Comment Tu T'appelles?

How would a Loyle Carner and Kaytranada collab sound like? I've got the answer to that.

19-year-old rapper, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Cotton unveil his debut EP Afters At 109 with a captivating and multi-layered focus track titled "Comment Tu T’appelles?" which immediately caught my attention. I find it quite interesting how effortless the breezy piano melodies in the background are juxtaposed with the forward-thinking lo-fi house beat. All that is rather unusual for a beat on a hip-hop record where I tend to listen to a lot more laid-back vibes. The tune is a snapshot of student life: youthful love, lust, and partying along with observations of the ordinary life that slides alongside the big moments, from the local shopkeeper to late-night cabs. While the student life feels very far away, lyrically and thematically this feels relatable.

I had the pleasure to listen to the whole EP and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something refreshing when it comes to hip hop.

Sam says, “I haven’t heard much jazz piano on house songs so thought this would be quite an intuitive and a good idea - and boy it was! The piano adds to the sexy/chill mood, somewhere in-between jazz bar and dance club. Someone said it was like walking down the beach at sunset and then entering a beachside bar halfway through.”

The record captures Sam's experiences in his university halls, which served as both his bedroom and recording studio for this EP. After parties and club nights, friends and acquaintances would gather there, extending the celebrations into the early hours. Amidst the haze of smoke and occasional late-night films, Sam beautifully captures these vivid and intimate moments throughout Afters At 109.