Gilles Peterson hand picks a number of producers close to his heart to
rework tracks from STR4TA’s sophomore LP STR4TASFEAR. The compilation
features brand new reworks from the likes of up-and-coming London
producer Wallace, who has been setting the city alight recently with a
string of releases and appearances with the formidable Rhythm Section,
and old heads like STR4TA’s very own Bluey. Also included are some
previously released remixes from Demus and Ruf Dug to make the package
complete.
While STR4TA is fundamentally a live music project it has always had one
foot firmly in the club. The history of Brit-Funk and Rare Groove has
always evolved in tandem with the way electronic dance music has
developed in the UK. It is woven into the DNA of the band - through
Gilles Peterson’s early work with Acid Jazz and Talkin’ Loud and Bluey’s
forays into club culture with Incognito. These remixes display that DNA
front and centre, turning STR4TA’s songs into bass heavy club cuts
while retaining that quintessential Brit-Funk flavour.
Tracklist: 1. Lazy Days (Wallace Remix) 2. To Be As One (Venom Remix) 3. Lazy Days (Bluey Remix) 4. City Sounds (Demus Dub) 5. Why Must You Fly (Demus Dub) 6. Turn Me Around (Demus Dub) 7. To Be As One (Classical Re Edit) 8. Lazy Days (Ruf Dug Rework)
‘Tru Thoughts 2022’ is the latest instalment from our annual compilation
series. Curated by A&R, DJ and co-founder Robert Luis, the 32-track
digital comp celebrates the best of the wide-ranging, diverse, and
international roster. Selections span from Neo-Soul, Alternative Pop,
Jazz and Contemporary Classical to Grime, Broken Beat, DnB and
Electronica.
“When compiling our end of year release, it always gives me a chance to
look back over the year we’ve had at Tru Thoughts and the artists we’ve
worked with. We are an eclectic label, which reflects my own personal
taste in music. In an era with a vast amount of music available, I
always feel these compilations are a good way to remind people of the
quality releases from the last 12 months. In a world after lockdown and
with the UK music industry still dealing with the negative consequences
of Brexit, this compilation highlights the creative strength and power
of the artists on the Tru Thoughts roster; and, I feel, the wider world
of artists and labels too” Robert Luis
We also have a Tru Thoughts 2022 T-shirt available alongside the compilation, check it out via Everpress everpress.com/tru-thoughts-compilation-2022 T-shirts can be ordered up until the 5th Dec, with shipping in time for Christmas.
Highlighted as the compilation’s focus track, ‘Tru Thoughts 2022’
features “The Sky Sings feat. Layla Moallem, Jasmin Moallem &
KerenDun (Obas Nenor’s Dub) (Radio Edit)”; an exclusive edit of the
hugely celebrated dub taken from Sefi Zisling’s “Welcome Sunset” EP.
Renowned for creating music using a unique blend of rare vintage
instruments and sounds, Tel Aviv producer and DJ Obas Nenor condenses
the hypnotic groove of his original 11-minute remix into an impeccable
radio edit. As Robert Luis adds, “it has been going down well in many DJ
sets (including my own), but on this compilation we have a nice edit of
the remix to highlight the vibe of the song”.
‘Tru Thoughts 2022’ boasts an incredible selection of burgeoning talent
who have signed to Tru Thoughts this year. The debut single from
Bristol-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, artist, and songwriter
Slowe sits alongside the surreal and experimental sounds of Sharky’s
smutty love song “Shark”, taken from her album ‘People Are Strange’.
Glasgow-based musician, producer, DJ and curator Rebecca Vasmant works
with Nadya Albertsson on “Broken Biscuits” taken from her “Dance
Yourself Free” EP. Renowned songstress Karolina collaborates with Jenny
Penkin on “Ready For Juju” (taken from ‘All Rivers’) and London-based
Irish producer Cian McCaan AKA Zero T introduces his new alias - Bruk
Rogers – on “LDN 133” and revisits his Zero T DnB sound on his remix of
Nottingham Soul duo MELONYX’s “Energy”.
Amongst these debut releases and new signings sit offerings from
established members of the Tru Thoughts roster. LA-based trio Moonchild
present “Tell Him feat. Lalah Hathaway”, as previously featured on the
BBC 6Music playlist, taken from ‘Starfruit’. Released at the beginning
of 2022, the LP received international praise from the likes of
Pitchfork, Exclaim!, NME, NPR, Billboard and more. Duos Nikitch &
Kuna Maze and Rabii Harnoune & V.B.Kühl showcase their respective
Bruk-Jazz and Moroccan Gnawa-Electronic fusion sounds on their sophomore
albums, while Hidden Orchestra revisit ‘Archipelago’ on its tenth
anniversary with the special ‘Archipelago: Source Materials’.
The collaborative spirit of Tru Thoughts continues to bubble through
‘Tru Thoughts 2022’. Producer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and
composer Sly5thAve celebrates the spirit of Mexico City with pianist and
producer Roberto Verástegui on “Agua de Jamaica” and the intersection
of Jazz and Hip Hop with MC JSWISS on “Somebody’s Gotta Do It”. West
London’s producer, DJ and Broken Beat revivalist WheelUP teams up More
Time Records co-founder Sam Interface on collaborative riddim
“Copacetic”; Future Soul and Electronica duo Anushka offer up “4AM” - an
iconic project with Kraftwerk’s legendary Wolfgang Flür; and
Brighton-based Jazz quintet Ebi Soda work with Yazz Ahmed on “Chandler”.
Remixes are plentiful with Gilles Peterson and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick
AKA STR4TA bringing their iconic Brit-funk style to Anushka’s “Bad
Weather”, while the prolific and widely praised Shy One homes in on
Aurora Dee Raynes’ “Good For You”. Broken Beat touches come from Bugz in
the Attic member Daz-I-Kue delivering an anthemic remix of WheelUP’s
“Fusion” and producer and multi-instrumentalist Hemai putting his own
signature blend of live instrumentation and Bruk-heavy flavour on
label-mate Sly5thAve’s “C-Side feat. Denitia”. Demonstrating the
eclecticism of the label, further remixes come from Hinako Omori
(Anchorsong) and Renegates of Jazz (sUb_modU).
Tracklist: 1. Moonchild - Tell Him 2. Slowe - WYLTK 3. Sharky - Shark 4. Sly5thAve - Agua de Jamaica 5. Karolina - Ready For Juju 6. Sefi Zisling - The Sky Sings (Obas Nenor's Dub (Edit)) 7. Luman Child - Grateful 8. Anushka - Bad Weather (STR4TA Remix (Radio Edit)) 9. Rebecca Vasmant - Broken Biscuits 10. Aurora Dee Raynes - Good For You (Shy One Remix) 11. Jonny Faith - Came To Spray 12. WheelUP - Fusion (Daz-I-Kue Remix) 13. Nikitch - La Di F... Da 14. zero dB - A Pomba Girou (Austin Ato Remix) 15. WheelUP - Copacetic 16. Bruk Rogers - LDN 313 17. Yazz Ahmed - Chandler 18. Think Tonk - All My Weakness 19. Melonyx - Energy (Zero T Remix) (Radio Edit) 20. Jay Darkside - Follow We 21. Crafty 893 - Boot It (Radio Edit) 22. Biggabush - Black Swan Revival 23. Anchorsong - New World (Hinako Omori Remix) 24. Hidden Orchestra - X. Disquiet (Harps) 25. Tiawa - Be Fine 26. Rhi - Craving Your Love 27. Palm Skin Productions - Rule of 12ths 28. Sly5thAve - Somebody's Gotta Do It 29. Rabii Harnoune - Samaoui 30. sUb_modU - All Around (Renegades Of Jazz Remix) 31. Anushka - 4AM 32. Hemai - C-Side (Hemai Remix)
Welcome to 'STR4TASFEAR’, Gilles Peterson and Jean Paul “Bluey”
Maunick’s sophomore STR4TA album. A collection of songs, melodies,
grooves and sounds that sit perfectly in the brand new music world it’s
part of. Gilles and Bluey are both men who emerged into the Brit-funk
world. They were both part of this truly thrilling chapter in the story
of homegrown music; which manifests itself here in a sumptuous mixture
of twanging basslines, spacey synth melodies, clicking beats and wispy,
ethereal voices. 'STR4TASFEAR’ is available on digital, CD & 12"
vinyl LP formats with a special edition white 12" LP on 11th November
2022 released via Brownswood Recordings.
For this new set, they’ve got a few like-minded souls along to join the
party, connecting legacy with a new generation of innovators on the
music scene. As a core concept of the album, nostalgic reflection meets a
pivotal desire to celebrate the present moment, expressed through key
features on the record. Namely, multi-talented neo soul Godfather Omar,
who in a shock plot twist, was enlisted to lay down his intricate wonky
synth lines on ‘Why Must You Fly’. The legacy family collaborations
ensue with celebrated vocalist, Valerie Etienne, on ‘Find Your Bounce’
co-written by Rob Gallagher (Galliano, Talkin’ Loud) emulating Brit-funk’s first wave.
Extending the family, catapulting STR4TA to a cosmic contemporary plane,
is free-spirited musical polymath, Emma-Jean Thackray laying down her
refreshing, breathy vocals and production acumen on ‘Lazy Days’. Also
welcomed into the fold and garnering the admiration of Gilles and Bluey
over his illustrious career, is Floridian trumpeter/vocalist Theo
Croker, who breezed into the jam-style studio session encapsulating the
innovation of future jazz with the soulfulness of a bygone era on
‘Soothsayer’ and ‘To Be As One’. Representing the dynamic US influences
from the birth of Brit-funk and the current surge of multifaceted,
jazz-trained artists exploring unchartered soundscapes. Plus Brighton
duo Anushka, jump on ‘Bad Weather’, whose melting electronica sound
gleefully displays its roots from that aforementioned era.
The epicentre of 'STR4TASFEAR’ still remains the ‘meeting of minds’ and
treasured friendship between the band’s founders, a solid production duo
whose clearly defined roles compliment and inspire each other. Gilles
Peterson as executive producer, sonically enriching the production
process with his extensive and encyclopaedic knowledge from Brit-funk
and Electro-soul of the late 70s/ early 80s to ushering in a new wave of
musicians over his esteemed career as a DJ, label owner and
broadcaster. Feeding the creative flow of highly acclaimed musician and
producer Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick who in record-time, single-handedly
produced ‘Night Flight’ following one of their inspirational sessions
characterised by the TR808 drum machine. With the invaluable
contribution of Mo Hausler, an instrumental figure in completing the
soundscape of the album. The vision was finessed by the magic touch of
legendary keys/piano player Peter Hinds (Atmosfear, Light of The World,
Incognito), appearing throughout the record, and is at the pinnacle of
paying homage to the incredible pioneering work of bands such as
SunPalace & Freeez, paving the way of UK electro-soul for artists
like Total Contrast & Stephen Dante (produced by Bluey in the
mid-80s). This sound is now being revived by contemporary producers like
Dâm-Funk, Zopelar & Space Ghost to name a few.
STR4TA is the new wave jazz funk project pioneered by Gilles Peterson
and Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick. Long-time friends and collaborators,
STR4TA sees them mine new musical possibilities inspired by a shared
formative era. Their debut album ‘Aspects’ was released in March 2021 to
a rapturous reception, in the first material that Maunick and Peterson
have released together in over a decade. With standout tracks ‘We Like
It’ achieving over 1 million streams on Spotify, ‘Rhythm In Your Mind’
exceeding 12 weeks on Jazz FM’s playlist, and a remix EP featuring Melé,
Dave Lee, Greg Wilson, Dave Aju & more released at the end of 2021.
Heavily supported by BBC 6Music, The Guardian, Wax Poetics, The Vinyl
Factory, CLASH, Télérama (FR), Radio Nova (FR), KCRW (US), Rolling
Stones Italy & Japan. STR4TA have performed electrifying live shows
at We Out Here (UK), Primavera Sound (Spain) and headline show at The
Jazz Cafe, London.
STR4TA’s second studio album ‘STR4TASFEAR’ is released on digital, CD
& 12" LP formats with a special edition white 12" LP on 11th
November 2022 via Brownswood Recordings.
Tracklist: 1. Galactic Fanfare 2. City Sounds 3. Turn Me Around 4. When You Call Me 5. Why Must You Fly (feat. Omar) 6. To Be As One (feat. Theo Croker) 7. (Bring On The) Bad Weather [feat. Anushka] 8. Reflections (Chaser 1) 9. Night Flight 10. Soothsayer (feat. Theo Croker) 11. Reflections (Chaser 2) 12. Lazy Days (feat. Emma-Jean Thackray) 13. Find Your Heaven (feat. Valerie Etienne) 14. Virgil (Vocal Version) 15. Something, Anything
