Bonneville Soars on Dreamy, Funk-Infused Soul Single 'Flying Machine'

Retro-soul duo Bonneville returns with “Flying Machine,” the title track from their upcoming sophomore album, and it’s a luminous, genre-bending step forward for the Southern-rooted trailblazers. Best known for their warm, groove-rich blend of classic soul and funk, Bonneville now fuses those foundational sounds with electronic textures, post-disco polish, and poetic depth, crafting a track that’s as danceable as it is emotionally stirring.

Written by guitarist and co-producer Jeff Hayashi after witnessing his young son mesmerised by the moon, “Flying Machine” captures a fleeting yet powerful emotion: the innocent awe of childhood imagination colliding with the grounded reality of adult life. That tension fuels the song’s rich instrumentation — airy synths, elastic basslines, live drums, and Hayashi’s sharp guitar work — all floating in a post-disco dreamscape reminiscent of Jamiroquai, Cymande, and Stevie Wonder.

Wes McGee’s lead vocals are the emotional core of the song, shifting from wistful and tender to impassioned and raw as the track crescendos. “We can rise higher than what we are,” McGee says of the song’s message — and that ethos runs deep in both his vocal delivery and the track’s soaring production. His phrasing channels the hope of possibility while acknowledging the ache of distance between who we are and who we want to become.

At the helm of the song’s production is GRAMMY® Award-winner Starita, who masterfully weaves vintage grooves with modern sonic elements. Live instrumentation meets synth-forward layers, creating a hybrid of classic soul and futuristic funk. “Flying Machine” is a study in balance — between analog and digital, past and future, groundedness and flight.

“We were going for a classic-meets-the-future sort of vibe,” says Starita. “The blend of synths and a live rhythm section allowed us to create something timeless.”

For a band whose debut album earned praise for its authenticity and reverence for soul’s golden age, “Flying Machine” signals evolution. It’s a coming-of-age anthem that doesn’t just celebrate nostalgia — it dares to move beyond it. This is not just a song about flight, but about transformation, aspiration, and the permission to dream big — even when the world tries to pull you back down.

With “Flying Machine,” Bonneville doesn’t just revisit retro — they redefine it. The track is a dazzling fusion of groove and grit, heart and innovation, proving that music rooted in the past can still lead us boldly into the future.

Their sophomore album is on the horizon, but with this single alone, Bonneville has already taken off.