The O’My’s are an inter-cultural, interfaith, inter-racial, intra-neighborhood Chicago band, fronted by Maceo Haymes and Nick Hennessey, who have been making new soul music for the last fifteen years, that harkens to the golden era of the city’s great balladeers like Curtis Mayfield and Sam Cooke.
Their sound is reminiscent of those eras but updated through hip hop production aesthetics and sensibilities.
Soul music, is liminal in its nature, trying to hold together a space between the sacred and secular: like the aleph, and more than a cross, or cross to bear, or cross over; when those who are closing the bars and late night loft parties, Saturday night, would wave good morning to the folks getting to church early Sunday.
This music is some of what Thomas Dorsey blended in the basement of Pilgrim Baptist Church, trying to take the energy and allure of popular music and infuse it into the sanctity of what might sway churchgoers. Though The O’My’s firmly come down on the side of the secular, there are also many deep, resonate connections to faith and gospel in their discography.
On their new album, Trust the Stars, there is a sense of hope and perseverance that echoes in holy texts and sacred songs.
This ten-track album comes at a time of the year, and a time in our history, where we might need a little encouragement to continue. This is their fourth full length studio album, and with it, a sense of maturation and wisdom that mirrors some of their experience in a treacherous music industry, as well as personal development and growth as artists and men.
They are now husbands and, in Maceo’s case, a father. The songs have a sort of hard-fought wisdom, that comes from working hard in a city of hard workers.
Trust the Stars has a grit and majesty that can keep us feeling seen, motivated and warm during cold and dark times. Stand-out tracks like “Intro”, “LA Tango” and the stripped-down acoustic “Feet Off Ground”, are would-be anthems for workers trying to make it to the holidays and have something left over to celebrate.
The O’My’s brand of soul music is a salve to put on Sunday mornings for a deep cleaning of the house and/or spirit, or to throw on in the car to get you through traffic, or the long haul of a crowded bus or train car.
This music is perfect for the dimly lit dive bar and as well as something you can play for a parent or child before dinnertime.
This is music for the soul that might have you trusting, and elevating, the star that is within.
We were able to sit with Maceo and Nick before their album release party at The Metro in Chicago on November 27 and you can stream the album now here.
