Los Angeles soul man Cliff Beach sings with a voice both plaintive and uplifting. His debut full-length from 2017, The Gospel According to Cliff Beach, served as immediately arresting, both joyful and bittersweet.
A voting member of NARAS, a songwriter and publisher with BMI, and an award-winning member of Toastmasters International, the Berklee-trained singer/songwriter/keyboardist and DC native has created a style of music he coins “Nu-funk”. In his fifteen years as a writer, Beach has won two Silver Medal Global Music Awards, and been nominated for three LA Music Awards, one Hollywood Music in Media Award, and one Independent Music Award.
The Gospel According to Cliff Beach pays tribute to his roots in Gospel music. The album brought to him his nomination for an Independent Music Award for “Best Funk / Fusion /Jam” category and a Global Music Award win.
Beach was born into a family with strong musical roots, grew up playing in the church and sang regularly at home to entertain members of his family. His musical journey flourished once he ventured from his home town of Washington, DC to attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. After graduating in 2002, he relocated and set his sights on conquering Los Angeles with his band, The Moon Crickets. The group released two independent albums; a self-titled debut LP 2006 followed by The Moon Crickets: Live at Universal City Walk in 2007.
The group quickly disbanded in late 2007, and at that time Beach embarked on a series of tours on Holland America Cruise Lines. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he refocused his energy on playing solo shows, doing some studio recordings and hosting writing sessions with other local artists and producers. In 2013 Beach released a solo EP, Who the Funk is Cliff Beach? mastered by good friend Peter Rocks (Of Montreal, Lupe Fiasco),
Glide is proud to premiere the Beach’s new single “Movin’ On” (below) a track of sublime orchestrated funk that serves as both inspirational and danceable. Cliff Beach deftly delivers high energy soul for the festival masses and/or the NOLO shake rattle and roll dance/jazz club scene.
“I was turned on to Killion Sound by way of Terry at Colemine Records, who sent me a mix-tape featuring a track by the Monophonics “Like Yesterday” recorded there, and upon hearing the vibe I knew that studio was where I should record ‘Movin’ On,’ says Beach. “I have been a long time fan of Sergio Rios and Orgone in LA. This song is a continuation of an idea from “Let Me Down” from my Who the Funk Is Cliff Beach ? EP released in 2013, where the same female love interest at the time was doing me wrong, and so I wrote an ode to bad relationships. I am sucker for punishment, never leaving a bad situation soon enough, but when I have had enough, I leave with a bang. This song has some tongue and cheek humor, and a solid rhythm section groove, compelling vocal, and upbeat horn riff. It is my first time debuting a female duet, and I was so fortunate to have Alex Nester from the (funk/hip-hop group) Urban Renewal Project to guest vocal on this hot new single with me.”
