The collaborative spirit of Jameson Distilled Sounds is showing no signs of slowing down thanks to a new track cooked up by Mary Ann Alexander and KP Illest. The pair, who were introduced to each other on the grounds of the whiskey brand’s custom-built Cabu campus in the backwoods of Cavan Town, Ireland, as part of this year’s artistic exchange program, have taken a misplaced love, sprinkled some sonic stardust on it, and turned it into the irresistibly catchy global anthem “Way Back Home.”
Built on the premise of former lovers looking to rekindle the bond they once had, producer KP’s spellbinding Afrobeat backdrop—presumably inspired by the sounds of his home country, Namibia—shimmers like a musical North Star, guiding the song’s protagonists on their quest. Mary Ann’s effervescent vocals then help steer the narrative, her love-drunk words setting a heartfelt tone for the song’s subject matter.
“It’s been real cold outside / We need to reignite the fire / We’ve been walking on thin ice, drifting like the tide / Tell me why you act like you don’t need me anymore / When you look into my eyes you don’t see me anymore,” the Indian R&B singer croons, before cutting to the chorus and asking the all-important question: “Can we find our way back home?”
Following up with some singing of his own, KP then switches gears halfway through, laying down some rap bars, where he cleverly incorporates Jameson into the mix. “So spicy, but that’s how I like my food / I’m drunk on your love and I like the mood / Your kiss is the whiskey I like to choose / Triple distilled, but it’s twice as smooth” he spits, comparing his creative partner and fictional love interest to the sweet taste of the world’s best-selling Irish whiskey.
Accompanied by a vibrant set of visuals, Mary Ann and KP’s love story unfolds within an installation of neon cubes illuminated in Jameson's signature green. The humming fluorescent tubes cast a kinetic, clean glow that perfectly highlights their connection. While Mary Ann starts off alone in the spotlight, after delivering her first verse and the song’s addictive hook, KP, who begins by standing on the sidelines, slides into the scene as smoothly as his effortless lyrics, getting up close and personal with his Distilled Sounds collaborator.
The track’s blissful conclusion is built on a classic R&B call-and-response, a deliberate choice that brings the song's narrative full circle. "I'm an R&B girlie," Mary Ann explained, "so when I got the opportunity to do something with KP, I was like, 'I want to do something where we’re going back and forth.’"
The result is a lyrical exchange that unfolds like an intimate conversation, cementing their shared strength. It begins with KP's steadfast promise, "I’m right here and I'm with you," a line immediately answered by Mary Ann’s tender response, “I’ve got you, if you’ve got me.” This vulnerable back-and-forth deepens as KP confidently declares there’s no way he can lose with her by his side, to which she then beckons him “back home,” transforming their temporary partnership into a permanent, undeniable bond.
Speaking more about the collaboration, KP pointed to Mary Ann’s unwavering commitment to quality control, revealing that it took several rounds of sending beats before they landed on the final backdrop. “She really knows what she wants and she really knows what she doesn’t want,” he explained, admitting that she “wasn’t feeling” some of his earlier suggestions. “When I sent the one she liked, that was it.”
The pair also showed some love to Jameson Distilled Sounds, which, for a second year in a row, brought together artists from around the world for an unforgettable experience charged by collaboration, connection and cultural exchange. Mary Ann described her time in Ireland as “class,” a term she clarified is widely used across Europe to describe excellence.
For KP, the experience was about finding the perfect word for the synergy he felt. “Alchemy! That’s [the word] I was looking for,” he said. “So everything we’re gonna throw in there, it’s definitely gonna tentacle—and it’s going to bang.” It’s fair to say that “Way Back Home” certainly does that.
You can listen to Mary Ann Alexander and KP Illest’s “Way Back Home” above.