Louisville’s music landscape just leveled up with the release of Smoketown, the newest project from multi-genre artist and instrumentalist Kes Lutes.

While his name might already ring bells among industry insiders—thanks to an impressive resume playing for artists like Monica, Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Latto, 50 Cent, Masego, Fantasia, and Glorilla—Kes is now shifting focus toward his own creative vision. His journey started young, cutting his teeth in local music circles before taking off on national tours at just 16. Those years on the road shaped not only his technical skill but also a sharp sense for what moves crowds. Over time, he built a career working in the studio and on stage across hip-hop, R&B, pop, and gospel, showing up on everything from the BET Awards to iHeartRadio stages. Behind the scenes, though, Kes had always been developing his own sound, carving space for something more personal—and now, that sound has a name.

Smoketown is more than just a title—it’s where life started to take a new shape for Kes. Named after the Louisville neighborhood where he and his wife bought their first home, the album is a nod to the streets and moments that influenced his most inspired writing. There’s a sense of rootedness here, but not one that feels confined; instead, it adds weight and direction to the sonic storytelling. Drawing influence from modern innovators like Snarky Puppy, Dirty Loops, Eric Gales, Cory Wong, and Animals As Leaders, the record leans hard into lush instrumentation, head-nodding grooves, and textured arrangements. One of the standout tracks, “Light It Up,” showcases Kaleb Wharton on drums and percussion, Curtis Jones II on bass, Adrian Forbes on auxiliary keys and piano, and Titus Robertson on organ. Another highlight, “Take Flight,” features the same rhythm duo of Wharton and Jones, with keys split between Forbes and Robertson, and Robertson also handling the organ. Louisville-based producer Steven Anto mixed and mastered the album, giving each track a cohesive, high-fidelity sound that elevates the project’s musical clarity and punch.

This is the first official release from Kes’s solo efforts in nearly three years, following his 2022 single “Pragmatic.” That track hinted at the stylistic direction he was heading—tight arrangements, soaring solos, and fusion-esque sensibilities—but Smoketown delivers it at full scale. The songs coalesce with intention, shaped by years of playing, listening, and understanding what makes music resonate. The connection comes through in the detail, not in any attempt to impress. The entire body of work carries a sense of movement that feels deliberately mapped out, and it’s clear that an immense amount of thought went into its composition. Part of that cohesion and signature sound has been led by his Vola OZ JRM, which is featured heavily in the lead portions of his new record. Smoketown stands as a sharp and confident release from someone who’s spent years behind the scenes and is now stepping forward with music that speaks on its own terms.

Get ready to take musical ride, you can listen to "Smoketown" in its entirety HERE.