Ex Reyes

Ex Reyes is the psych-soul sound of Louisiana-raised / Brooklyn-based artist Mikey Freedom Hart. Built on the spark of collaboration, this project is the result of many hours spent with talented friends in unlikely places. As Ex Reyes, Hart deftly uses an eclectic palette of influences—the subliminal sophistication of the Beach Boys, the weirdness of psychedelic-era Temptations, the sonic experimentation of Phil Spektor and Joe Meek, the free freneticism of dancehall, and the oddity of synthesizer-soaked dollar records—blending them into songs about real shit.

As a top-tier session musician, producer, sideman, and collaborator with artists such as Bleachers (Jack Antonoff), Santigold, The Cranberries, Sia, Mike D, Albert Hammond Jr., Adam Green, Sinkane and more, Hart's been inspired by and had the opportunity to work with a formidable musical community. Five years in the making, his debut LP, Punch Talk came together in hotel rooms, storage sheds, and legendary studios all over the world—from Africa to New Orleans, Japan to Scandinavia.

Live, Ex Reyes sounds stretches the molds set by Brian Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, and Prince, with virtuosic musicianship weaving together the hooks, tight vocal harmonies, and a verve for soulful performances, in a way that's unmistakably modern. In May 2016, Ex Reyes released their first single "Bad Timing" with a surreal video shot at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It carries an anti-violence message of acceptance and upon release the song spent a few weeks on Billboard's Viral 50 chart.