German-born, Tbilisi-based producer LESKY returns with new EP “Mink
Coats & Ladas”. Packing his renowned recipe of crisp drums and
spacey synths, LESKY once again creates a unique soundscape of laid-back
beats and refined melodies, that is rich in engaging detail. With a
little help from some friends – namely German producers The Breed and
MAS as well as British guitarist Waywell – LESKY sonically solidifies
the Tbilisi lifestyle into a 7-track-EP. The artwork comes from Parisian
illustrator MC Blue Matter.
LESKY was born in Leipzig and after a short intermezzo in Cologne moved
to Georgia in beginning of 2021 to pursue music full-time. Since 2019,
he has dropped several EPs and two full-length albums (both released on
LP) on Melting Pot Music and has worked with well-known labels like Blue
Note Records/Astralwerks and Lofi Girl.
His music is a canvas of diverse influences, seamlessly blending the
sophisticated harmonies and textures of the Soulquarians's Neo Soul
movement, the deep grooves of Hip Hop, and the multifaceted futuristic
visions of electronic music. With a discerning ear for details and a
strong, high speed work ethic, LESKY creates tracks that feel rooted in
the moment of their creation yet thought-through.
LESKY's tracks have garnered widespread acclaim, cementing his status as
one of the most promising producers of his genre and securing his place
as a regular in the biggest editorial playlists of the Lofi phenomenon.
"An introspective neo-soul masterpiece” - FIP
"Electronic Soul At Its Finest" – Clash
"Extremely talented. Gorgeously soulful" – Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM)
"Unbelievable talent" - BBC Introducing
'Summing Up’ is the debut album from singer, songwriter, and producer
Steven Bamidele. The album is a deeply personal project that has seen
Steven using lyrical exploration as a form of self-therapy, often
unpicking themes of racial identity, family, and self-reflection.
The album features previous singles “Kaleidoscope feat. Scarlett Fae”,
“Dark Sense Of Humour (Farfisa)”, and “Sitting In The Dark”, which have
received support from Clash Magazine, Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Valida
(KCRW), Bill Brewster, BBC Introducing, New Music Friday UK (Spotify),
Lefto, Laurent Garnier and Stereofox.
Tackling subjects that include his childhood, mental health struggles
and his relationships with those close to him, Steven Bamidele writes
with an openness and integrity throughout ‘Summing Up’ that allows the
audience to share and understand his stories, while also seeing a
reflection of their own. With a Bossa nova-tinged guitar hook, focus
track “Lesson Learnt” thoughtfully leaves space for individual
interpretations on what it is to second guess what those
around you need and expect from you; toeing the line between trying to
live as an individual without disappointing the people close to you.
His relationship between individualism and relating to society is a
topic explored across ‘Summing Up’. Brimming with carefully thought-out
production, “Dark Sense Of Humour (Farfisa)” is written about his
childhood experiences of displacement moving from Nigeria to the UK at a
young age. Steven utilises the experimental musicality of the track to
tell the story of these paradoxical feelings he dwelled on since
relocating. These feelings, alongside his relationship with his late
father as a mixed-race child, are echoed in “Head Down”. Here, Steven
repeats the title of the track as the main hook creating an anthem for
the introverts and outsiders who may feel like they are watching and
waiting on the sidelines.
The theme of self-reflection and the years of obsessive dedication to
finding his creative voice are also explored across the album.
Highlighting his introspective style of song writing and production
styles rooted in curiosity and exploration, “Kaleidoscope” is a love
song shimmering with humility; “It’s to my girlfriend Lucy,” Steven
explains, “it’s me saying I know I haven’t been the most present and
attentive person, but I want to try and be better.” More open in their
dedication, “Sitting In The Dark” and “Throw It All Away!” explore the
tunnel vision Steven has had for making music over the years and the
subsequent guilt he’s felt as family and friends have fallen to the
wayside in pursuit of a dream.
Speaking about the latter track, he adds, “I wanted to make a dance
track the way I would make one which is sad and awkward.” Stepping out
of his comfort zone, the musical evolution of this track serves as a
representation of Steven’s progression with making music, summing up
what it means to find your feet and become a more authentic version of
yourself both creatively and personally. “I’m a big fan of people doing
what they do, no matter what anyone says; going against the grain, being
stubborn about it. I think the best results in art come out of that
attitude.”
From synths to found sounds, Steven has allowed ideas to come through
organically, following impulses to tell stories and evoke feelings. As
reflected on ‘Summing Up’, at a point in his life, music took over and
Steven did whatever was necessary to make it happen. “It was when my dad
passed and then covid arrived a couple of months later that I really
started to slow down and accept that other people and things demanded my
attention and care,” he acknowledges
With influences ranging from Marvin Gaye and Radiohead to Lianne La
Havas and Solange, Steven crafts his own unique and intricate sound,
combining synth textures, syncopated beats, and reverb-drenched falsetto
to create psychedelic forward-thinking soul. After self-releasing
several singles, his debut EP “Uncrowded” and the Salami Rose Joe Louis
remix, Steven went on to be sampled by KayCyy for his “Get Used To It”
mixtape. Under his former alias ‘Mirror Signal’, Steven was featured on
the ‘Brownswood Bubblers 11’ compilation, performed a live session for
Gilles Peterson and was selected by Jamie Cullum and PRS Foundation to
perform at Montreal Jazz Festival in 2016.
Tracklist: 1. Sitting In The Dark 2. Dark Sense Of Humour (Farfisa) 3. No One Said 4. Lesson Learnt 5. Pathways 6. Throw It All Away! 7. Kaleidoscope (feat. Scarlett Fae) 8. Misunderstood 9. Head Down
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
Bewilderment - the feeling of being perplexed and confused - is the
inspiration behind Pale Jay's new album. It's a soulful exploration of a
family's gradual disintegration due to years of avoidance and
miscommunication. During this difficult time, Pale Jay began to question
the stories he had always lived with and re-examined his identity. The
resulting work, Bewilderment, is his first full-length album, which
strives to find answers to these questions and more. The album is set to
release on 8/18/2023 on Karma Chief Records, a subsidiary of Colemine.
Pale Jay is a trained jazz vocalist and pianist, and he wrote, recorded,
and produced all songs on the album, except for 'By The Lake', which is
a collaboration with labelmates Okonski - Steve Okonski, Aaron Frazer,
and Michael Montgomery. Pale Jay's music is influenced by a wide range
of songwriters, including Labi Siffre, Carole King, and William
Onyeabor. 'Bewilderment' is a seamless blend of Pale Jay’s trademark
dusty soul, slow disco, and Afrobeat, with string arrangements by Raven
Bush adding an extra layer of magic to the beat-heavy productions.
Preface: the platform
In the early stages of recording, Pale Jay met Terry Cole,
the owner of Colemine and Karma Chief Records, and the two decided to
work together on Pale Jay's first full-length LP. Inspired by this
connection, Pale Jay wrote the song 'Preface', which expresses his
gratitude for finding a platform for his music.
In Your Corner: the antagonist
At its core, the Afrobeat inspired song is a conversation with the self.
An uplifting tune at first glance, the lyrics lay bare the internal
struggle for self-acceptance. The song explores the push and pull
between self-love and self-judgement that can often leave us feeling
lost and uncertain.
My Dirty Desire: the introvert
Another standout track on the album is a warbling slow-disco tribute to
the introvert. Pale Jay acknowledges that society rewards extroverts,
but he embraces his introverted nature and the benefits of solitude.
Pale Jay's debut LP is a captivating journey of self-discovery. Each
song on Bewilderment tells a unique story, but they all share a common
theme of personal growth and self-understanding. Grab a copy on
8/18/2023 to dive in and experience the new album.
Tracklist: 1. Preface 2. In Your Corner 3. Dreaming In Slow Motion 4. By The Lake (feat. OkoNski) 5. Bewilderment 6. My Dirty Desire 7. Vladimir 8. Don't Forget That I Love You
‘Where The Mind Wanders’ is the debut album from Bristol-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, artist and songwriter, Slowe.
This project is a window into Slowe’s mind, with each song reflecting a
different aspect of her inner world. With a musical landscape that ebbs
and flows, Slowe poetically addresses the struggles of self-doubt and
the beauty of fulfilment and joy. These themes are perfectly embodied in
“A Simple Act” as she explores uncertainty, wanting to push herself,
but faltering at times with a lack of confidence. Led by the cyclical
urge to push yourself and subsequent hesitancy, the lyrics move through
sparkling R&B Rhodes and celesta that nod to her love of neo-soul
and a loose beat played by Conor Harrington, bopping between Sam Fox’s
smooth bassline.
The tracks showcase the versatility in Slowe’s production, with
different expressions mirroring the furthest corners of her mind, “both
introspective and immersive, each track is a dive into the depths of the
human psyche, exploring the intricacies of emotions and thoughts that
often go unspoken” she explains.
‘Where The Mind Wanders’ features previous singles “WLYTK”, Slowe’s
avant-soul exploration of withheld feelings, the retro-tinged slow jam
“Superego”, and the urban jazz-hop groove
“Fix Me Up’” featuring Rachai. Speaking of seeking balance, certainty
and clarity when moving forward it “perfectly summarises the themes on
the album and what I was going through when making these songs” Slowe
adds.
‘Feel’ features a team of local, Bristolian musicians: Eli Jitsuto from
Snazzback plays the guitar, Sam Fox adds the melodic bass riff, Conor
Harrington is on drums and Laurence Fazakerly Buglass brings his
effortless keys into the mix. As they dance in a sultry, sparse
arrangement the focus shifts between two imperfect people navigating bad
habits in a relationship, where they are ultimately overcome by
unconditional love. Embedded in the album is the J Dilla inspired
instrumental gem, “Inertia”, through which Slowe’s production takes
mainstage with the captivating, improvised saxophone from Oli Morris.
‘Stay Right Here’ celebrates a 10-year milestone in her relationship,
“it's quite a beautiful thing to know someone that well and to have
shared so much together” Slowe reflects, embracing her contentment.
Aiming for a classic, 70’s soul feel, Slowe and the co-producer Laurence
composed a string section by layering each player and recreated a
gritty, vintage quality with pedal effects. “Solar” captures a feeling
of seasons moving past you, whilst feeling stuck in winter, which comes
through in the raw, acoustic feel. In response to this tension, the
following track “Lunar” reassures with a success story of breaking free
from the anxiety that holds you back and prevents you from reaching your
full potential. The final, psychedelia-tinged track “Calibrate” closes
the album.
Following continued support from resident DJ James Threlfall, BBC
Introducing have shared a short, exclusive, live rendition of
“Superego”. The project has also garnered support from Robert Elms (BBC
Radio London), Don Letts (BBC Radio 6 Music), BBC Radio 6 Music’s Focus
Beats, Valida and Scott Dallavo (KCRW), Boba Fatt and Tom Pickford (Soho
Radio), Marshmello (NTS), Neil Bopperson and General Public (Balamii),
Stereofox and Dummy Mag, among others.
Slowe’s DIY approach is reminiscent of lo-fi beat-making; delicately
layering together session recordings, and repurposing techniques akin to
those of J Dilla and Madlib. The result is both nostalgic and fiercely
contemporary, with sparkling Rhodes, vintage drum lines, and buttery
vocals. The combination of Slowe’s radiant lilts and introspective
lyricism atop the fuzzy, analogue warmth makes for swooning escapism.
Tracklist: 1. WYLTK 2. Superego 3. Fix Me Up 4. Feel 5. A Simple Act 6. Inertia 7. Stay Right Here 8. Solar 9. Lunar 10. Calibrate
“Ribbon Of Hot Plasma” EP is the latest from North London’s Aurora Dee
Raynes, featuring lead single “Something Sensible”, which received
upfront support from Craig Charles (BBC 6Music). It follows their debut
‘Invisible Things’ LP and subsequent remixes from Shy One and El-B.
Beginning on an exploratory trajectory, focus track “Underwater
Shapeshifter” plays with the youthful joy that can be found in the
endless possibilities of the unknown. As the track lyrically looks back
on the past, the hidden parts of our memories and questions around
changing our ways, the energy and driving sub bass carries the listener
through the musical waters. “We started toying with the idea that you
shapeshift into a new world – you don’t mess it up. It’s dangerous and
exciting. It will paint new pictures and give you new directions,”
vocalist Danielle Kranendonk explains.
Built of gentle vocals over a subtly funky groove, “Something Sensible”
explores the simple beauty that can be found in the sensible ending of a
sensible relationship, choosing instead to stay in someone’s life from
afar. “It’s not always about negative and hard feelings, there are
layers”, Kranendonk muses. Pieced together by Raynes, the track begins
with warm and earnest keys from Nicholas
Johnson, which provide a cleansing backdrop for Kranendonk’s softer
vocals to glide across. The funky driving force of the track comes from
bassist Will Harper, consisting of thoughtful takes, reworkings and
layering.
As the first new music since the debut LP from Aurora Dee Raynes, the
“Ribbon Of Hot Plasma” EP sees the group revisit their core ethos, with
the power of honest lyrics and collaborative production and
instrumentation unifying and underpinning each of the tracks. Having
taken the name Aurora Dee Raynes after finding the crashing of particles
to create the Borealis a fitting metaphor for producer Stephen Raynes
and Kranendonk crashing into each other to create music, they looked to
the stars once again for the title of the project.
Stumbling upon the story of mysterious and unusual new aurora borealis
(or more specifically a ribbon of hot plasma), fondly named STEVE
(Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), they knew they’d found
their EP title. “It is the “highly ionised plasma consisting of large
numbers of electrons and positive ions, with the temperature of both
being extremely high”. It’s a little weird, it sounds great and when we
said it, we both reacted instantly. It describes our energy, and it had
Stephen’s name in it. A sign and a feeling born from what we decided to
name ourselves,” explains Kranendonk.
On “Reading Fiction”, the metaphor of particles gathering is used to
illustrate the supportiveness in people coming together and becoming
more than the sum of their parts. Radiating with a sultry groove, the
lyrics seek to inspire and encourage people to wear their crown and
“just do you”. Fuelled by producer Stephen Raynes’s late night
beat-making studio sessions and Kranendonk’s night owl tendencies, the
track embodies the colliding energy of Aurora Dee Raynes. Completing
“Ribbon Of Hot Plasma” with final Aurora Dee Raynes touches, “Maths”
comes equipped with urgent energy touching on jazz pianos, direction
changes, vocal drops and varying styles that create space to groove and
welcome us further into the party.
Last year Zero T teamed up with pianist Onj (Andre Louis) on what became
an acclaimed conceptual album Kilburn. The project showcased a unique
blend of bass-heavy music with soulful chord progressions.
Now the duo returns for a follow-up EP which surpasses expectations.
Packed with downtempo versions, remixes as well as new music, this
project is a worthy successor to last year’s praised album. Remixers
include AfroForce (a.k.a. Afronaut & Mark Force of Bugz In The
Attic), James Rudie and Kid Fonque and Jonny Miller, who morph Darkness
into a super-deep House odyssey.
The EP also consists of three new Drum & Bass tracks: Blow
(featuring Nottingham soul duo Melonyx), Love Thing (featuring the
soothing voice of Mercy’s Cartel) and the darker sounding Killer Inside.
With this project Zero T & Onj “hope people hear the common thread
of real soul throughout the EP, regardless of tempo”. Onj adds: “Kilburn
Park seems like the obvious sequel to a story with yet more parts to
it. The downtempo feel of Gone but Never Forgotten, which has personal
significance to me, could be those thoughtful times we sit down and
consider the world around us, and our place in it.”
Tracklist: 1. Gone But Never Forgotten (original mix) 2. Rodeo Drive (feat Mercy's Cartel - Neo Soul mix) 3. Twenty Three (feat Ms Naye/Unitsouled - Neo Soul mix) 4. Everyday Struggles (feat Jordan Max/Mark Force - AfroForce remix) 5. Rain (feat T-Man - James Rudie remix) 6. Darkness (feat Steo - Kid Fonque & Jonny Miller remix) 7. Pending (original mix) 8. Blow (feat MELONYX - original mix) 9. Love Thing (feat Mercy's Cartel - original mix) 10. Killer Inside (original mix)
Tracklist: 1. Talkin' To Myself (feat. BeMyFiasco) 2. Sightseeing (feat. Pirahnahead & Diviniti) 3. The Ride (feat. Sy Smith, Black Milk & Elzhi) 4. Blackout 5. I Love The Way (feat. Omar) 6. Hold My Hand (feat. Darien Brockington, Muhsinah & Phonte) 7. Northland (feat. DJ Dez) 8. Connected (feat. Josh Milan) 9. Epilogue
Bonus Tracks: 10. Dem Nights (feat. Phonte) 11. In The Wind (feat. Deborah Bond) 12. Blackout (The Scene Remix) 13. Blackout (Daz-I-Kue Re-Edit) 14. Connected (Terry Hunter Club Mix) (feat. Josh Milan)
Adja is Brussels-based creator, singer and performer Adja Fassa, an
artist rapidly making a name for herself in Belgium and a
multidisciplinary with big plans. On the 24th February, she is set to
release her debut EP ‘IRONEYE’ via the groove-obssessed Sdban Ultra.
In a direct line from her personal growth to her artistic practice, Adja
translates through jazz, soul, gospel and her ever-expanding and
transforming experience of reality, simultaneously using the creative
process as a vehicle to make known to herself the answer to those inner
questions. Her goal: making her spiritual path in this life as tangible
as possible. A force of nature on stage with warm, sensual vocals, Adja
is evocative of artists such as Erykah Badu, Solange and Lianne La
Havas.
Besides being a musician, Fassa is also a theatremaker, working towards
what she calls "Sophisticated Soul in a hybrid concert format.” Her
music takes centre stage, with her live shows gradually taking on an
evolving theatrical character: telling stories through song, accompanied
by sensory elements such as scent and symbolic images. All this stems
from a desire to shed light on the plane of existence between everyday
existence and the hidden stories from our collective memory.
On her music, Adja adds, “I am exploring what 'spirituality' means in
this society, in the here and now. This, by not only treating it as an
elusive abstract thing, but exploring how to make it as tangible as
possible, which for myself means sharing sincere self-reflection with
the outside world. I hope in that way to support those who are searching
for the trigger to their own catharsis, as I wish to be one of many
artists at service of those who are actively searching, actively trying
to evolve. I hope some of those people resonate with my music and feel
it moves them in the way they need to open up and start a new
conversation with themselves, at whatever point they are in their life. I
believe the first step to a better world is to look inward, but there
is no reason we can’t do that together and share some laughs and cries
while we do so.”
On stunning lead single ‘Told you so” she states, “‘Told you so’ is a
song about integrity. In a way, I feel blessed with a curse. The curse
of rapid failure when I deviate from what is true to me: It seems that,
whenever I am - purposely or unpurposely - dishonest with myself, I
crash and burn really fast. A blessing in that sense that it seems my
Soul's purpose does not let me waste time, a curse because it means that
the teachings of life rarely feel like a gentle push and often like a
slap in the face.”
From a young age, Fassa always tried to understand the deeper layers in
herself and others. A traveller in heart and soul, she studied theatre
at KASK in Ghent and then in 2015, travelled to India and Nepal to
immerse herself in yoga and other practices focused on the
(sub)consciousness. Returning to Belgium to study jazz and vocals at the
Leuven Conservatory, she began to combine her singing, theatre, and
physical performance. She won the prestigious Sound Track competition for young talents in Flanders in 2021.
Tacklist: 1. Told you so 2. To be naive 3. Default mode (interlude) 4. SambaFassa 5. What we are not supposed to feel
Tracklist: 1. THEO SAYS (feat. Ego Ella May & D'LEAU) 2. SLOWLY (feat. Ego Ella May & D'LEAU) 3. IF I COULD I WOULD (feat. Ego Ella May & D'LEAU) 4. GOOD DAY (feat. Ego Ella May & D'LEAU) 5. SOMETHIN' (feat. Ego Ella May & Jeff Parker) (Extended Take)
‘ART MAKE LOVE’ is the fifth album by 30/70, the mothership of the
internationally acclaimed Melbourne born collective. Expanding far
beyond the previous markers of nu-soul and jazz; it is inspired heavily
by broken beat complexity, translating dance music into live textures
and their truly unique collaborative songwriting. ‘ART MAKE LOVE’ is a
statement about the very life giving, love fuelling, interconnected
nature of creativity, a reclamation of art in a digital time.
Unique to their catalog, this album was created with each member of the
band taking full control of the recording and producing of their own
instrument only to culminate in a unified sound, their synergy palpable
as a singular force. Over the years 30/70 has become something of a
supergroup, with Allysha Joy, Ziggy Zeitgeist, Josh Kelly, Finn Rees and
Matthew Hayes all soaring as solo artists, band leaders and producers
in their own right. Each member of the band commands their sound and
musicality effortlessly - a concept that is unique in 30/70 too - there
is no one leader, they make space for each member to go deep on whatever
it is they’re bringing to the table, creating space for the music and
one another.
‘ART MAKE LOVE’ captures a visceral sense of light
and dark, exploring the very edges of life, death, truth and fear, the
depth of spirit and emotion. An incredibly intimate record made in
tandem with personal illness and overcoming; the power of practice,
process and collective expression enough to pull them forward.
Lead vocalist Allysha Joy speaks on behalf of the group around ‘ART MAKE LOVE’.
“We wanted this record to embody the concept of art giving life, and
life giving art, while serving as a vessel to bring joy, compassion and
energy. Particularly in a time when things feel more than ever about a
destination or validation and less about a message, we want to exemplify
the experience in sharing something that brings us closer together.
30/70 began in a deeply DIY, grass-roots nature, with an ongoing desire
to explore and express and collaborate without bounds. This record nods
to that time, bringing it back into the present in the hope that it
reminds others why they create, to go out and do something they love,
bring joy, and give back to this world in some way”
The LP features eight full tracks and three interludes. Focal points
include ‘ALL 4 U’, 70’s Herbie Hancock meets Fela Kuti in the darkroom
of a Berlin club in the not too distant future. It’s about finding and
feeling love that is ever expansive and expressive in every moment. A
track so joyous and true Allysha says she “cried tears of gratitude and
relief for its expression while recording this one! It’s an outpouring,
an overflow of joy to know love!”. ‘‘WITHOUT YOU, WITHIN ME’ sees Joy’s
deeply expressive vocal performance penetrate through dance floor
squared hyper funk. The track explodes and the tension is released by
powerhouse Josh Kelly on saxophone, effortlessly gliding over the
incessantly driving beat.
In spirit it is a circling back to underline core values never lost
along the way, a dedication to passionately feeling and expressing life
through music, it is an offering as much as an invitation. Breaking down
the walls between the music and the listener, ‘ART MAKE LOVE’ is
bringing art back to the center and inviting you in to feel the power
and strength that we can access when we are grounded in our own
integrity.
Tracklist: 1. Without You, Within Me 2. Art (interlude) 3. All 4 U 4. Acceptance 5. Make (interlude) 6. Luv Is Waiting 7. Jay Luv 8. Pleasure 9. Love (interlude) 10. U Betta Run 11. Holly Roller
‘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)
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
Tracklist: 1. Man About Town 2. Cosmic Love 3. Book Of Broken Hearts 4. Breakfast In Bed 5. Lingerie & Candlewax 6. Fancy Clothes 7. The Valley 8. Love Like That 9. Get You Back 10. Out Of Pocket
