Canadian artist and producer Fredy V. and his powerhouse band The Foundation are back, unleashing their ‘modern funk’ meets ‘classic throwback’ NEW single, “One Step.”
The song holds a strong message, and lands ahead of Fredy V. & The Foundation’s forthcoming EP, One Step — set for release on October 30, 2020.
“It’s got a nostalgic mood while still remaining relevant through its lyrics,” Fredy V. says about “One Step.” “There’s an empowering message in there, too — the importance of taking a leap of faith towards your purpose.
“It’s an anthem for aspiring performers, creatives, and entrepreneurs.”
The notion directly aligns with the group’s initiative to produce the EP in the first place, he adds; in the spirit of the single, Fredy V. & The Foundation have partnered with the Montreal-area Dynastie Sports Institute — aka not your average basketball academy.
“Dynastie are dedicated to recruiting and developing high-level French-speaking talent from countries like Congo, Guinea, France, and Ivory Coast with the goal of ushering the next wave of NBA players out of Quebec,” Fredy explains. “The journey of an aspiring professional basketball player and the come up of independent artists are very similar in numerous ways; there’s lots of crossover in the goals, including ownership, entrepreneurship, positive media relations, and a mission to improve their respective communities.”
In honour of the partnership, Fredy V. & The Foundation and Dynastie Sports Institute have developed the #OneStepMission, a promise between the two ‘teams’ to take at least ‘one step’ towards their goals, their dreams, and their ‘why.’ The song’s video was shot at the Institute and features the ’20-’21 roster, and a documentary detailing the unique journey of Dynastie and its players is in the works.
As for looking ahead to the album, “we got some for everybody!” Fredy enthuses.
From his breakthrough solo release, 2017’s #ItTakesAVillage, to weekly appearances as CBC / Radio-Canada Les Poilus’ house band, to performing at the Montreal Jazz Fest and Cape Verde’s Atlantic Music Expo, and more, Fredy V. continues to bridge the gap between his North American and West African cultures through a now-signature funk, Afro-pop and R&B sound.
For their intrinsic part, The Foundation are a group of highly skilled, ‘first call’ musicians known for playing with the world’s top r&b, hip hop, funk, gospel and jazz acts. After gaining collective experience from producing and performing for a national TV show aired weekly, the group used their momentum and for the first time began creating new music together.
