About this item

Estar (the Spanish for ‘to be’) refers to where someone is at - physically or mentally - at a specific moment. In truth, ‘E s t a r a’ (the spaces are intentional) takes its name from the house where much of the record was created, so it’s the perfect title for the second full-length album from Mtendere Mandowa, better known as Los Angeles-based producer Teebs, as he is right now.

‘E s t a r a’ finds Teebs returning to Flying Lotus’ genre-bending Brainfeeder imprint, following 2011’s ‘Collections01’ and 2010’s full-length ‘Ardour’, an effort that came together in the midst of personal turmoil and the death of his father. In contrast, ‘E s t a r a’ encapsulates a time when the producer (and painter) has been making art entirely on his own terms. That freedom has not only strengthened his creative voice, but led to some of the finest work of his career and a remarkable album in its own right, featuring Prefuse 73 (Warp / Sons Of The Morning), Lars Hornveth (Ninja Tune, Jaga Jazzist), Jonti (Stones Throw) and Populous.