muva of Earth - align with Nature's Intelligence

A spiritual soul inspired by nature, life and her experience living as an Afrikan woman, listening to muva of Earth is like planting your feet in rich warm soil; blending spiritual mantras and conscious lyricism, her music fusing afro-futurism, jazz, classical and more is truly transformative. Today, muva of Earth returns to announce her forthcoming debut project align with Nature’s Intelligence out 15th September via Brownswood Recordings and shares the gorgeous first single “heaven hear me above”. A soft and celestial spell lush with playful keys, delicate sparkling chimes and the harp expertly played by muva, this single explores her deep appreciation of being a unique and divine being. A meditative project centred around vulnerability, healing and an evolved way of thinking, on the forthcoming project across 8-tracks (also known as affirmations and chants) muva of Earth encourages empowerment and self expression.

Born as Davina Adeosun-Bright (Davina, which originates from the word ‘divinity’, Adeosun pronounced A-de-o-shu is yoruba tongue and means ‘Crown of Ọṣun’ which is a dedication to the orisha and goddess of the river, Ọṣun), muva of Earth was raised by Nigerian parents to be strong and independent. Making an impact early in her career, her live experience has already led her to open for Erykah Badu and Pink Siifu , as well as previous headline shows and plays at We Out Here, SuperSonicJazz , Cross The Tracks, XJazz! Festival and more. Previous singles including last year's “High” have garnered support from The Guardian, COLORS, Clash, Loud and Quiet, Hunger, RinseNotion, BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 1, NTS, and more.

Speaking on the single, muva of Earth says:

‘I wrote this song about what it means to be proud of what makes you unique,
A statement to the heavenly realms asking for understanding.
I may have hurt you in the past but I didn’t mean to,
I tried my best with the experience that i have,

Know my intentions are pure and that I am learning.
Love’ 

Tracklist:
1. heaven hear me above
2. no one else has your magik!
3. your intuition is your friend
4. Nserewa
5. Meditation: align with Nature's Intelligence (feat Sirius B)
6. free Soul
7. mermaid under the sun
8. the sun will guide you

Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music

Today, celebrated multi-instrumentalist and visionary artist Yussef Dayes announces his highly anticipated debut solo studio album ‘Black Classical Music’, released on September 8th via the revered Brownswood Recordings, Warners and Cashmere Thoughts Recordings. Alongside this, Dayes shares a first taster of the record, the title track “Black Classical Music” featuring Venna & Charlie Stacey.

First single “Black Classical Music” is an incredible opening statement and entry point to this new chapter.

Dayes introduces Black Classical Music in his own words;

"What is jazz? Where did the word derive from? Birthed in New Orleans, born in the belly of the Mississippi River, rooted in the gumbo pot of the Caribbean, South American culture & African rituals. Continuing a lineage of Miles Davis, Rahssan Roland kirk, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong ~ music that is forever evolving & limitless in its potential. The groove, it’s feeling, the compositions, the spontaneity, with a love for family, the discipline & dedication in maintaining the very high bar set by the pantheon of Black Classical Musicians. Chasing the rhythm of drums that imitated one's heartbeat, the melodies for the mind and spirit, the bass for the core. A Regal sound for this body of music."

“Black Classical Music” is Dayes 19 track debut solo studio album. At every turn, Dayes distinctive drum licks and Rocco Palladino’s bass are the sturdy anchors; aided by Charlie Stacey (keys/synths), Venna (saxophone), Alexander Bourt (percussion), and a whole host of honourable features including: Chronixx, Masego, Jamilah Barry, Tom Misch, Elijah Fox, Shabaka Hutchings, Miles James, Sheila Maurice Grey, Nathaniel Cross, Theon Cross and the Chineke! Orchestra, the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians.

Yussef Dayes discography is expansive and wide reaching; his rise can be first linked to the Afrocentric quartet, United Vibrations, alongside his two brothers - Ahmad and Kareem - and saxophonist, Wayne Francis. This was followed by the meteorically sucessful, but short-lived duo Yussef Kamaal, with keyboardist Kamaal Williams. More recently, Dayes released Live At Joshua Tree, an EP presented by Soulection, and other solo releases including the live album Welcome To The Hills and Love Is The Message, which was recorded Live at Abbey Road Studios.

His list of collaborators is ever-growing and has blossomed to include the finest talents across both music and fashion. From 2020’s album “What Kinda Music”, a collaboration with Tom Misch released on Blue Note Records which charted in the Top 5, to an official remix of Pa Salieu’s “Frontline”, on Wizkid’s “Made In Lagos” album, plus production for R&B royalty in Kali Uchis and Kehlani and 2022’s joint release with Soulection entitled Live At Joshua Tree. The late Louis Vuitton innovator, Virgil Abloh, hand-picked Yussef to soundtrack and curate the LV dinner show for Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January 2019, as well as having Dayes perform at the Louis Vuitton Museum in Paris and collaborating on many other projects. 

Tracklist:
1. Black Classical Music (feat. Venna & Charlie Stacey)
2. Afro Cubanism
3. Raisins Under the Sun (feat. Shabaka Hutchings)
4. Rust (feat. Tom Misch)
5. Turquoise Galaxy
6. The Light (feat. Bahia Dayes)
7. Pon di Plaza
8. Magnolia Symphony
9. Early Daye
10. Chasing the Drum
11. Birds of Paradise
12. Gelato
13. Marching Band (feat. Masego)
14. Crystal Palace Park (feat. Elijah Fox)
15. Presidential (feat. Jahaan Sweet)
16. Jukebox
17. Woman's Touch (feat. Jamilah Barry)
18. Tioga Pass (feat. Rocco Palladino)
19. Cowrie Charms (feat. Leon Thomas and Barbara Hicks)

STR4TA - STR4TASFEAR Remixes

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)

Yussef Dayes - Marching Band / Tioga Pass

Tracklist:
1. Marching Band (feat. Masego)
2. Tioga Pass (feat. Rocco Palladino)
3. Rust (feat. Tom Misch)
4. Black Classical Music (feat. Venna & Charlie Stacey)

Secret Night Gang - Belongs on a Place Called Earth

Manchester jazz-funkers, Secret Night Gang return with their sophomore album “Belongs on a Place Called Earth”, due for release on Digital, CD & 12” vinyl formats on 23rd June 2023 via Brownswood Recordings. “Belongs on a Place Called Earth” is a record birthed from the emotional rollercoaster the world collectively faced over the past few years, as a result of the pandemic.

A time which cultivated self-reflection and profound life questions leading to an evolution for the Manchester natives. This new record is undeniably a fresh & bold new sound, with the leading purpose of permeating hope & light through their music. In continued strength to strength, Secret Night Gang are carving their own lane across the British jazz & street soul scene and this upcoming album, is set to take them to new heights.

Tracklist:
1. Respect Me
2. Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings
3. One and Only
4. Never Ever
5. Find a Way
6. When Will the Sun Rise Again
7. Do for You
8. Out of My Head
9. Every Nation
10. Things Will Work Out

*Bonus (Secret Night Gang - When Will the Sun Rise Again (Live at TRC))

VA - Future Bubblers 6​.​0

On 18th November, Brownswood Recordings releases the 6th edition of the Future Bubblers compilation. An expansion of Gilles Peterson’s network supported by Arts Council England, the ongoing talent discovery and artist development scheme focuses on developing unsigned talent and building audiences for new left-field music. With support from PRS Foundation as Talent Development Partners, the professional recording, manufacturing and physical release of Future Bubblers 6.0 is made possible. Unlike any other initiatives within music, the compilation acts as a springboard for the musician’s careers with the cooperative model providing direct revenue to the artists by a share of the profits resulting in a sustainable income to work from. Previous Future Bubblers include artists such as Yazmin Lacey, KinKai, MC Snowy, Forest Law and Kayla Painter to name a few.

The 9 track compilation is a musically diverse collection of tracks, fusing genres that span across Electronic, Alt-R&B, Alt-Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, Neo-Soul, Jazz and beyond. Opening the project, Plumm showcases her hypnotic vocals on ‘To Be A Woman’, a stripped-back, live rendition of the track whilst siegfried komidashi combines layers of instrumentation with his dream-like vocals on ‘Voyager One, Lost’. Up next, London-based Zeñel highlights their trumpet and guitar skillset alongside guest vocals from Plumm for ‘Crinje’ followed by Jericho Noguera’s genre-bending single, ‘Keeping On’ which is dedicated to remaining faithful and maintaining an optimistic mindset. Manchester-based Victoria Jane - who has gone on to host her own show on BBC Radio 1 - highlights her diverse vocal range in the emotive track ‘Good & Low-Key’ before Shirkers creates a cloudy instrumental for Ceeow’s vocals on ‘Like Summer’. Maintaining the ethereal sonic, Ceeow’s ‘Twice’ is reflective of his Rap and singing abilities followed by Zimbabwe-born, Norwich-based Tadi The Great’s Hip-Hop-meets-Psychedelic soundscape on ‘Catastrophe’. Rounding off the compilation nicely is nowsm’s epic ‘Rough Of The Felt’ which perfectly combines Breakbeat, House, and Experimental sounds.

Spanning just over 40 minutes, Future Bubblers 6.0 is an extremely impressive assemblage of talent who have all delivered top-shelf singles. Released both digitally and on vinyl, the compilation embodies the spirit of the musicians as well as the team behind Future Bubblers.

Additional Information
Each year, Future Bubblers are paired with an industry mentor who is tailored to their individual needs and from there, the journey begins. Each Bubbler will receive a number of opportunities that will ideally set them up professionally. The venture offers; one-to-one production workshops from music software company, Ableton, performances at live Future Bubblers showcases, recording live sessions from the iconic Brownswood basement, professional press shots and beyond the year, long-term support throughout their career.

Tracklist:
1. Plúmm - To Be A Woman (Live)
2. seigfried komidashi - Voyager One, Lost
3. Zeñel - Crinje (feat. Plumm)
4. Jericho Noguera - Keeping On
5. Victoria Jane - Good & Low-Key
6. Shirkers - Like Summer (feat. Ceeow)
7. Ceeow - Twice
8. TADI THE GREAT - Catastrophe
9. Nowsm - Rough of the Felt

STR4TA - STR4TASFEAR

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