jade tree
I produce instrumental hip hop rooted in old-school rhythms — thick drums, soulful samples, and ambient textures captured on walks through San Francisco.
jade tree is the instrumental alias of Canadian-born, San Francisco–based artist Cara Best. With roots in songwriting, sound design, and psychotherapy, she crafts vibey melodies, field recordings, and thick drums into warm, cinematic grooves. Working in Ableton Live with the Push 2, or MPC One, and SP-404, she layers organic textures captured on a Zoom H5 to create a distinct, analog-inspired sound that sits between chillhop, lo-fi hip hop, and jazzy boom bap.As a Tracklib and LANDR sound pack supplier, she expands her creative world by sharing the same textures and tones that shape her beats.
Style & Influences
jade tree blends lo-fi hip hop, boom bap, and chillhop with analog textures and soulful layers. Influenced by producers like Marco Polo, sweeps, J Dilla, and MF DOOM, she crafts immersive soundscapes using samples, field recordings, and processed textures.Armed with a Zoom H5, she captures and sculpts audio, from birdsong and crosswalks to conversations and distant foghorns, especially from her walks around San Francisco. These sounds often become part of her rhythm section or layered textures, giving each beat a sense of time and place.
jade tree Live - Radio Show
Hosted on Substack, 'jade tree Live' is a radio-style podcast that blends her own beats with curated
tracks from fellow artists. Each episode offers a laid-back, soulful listening experience like a warm
hangout in sound.
Sync Licensing
jade tree’s music is available for sync and custom creative work. I take on commissioned projects such as personalized sample packs, podcast theme music, and exclusive beats, shaping each one to match the tone and story you need.
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