Myele Manzanza returns with brand new EP 'Focus'

Following the release of the third instalment of his ‘Crisis & Opportunity’ series, which saw him team up with Omar, China Moses, Rosie Frater-Taylor & more, Myele Manzanza has touched down with his brand new EP - ‘Focus’.

Currently a Bandcamp-only release, the EP sees Myele drop a one-take improvised project with Lewis Moody (keys, synths) & Benjamin Muralt (bass guitar).

Head below for some insightful liner notes from Myele below, and head over to Bandcamp to purchase.

This recording came together as an offset from the Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 3 - Unfold creative development phase. For 4 days in early 2021, Lewis Moody, Benjamin Muralt and I bunkered down in a tiny studio near Finsbury Park, tracking some of the pre-planned ideas (The final productions of Gone Up In Flames, Child & Falling Fast for example) as well as having some open improvised jams with the hope of generating some fresh material (Wasted Time & Drumbella were some of the by-products of these improvisations). There was maybe 5 hours' worth of raw recorded material that for various reasons didn’t make the cut for the album, however, there was a golden 25-minute run that at the time we all came away from thinking ‘holy shit’. I recall Benjamin saying after the performance concluded that ‘this is the kind of music I’ve always wanted to make’ and I was in accord that we had gotten one of those all too rare musical moments where nothing was planned but we collectively fell into the ‘zone’ and made something greater than the sum of its parts.

As the Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 3 - Unfold gradually developed though, there wasn’t really a natural place for this music to fit into it and in the back of my mind I felt that having to cut and edit it down would spoil the magic of the moment. So it stayed sitting in a hard drive, to be more or less forgotten.

Cut to late 2022, for a bit of nostalgia I was having a listen through some of the unused sessions. I happened to be playing some chess online whilst this recording came on and I fell into what could be called the ‘zone’ again, gaining focus and going on perhaps my longest chess-winning streak ever. For the first time, I had a sense that I could naturally ‘see’ or ‘feel’ the patterns over the board rather than needing to fall into the usual slow methodical calculation that’s generally required for a player at my very amateur level to avoid blundering. In any case, I came away feeling elated and I knew that I had to get this music out into the world. (I was initially going to call this recording “Music To Play Chess To” but I came to the realisation that this might have been very corny and maybe the most un-cool album title ever beyond folks in the chess community)

This isn’t a jazz recording, but it is an improvised one. The music you are listening to here was all done in one take warts and all (including the synth & keyboard programming, which does lend this recording to sound a little more ‘produced’ than your average jam session), & aside from a mix on volume levels to make sure the recording sounds balanced, there was zero editing on the musical performance. Also worth noting that beyond setting a tempo for the click track, there was no prior discussion on what we were going to play. We just started playing.

On reflection, I can hear how this mode of playing - the minor key with minimal harmonic movement, the clear dub & electronic music language, the open form slow building evolution of the sound (rather than the more accelerated initiation of musical ideas and melodic lines more common in jazz) - directly draws from early 2000’s New Zealand dub acts like Trinity Roots, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub & early Shapeshifter (more of a stadium smashing live drum & bass outfit, but some of their earlier work was a little more in the ‘liquid’ style that hewed them a little closer to their peers at the time) who were very pivotal influences on me. In saying that, Lewis is from Australia and Benjamin is from Switzerland & would have never really checked those bands out in any real way, and their set of influences would have impacted this music as much as mine did.

So then, let’s call this musical style ‘Improvised Minimalism’.

This process of music-making doesn’t always work as cohesively as this. More often than not there’s a lot of trial and error before it settles into itself. Depending on the musicians it can be very easy to over-play and get too busy, or under-play and get stale, as in a sense there are no real rules to it. However, to play this way successfully requires a lot of musical language, an ability to listen and hold space for others as well as an ability to initiate and fill space with confident musical ideas, and an overall sense of camaraderie with the other musicians you’re playing with. Having the wisdom to know when & how to just stay there, and when to take a leap of faith and jump into the unknown.

All in all, it requires a level of focus. Something I felt the three of us were lucky to achieve across a full 25-minute performance that you’re hearing now, and hopefully this music might be of service to you and perhaps bring a sense of focus to whatever it is you need to do. 

Paul Grant announces forthcoming 'Forward' EP with brand new track 'Rivers' (feat. Chris Keys)

Following an emphatic creative run of back-to-back album releases over the past few years, including 2021’s ‘Reflections’ and 2022’s ‘Sketches’, Paul Grant returns with a Spring-time bop that’s ready to bring the sun home. ‘Rivers’ acts as the introduction to his forthcoming ‘Forward’ EP.

The track is a continuation of a collaborative spirit that’s seen Paul team up with the likes of Kiefer, Braxton Cook and Emmavie. This time, Grammy-nominated producer Chris Keysis brought into the mix, adding euphoric synth pads and his own improvisational flare to complement Paul’s expansive, Brazilian-flavoured arrangement.

Talking about ‘Rivers’, Paul explains “Rivers is influenced by Brazilian music of the 70’s and features orchestral elements and keyboards by my friend and producer Chris Keys, who was recently nominated for a Grammy after his contributions to Lizzo’s latest album.”

Paul has been steadily making his mark as a go-to producer within the jazz-hip-hop scene on the west coast and beyond. Upcoming EP ‘Forward’ continues with his mission to bridge the spaces between genres, and cultivate a community of collaborators that continue to push his music in exciting new directions. With hip-hop as the canvas, Paul’s paints of choice are the hues of jazz, R&B and...  more

Hamburg's finest instrumental cinematic soul project, The Offline is back with 'Cap de l'Homy',

The Offline continues his fusion of jazz, funk, surf and soul on 'Cap de l'Homy', an ode to a famous surf spot along the shores of the French Atlantic.

Acting as the perfect soundtrack to the arrival of Spring, ‘Cap de l’Homy’ is based around a sunny chord progression and melodies that invoke a sense of longing and nostalgia. It’s another soulfully visual tune from an artist determined to paint pictures in the minds of his listeners. The Offline came to life, when composer and photographer Felix Müller travelled the Atlantic coastline in the south of France with his analogue camera, capturing the beach life on film. After coming back to Hamburg, he started writing songs to match the sonic counterpart to the analogue visuals and soon recognized that he needed to build a group of musicians. With Carl-Michael “Grabi” Grabinger on drums, Sebastian Schütze on bass and the brass section with Hans-Christian Stephan and Kimo Eiserbeck, he found highly skilled instrumentalists to help the tracks come to life.

Listen to ‘Cap de l’Homy’ everywhere

Jerk announces new 'Limina' EP with brand new single 'Father Sky'

Following the release of their album ‘Bloom’ in December 2022, Jerk returns with their signature blend of hip-hop beats and jazz instrumentals, but this time with a disco twist.

‘Father Sky’ is an addictive introduction to the sound world of their forthcoming ‘Limina’ EP. Based around a dreamy, uplifting chordal loop, Jerk puts a four-to-the-floor groove and bopping bassline at the front and centre of the mix. Ever evolving to keep the listener on their toes, they put their full skill set as a multi-instrumentalist on display, opening up for a flowing saxophone solo, nodding to the jazz heritage of New York City.

Speaking on the track, Jerk said; “Father Sky was the first track written on this project, and I’ve come to think of it as a sort of sonic affirmation. I started with the chord progression, and it had this sort of addictive character where I could play it on repeat forever like a sort of constantly evolving spiral - I tried to make the rest of the instrumentation match that ever-evolving feeling, cascading until it reaches that final drop. The title, Father Sky, comes from that feeling of reaching out to the ethereal.”

Jerk is the brainchild of composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Kinney. Based in Brooklyn, NY, the project is an exploration of the connection between jazz and hip-hop with compositions blurring the lines between hip-hop beats and instrumental jazz compositions.

Listen to ‘Father Sky’ on all platforms here.

Devra releases new single 'Blood Water' (fear. Sara Vanderwert)

Continuing the rollout to his debut EP over on Root Records, drummer, composer and producer Devra reveals the EP’s second single ‘Blood Water’, featuring Sara Vanderwert.

Using neo-soul as the canvas for creation, the track sees Devra team up with vocalist Sara Vanderwert to deliver an explicit message on this track – it’s our duty as human beings to respect the Earth and our connection with it.

Combining dancing vocal and flute melodies with atmospheric synth layers and a bopping neo-soul backbeat, the track also retains the jazz throughline found across Devra’s upcoming EP. There’s space for tasteful solos from both tenor saxophonist Lorenzo De Luca and alto saxophonist Zeno Merlini, which channel the emotional energy delivered by Sarah Vanderwert’s vocal performance. 

Listen to ‘Blood Water’ everywhere

PYJÆN unleash brand new EP 'Sunset Milk Tea'

Jazz-fusion force PYJÆN returns with their latest project ‘Sunset Milk Tea’, teaming up with trumpeter Jackson Mathod and singer-songwriter Yuika, for a flavourful 5-track EP.

Recorded during the ‘Feast’ sessions at Real World Studios in late 2020, ‘Sunset Milk Tea’ delivers trademark PYJÆN sounds, seamlessly fusing jazz, disco, punk, hip-hop and other contemporary sounds all together, with nods to the heady days of 1920’s era jazz in between, taking you on a journey of twists and turns throughout.

The EP’s title track ‘Sunset Milk Tea’ see’s the band bring in Japanese singer-songwriter Yuika, who transforms the original anime-inspired instrumental track, into a song with a complete fresh and fulfilling dynamic, adding delicate vocals to the vibrant and uplifting instrumentation.

In true PYJÆN style, Sunset Milk Tea sees the band glide through various genres and sounds, teaming up with trumpeter Jackson Mathod for the upbeat jazz-fuelled hip-hop inspired ‘Is That It?’ which is ignited by Jackson’s stylistic improvising on the trumpet. ‘Winter Sun’ provides a more mellow approach, one abundant with horns which shower the track, setting a moody tone throughout. Finally, ‘SMASH’ offers a true insight into what defines PYJÆN; jazz without boundaries, combining multifaceted artistry and cross-genre sensibilities with ferocious talent, bringing five diverse components into one singular, emotional sound. 

Listen everywhere here

The Offline drops first single of 2023, 'Le Club'

The first single since his 2022 debut EP ‘En Clair-Obscur’, The Offline continues his fusion of jazz, funk, surf and soul on ‘Le Club’, an ode to a famous surf spot along the shores of the French Atlantic.

The new track connects seamlessly to the sonics of his first project and continues his journey into an analogue feel reminiscent of old funk and jazz albums you’d find sampled in hip-hop. A soulfully visual tune with dramatic, cinematic arrangements, it also pays homage to the moody soundtracks of 1960s and 1970s film composers such as Francois de Roubaix, Brian Bennet and David Axelrod.

The Offline came to life, when composer and photographer Felix Müller travelled the Atlantic coastline in the south of France with his analogue camera, capturing the beach life on film. After coming back to Hamburg, he started writing songs to match the sonic counterpart to the analogue visuals and soon recognized that he needed to build a group of musicians. With Carl-Michael “Grabi” Grabinger on drums, Sebastian Schütze on bass and the brass section with Hans-Christian Stephan and Kimo Eiserbeck, he found highly skilled instrumentalists to help the tracks come to life.

Welcoming drummer, composer and producer Devra to the family

Devra is the alias of Italian drummer and composer Fabio De Angelis. Originally from Vicenza, Italy, Devra made a name for himself as a session drummer in his native country, collaborating with several artists on the national scene across the worlds of jazz and pop.

His experiences and cross-genre collaborations led to him arriving at a personal synthesis resulting in his upcoming debut EP. It’s a project that moves between jazz and neo-soul, with echoes of hip-hop and RnB that reflect the musical shifts and transitions he’s been through in recent years.

‘Moses’, the first single taken from his upcoming self-titled EP, transitions from free-flowing, open time into bopping hip-hop and neo-soul grooves. These are accompanied by bold horn lines and space for tasteful, expansive improvisation.

Sonically connecting with the overarching themes of transitional spaces between light and dark moments in life, the track acts as an introduction and mission statement of what’s to come. Inspired by the sounds of the Italian underground music scene, as well as hip-hop-inflected jazz of acts Robert Glasper and Roy Hargrove, ‘Moses’ also has space for expressive solos to trumpeter Francesco Fratini and tenor saxophonist Lorenzo De Luca.

Pre-save ‘Moses’ here

Quinn Oulton - Alexithymia (Deluxe Edition)

Following the release of his debut album 'Alexithymia' in May 2022, Quinn Oulton reveals the Deluxe Edition, coming out April 2023.

Kicking things off with a refreshing take on the original of 'Better', Quinn frees the track from the intricate textures and hard-hitting drums, highlighting the harmonically rich and free-flowing song in its purest form: piano and voice. At the heart of the songwriting, Quinn discusses a sense of jealousy and self-pity around a narrative of unrequited love. Though the song is based on his own experiences, Quinn wanted to write it as if it was someone else’s story, a sort of caricature of himself. Speaking on the track, Quinn said:

“My usual process, when writing songs, is to toy with sounds and textures on my laptop to spark inspiration. Writing ‘Better’ was different - I sat at the piano and composed the song in just under an hour before taking it to my laptop and adding further elements there. It’s now one of my favourite songs. I’m presenting the song as an acoustic version here to show you how I started.”

The second offering is Quinn's rework of 'Never', which sees him experimenting with new production techniques and ways to manipulate sound. With this reworked track he takes the original and completely flips it on its head, adding glitched vocal elements and booming 808s that you can expect to hear in his future works.

South London based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist & producer Quinn Oulton exhibits a raw sound, melding soaring vocals and tangled acoustic textures with abstract electronics. His music spans several genres, including jazz, indie and pop.

His debut album 'Alexithymia' was released in May 2022, receiving national radio support from Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan & Cerys Matthews (6 Music), Jack Saunders & Sian Eleri (BBCR1), along with Jamie Cullum (BBCR2) & Jamz Supernova (BBC1X). It includes tracks featuring Moses Boyd and Genevieve Artadi. 

PYJÆN announce brand new EP 'Sunset Milk Tea'

London-based quintet PYJÆN return with their latest project ‘Sunset Milk Tea’, which sees the band team up with rising trumpeter Jackson Mathod and singer-songwriter Yuika, for a 6-track EP packed with an abundance of memorable flavours.

Recorded during the ‘Feast’ sessions at Real World Studios in late 2020, ‘Sunset Milk Tea’ delivers trademark PYJÆN sounds, seamlessly fusing jazz, disco, punk, hip-hop and other contemporary sounds all together, with nods to the heady days of 1920’s era jazz in between, taking you on a journey of twists and turns throughout.

The EP’s title track ‘Sunset Milk Tea’ see’s the band bring in Japanese singer-songwriter Yuika, who transforms the original anime-inspired instrumental track, into a song with a complete fresh and fulfilling dynamic, adding delicate vocals to the vibrant and uplifting instrumentation.

In true PYJÆN style, Sunset Milk Tea sees the band glide through various genres and sounds, teaming up with trumpeter Jackson Mathod for the upbeat jazz-fuelled hip-hop inspired ‘Is That It?’ which is ignited by Jackson’s stylistic improvising on the trumpet. ‘Winter Sun’ provides a more mellow approach, one abundant with horns which shower the track, setting a moody tone throughout. Finally, ‘SMASH’ offers a true insight into what defines PYJÆN; jazz without boundaries, combining multifaceted artistry and cross-genre sensibilities with ferocious talent, bringing five diverse components into one singular, emotional sound.