Presented in partnership with (((folkYEAH!)))

Bassist Pino Palladino (D’Angelo, Nine Inch Nails, Erykah Badu, John Mayer) and guitarist and producer Blake Mills (Alabama Shakes, Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Perfume Genius) reunite with That Wasn’t a Dream, their second collaborative instrumental album that builds on the deep chemistry they first explored on 2021’s Notes With Attachments, expanding it into a meditative, boundary-pushing sonic world. The record blurs lines between composition and improvisation, melody and abstraction. With contrapuntal interplay by sometimes unidentifiable instruments, it’s a project defined by ambiguity, restraint, and the radical beauty of listening closely. Palladino and Mills recorded That Wasn’t a Dream over two months at Los Angeles’ Sound City Studios. The new album has contributions from drummer Chris Dave and saxophonist Sam Gendel.

Pino Palladino

A Grammy-winning bassist and producer, Pino Palladino has been a foundational figure in shaping the sound of modern soul, funk, and rock over the last four decades. Known for his groundbreaking fretless bass work on D’Angelo’s Voodoo and Black Messiah, Palladino has recorded and toured with artists ranging from The Who and Paul Simon to Erykah Badu, Adele, and John Mayer. His melodic phrasing and rhythmic intuition have made him one of the most revered session musicians of our time.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Blake Mills

Blake Mills is a Grammy-winning producer, guitarist, and songwriter whose adventurous solo work and collaborations have continually pushed the boundaries of modern music. From his early days with Simon Dawes to producing Alabama Shakes' Sound & Color and creating immersive works like Mutable Set and Jelly Road, Mills blends technical precision with an experimental edge. His collaborations with Palladino—including 2021’s Notes with Attachments—reveal a deep musical rapport rooted in curiosity and range.

Website | Instagram

Sam Gendel

A fixture of LA’s experimental scene, Sam Gendel is a composer, producer, and saxophonist known for his abstract, genre-blurring approach to jazz and ambient music. His extensive discography includes acclaimed solo work and collaborations with the likes of Louis Cole, Sam Wilkes, Antonia Cytrynowicz, and Palladino & Mills. Gendel’s live performances feel like transmissions from another plane—unexpected, emotive, and deeply textural.

Website

Chris Dave

One of the most influential drummers of his generation, Chris Dave has redefined the language of rhythm through his work with Maxwell, Robert Glasper, D’Angelo, Adele, and countless others. As the founder of the Drumhedz, Dave leads a constellation of players whose futuristic grooves blend funk, gospel, hip-hop, and jazz. Known for his time-bending syncopation and razor-sharp instincts, Dave brings an interstellar intensity to every stage he touches.

Facebook | Instagram