Dâm Funk and Nite Jewel’s “Let Me Be Me” Is the Nite-Funk Manifesto

In a recent L.A. Times feature, Ramona Gonzalez (aka Nite Jewel) expressed her general disinterest in collaboration. In particular, she voiced an aversion to working with musicians who don’t have “full confidence or composure with their art.” Given this stipulation, it makes sense she’d still partner with fellow L.A. resident Dâm Funk, an artist who’s never wavered from his devotion to his Modern Funk ethos.

“Let Me Be Me,” from the forthcoming Nite-Funk EP, serves as both a breezy party track and the duo’s manifesto. “You wanna know how far I’ll go,” Jewel coos backed by Funk’s subtle harmonies, “Don’t ask me baby, just come along/Let me be me.” Both artists are singers, songwriters, and producers, and naturally their contributions are each distinctly their own. A smooth Dâm bass line meets swirling vintage pads. Just as Gonzales’ airy vocals take a momentary pause, Funk embarks on one of the soaring keytar solos only he seems to consistently pull off. 

In the seven years since the pair’s initial meet-up, both have pushed deeper into their respective lanes. With Nite-Funk, they continue to find a middle ground without compromising. “Let Me Be Me” works because the pair pull out the best in each other, but it excels because the two are clearly so sure of themselves.

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