Distilled Sounds has wrapped up recording for another year. If you missed it in 2024, Distilled Sounds is the whiskey brand’s music platform, which brings twelve artists from across the world into one studio to write, record and perform original tracks designed for a global audience.
Last year, Anderson .Paak headed over to Cavan, Ireland to sit in the room as a mentor, but for the second iteration of the project, the multi-GRAMMY winner headed things up. He also brought the resources of his own creative house, APESHIT INC., to the project to curate and capture the whole thing.
As someone who was mentored by the likes of Dr. Dre himself, it makes sense that .Paak paid it forward as this year’s ‘Music Distiller’. Looking back at the event, .Paak talks community, the artists currently inspiring him and why his “spidey senses” still guide the best sessions.
You’ve returned to Jameson Distilled Sounds for a second year, bringing together artists from across the globe, which you’ve described as ‘heart over hits.’ What was it about this mix of community and craft that made you want to stay involved?
Community and heart are really at the core of what drives me to make music. That’s why being invited by Jameson to come back for a second year felt so natural. As an artist, it’s rare to be part of a project that resonates with so many different people, so it’s something I truly value.
Distilled Sounds brought artists from totally different worlds into one room. What surprised you most when those sounds started mixing?
The fusion between different countries really surprised me. At first I was like, how are Greece and Kazakhstan gonna collide? But the way it came together ended up going beyond anything I imagined. The final product was on another level.
You’ve explored so many different directions, from the raw honesty of Malibu to the grit of Oxnard, to the soul of Ventura, to the escapism of Silk Sonic. When you’re starting something new, how do you decide which part of yourself to lean into?
I really lean into what I’m feeling in the moment. Each album you mentioned reflects the space I was in when it was created and released. For me, every new project has to capture something genuine I’m experiencing at the time, and I just hope that comes through in the music.
You’re always tuned into what’s next. Is there a track or artist that’s recently made you rethink what music can do?
D’Angelo was a huge influence, and then getting into more modern voices like Frank Ocean, early Kendrick, Jai Paul, J Dilla, they all completely blew my mind. Stevie Wonder ,too, of course. With those artists, it was always two things: I couldn’t stop listening, and at the same time I felt like, I need to step up — I’ve got something I want to say, too. That inspiration pushed me. It’s exciting to hear how people keep finding new ways to approach R&B and soul. James Blake is another one — just incredible.”
You’re mentoring a new wave of incredible talent. What are you learning from the process? Has anything surprised you creatively along the way?
Mentoring a new wave of talent has been eye-opening. You start to see creativity from fresh perspectives, and it reminds me of the excitement of discovery when I was first making music. What’s surprised me most is how fearless some of these artists are. The risks they take push me to think differently and experiment in ways I wouldn’t have on my own.
What does a good session actually feel like for you. When do you know something special is happening? And has there been a moment that caught you off guard and stayed with you during the Jameson Distilled Sounds process?
The feeling is honestly hard to describe – it’s less of a feeling and more of a knowing. I’ve been making music pretty much my whole life, so when something good comes out of a session, I can sense it. It’s like my spidey senses start tingling. And then I really know it’s good when I get the stamp of approval from my board of women. At Jameson Distilled Sounds, a big moment for me was when the artists remixed my track ‘Come Home’ featuring André 3000. I gave them the stems and split them into groups with different genres: country, ATL rap, folk, punk rock and more. They only had about thirty minutes, which felt wild, but hearing all the different ways it could be broken down, and then hearing each group put their own spin on it within the genre they were assigned — that was something special.”
Your film K-Pops! premieres at TIFF and Tribeca, and now it’s tied for release in 2026. As writer, director, star and soundtrack architect, what did it feel like to share that story on your own terms, blending music, family, visuals, and comedy?
It was amazing. K-Pops! had always been something I wanted to do, and it really felt like a passion project because it tied into so many of my other hobbies. Having my son involved in the whole process made it even more special.
Your second NxWorries album Why Lawd? dropped last year and just won a Grammy. With your North American headline tour on the way, how does stepping out with this album feel different from touring solo? What kind of energy are you anticipating for this chapter?
Ayyye! Me and Knxwledge are locked in — that’s really family for me. Touring with him is always such a pleasure, and the way we bounce off each other creates something special on stage. As for what that energy looks like… you’ll just have to keep an eye out and stay tuned.
- WriterCherelle Chambers
