‘Footprints’ is a beat-laden, jazzy, lo-fi single from little-known South London producer and vocalist Emil Evans. The comparison to fellow Londoner Tom Misch is unmissable, particularly when you consider more hip-hop leaning tracks like ‘Crazy Dream’. However, it’s by no means a knock to Evan’s chosen style; in fact, it’s a compliment that this fresh 19-year-old talent is already up to the level of an artist like Misch. Turning away from the game of comparisons, let’s talk about ‘Footprints’. Instrumentally, it’s all about those J Dilla-esque beats, laid back strings in varying states of fidelity and some rather clever production. Dipping below the surface on head-nodding, foot-tapping textures and we have a wonderfully symbolic message, “people walk over the pain and the cries, not realise they leave footprints behind.” This moment of realisation that we’re all connected and our actions have far-reaching consequences, many of which we’re not aware of, came after Evans came uncomfortable close to the deadly explosions that happened in Thailand last year. As the producer/vocalist recalls, “I wrote this after I narrowly missed a bomb attack in Thailand last August. My friends who I volunteered with, weren't so lucky and got hit by the blast but thankfully, nobody died. This is for them.” - HT