimpaired technique to breathe the life back into the music industry. It presents an eclectic recording that’s full of depth, but is also a lighthearted silhouette of what good times with good music can feel like.

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