Every week, Milwaukee Music Premiere connects the city’s artists with our listening audience. If you’re an artist with a track you’d like us to debut exclusively on Radio Milwaukee, head over to our Music Submission page to learn how.
“Never get comfortable,” Vincent Van Great advises on “Star Track,” a forward-moving jam from his solo debut record, Ladies Please, due out Friday.
Van Great says that this song in particular is an anthem for “those who refuse to settle and are committed to chasing their dreams.” The song’s big heart and soul are immediately present on first listen and Van Great underlines, “I wanted to create something that would encourage people to pursue their dreams relentlessly. I've learned that life is a journey and 'Star Track' is a reminder that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.”
The song’s strong-yet-gentle message is bolstered by on-point percussion and grooves, piano and the swingin’ strings and beautiful voices of Chauntee and Monique Ross of SistaStrings. “Star Track” comes off as the ultimate collaboration between the two artists — the emotive beauty of SistaStrings meets the positive and authoritative artistry of Van Great. Van Great shares, “SistaStrings has played with my backing band at several live performances that I've had in the past but working with them in the studio with Charley Cooks was a different kind of special. They added strings and additional vocals to the record. They are so talented and brilliant and I am so honored that I had to the opportunity to work closely with them on this song (and album). I am so proud of all the things they have and will continue to accomplish.”
Van Great has built his own skills (as a singer, rapper and producer) over the years, getting started in the church and dipping into making beats for rappers while still in high school, eventually venturing off to make his own recognizable brand of hip-hop, R&B and soul. On Ladies Please, Van Great sprinkles a little pop on top with the help of guests such as Milwaukee’s Klassik, Genesis Renji, Paper Holland and Amanda Huff, all backed by his excellent band, Ninja Sauce. And even though this is Van Great’s debut full-length, his collaborations with prominent Milwaukee collectives and artists like SAFS crew, Dana Coppa and Amanda Huff over the years and opening up for sets from national touring artists like Ludacris, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Lupe Fiasco and Eric Andre put him on the map well before. We look forward to seeing where Ladies Please takes him next.
You can listen to "Star Track" by tapping "LISTEN" at the top of this story and hear it as part of the 88Nine playlist over the air and streaming on the website, as well as our mobile app.
