Making the list of ‘Collaborations We Never Thought We’d See Happen Ever’, today Willow Smith has released her latest track, twentyfortyeight 2.0, which features none other than Michael Cera as producer. Cera, who released his own album of home-made recordings lo-fi tracks True That back in 2014, is no stranger to recording music, but this takes it to a very new level. Followers of Smith’s Twitter may have guessed the collaboration was on the way with a tweet about Cera’s beauty, and Youth In Revolt – a 2009 film Cera starred in – just last week.
Michael Cera is extremely beautiful.
— Willy (@OfficialWillow) May 12, 2016
Youth In Revolt
— Willy (@OfficialWillow) May 12, 2016
twentyfortyeight 2.0 isn’t too far from what Cera has done before, with dreamy piano sounds, folk style percussion and building vocal harmonies coming together to make something which (sorry to say this Michael), sounds like it belongs on the soundtrack for Juno. Willow floats all over the top with a spoken verse, touching on the sadness the universe feels towards “a society that runs on the backs of those that choose to victimise.” It’s pretty in line with Willow’s recent work, which includes her album ARDIPITHECUS which released towards the end of last year. It’s all very ethereal and spiritual, and she seems to be developing her own sound more and more.
The music world definitely wouldn’t say no to more Michael Cera. Aside from the group that no doubt appreciated his album, he’s a character and a half, and lord knows that the music industry doesn’t have enough of them (lol). As for Willow, she’s working with more big names as time goes on, with recent rumours she was set to feature on Drake‘s VIEWS, no doubt we’ll be seeing plenty of her.
Image: Jack Colquhoun for Howl & Echoes