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Rihanna Collaborator Kevin Hussein Enlists Machinedrum for New Cyborg R&B Single

"The inspiration behind the lyrics is about the energies being exchanged and the connection of bodies, which includes the heart."
Photo courtesy of the artist

Brooklyn crooner and songwriter Kevin Hussein, has tapped Berlin producer and recent D∆WN-collaborator Machinedrum for a new collaboration, "Body," off his forthcoming debut project, Cybersex. The track is a bright and metallic exploration of what the artist calls "cybersoul," making the most of Machinedrum's woozily lush synths and languorous 808s with a slow-rolling, cyborg R&B ode to lust.

Hussein gave THUMP some backstory for his take on the track's theme via email: "The inspiration behind the lyrics is about the energies being exchanged and the connection of bodies, which includes the heart," he explained. "So it's never just a fuck, it's always more whether we want to accept it or not." Speaking to the collaborative process with Machinedrum, he said, "Our musical chemistry is effortless because we let each other have total creative freedom."

Machinedrum also chimed in, offering: "We didn't make the track together in person, so the chemistry was left to purely how the lyrics and vocal delivery felt when I first heard them," he said. "We more or less made the track in a remix with the vocals being recorded before the beat, which I love doing. The lyrics definitely inspired the production. I wanted to make something delicate but powerful."

This track follows previous work with the likes of Rihanna, Kid Kudi, RZA, and more, as well as a recent single with fellow New Yorker Azealia Banks, "In Town." The release of Cybersex is still TBD, but will likely arrive before April.

Brooklyn crooner and songwriter Kevin Hussein, has tapped Berlin producer and recent D∆WN-collaborator Machinedrum for a new collaboration, "Body," off his forthcoming debut project, Cybersex. The track is a bright and metallic exploration of what the artist calls "cybersoul," making the most of Machinedrum's woozily lush synths and languorous 808s with a slow-rolling, cyborg R&B ode to lust.

Hussein gave THUMP some backstory for his take on the track's theme via email: "The inspiration behind the lyrics is about the energies being exchanged and the connection of bodies, which includes the heart," he explained. "So it's never just a fuck, it's always more whether we want to accept it or not." Speaking to the collaborative process with Machinedrum, he said, "Our musical chemistry is effortless because we let each other have total creative freedom."

Machinedrum also chimed in, offering: "We didn't make the track together in person, so the chemistry was left to purely how the lyrics and vocal delivery felt when I first heard them," he said. "We more or less made the track in a remix with the vocals being recorded before the beat, which I love doing. The lyrics definitely inspired the production. I wanted to make something delicate but powerful."

This track follows previous work with the likes of Rihanna, Kid Kudi, RZA, and more, as well as a recent single with fellow New Yorker Azealia Banks, "In Town." The release of Cybersex is still TBD, but will likely arrive before April.

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