Braxton Cook

Background and Transitions

When the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Braxton Cook first started working on the album that would become Not Everyone Can Go, his life was going through a number of transitions that he just couldn't ignore. Last year, Cook spent lots of time on the road in Europe and Asia, along with two United States tours. I was just very busy, and trying to juggle that with family, it was a lot to manage, Cook said.

Letting Go and Fatherhood

In a moment of self-reflection, he looked back on the past year, noticed a theme emerging, and came to this conclusion: It was OK to let go of things that weren't serving him any longer. Transitions were natural as he stepped into fatherhood. It was only pushing me more in that direction of understanding, he continued. There's grief that comes along with having to let certain things go to make time for the things I truly value.

Not Everyone Can Go and Musical Identity

One can hear Cook breaking through on Not Everyone Can Go, a mix of jazz and it surprises those who've followed Cook to this point. Across albums like Somewhere In Between, No Doubt and Who Are You When No One Is Watching?, he's made a career of blurring the lines between genres, landing on a sound that isn't one thing, in particular. While that's made his music tough to pin down, that also makes it all the more intriguing. That you can't label it just its attraction.

Collaboration and Instrumental Tracks

The making of the album also represents a breakthrough for Cook. It was the most collaborative process of his career where he further integrated into his musical network in Los Angeles. Vocal features include NNAVY (Weekend) and Marie Dahlstrom (All My Life), and additional producers include Bubele on Bad, Austin Brown of Hablot Brown on We've Come So Far, and bassist Kaveh Ragestar (Kneebody) on All My Life. Musically, he and his bandmates would improvise and let the energy flow however it needed. One can hear this free-flow on the album's instrumental tracks Zodiac, Kingdom Come, My Sun (featuring Elijah Cook), and Josh's Tune.