Albums

Kaya Project - ….And So It Goes (Interchill 2008)
My connection with Seb was through performing at Turnmills. Seb Taylor - producer, composer and dj, is the innovator of the kaya project.

Focused on more acoustic instrumentation, his work is an exotic tapestry of slide guitar, klezmer, clarinet, classical Indian violin and Arabic mowals, fused with tribal percussion, breakbeats and Gypsy jazz.

After we met he asked me to come and do a session for the last tracks for the kaya – and so it goes album 2008. He was into the vocal percussion side of voice drawing on heart songs for this organic, global music. We clicked instantly and I now use 2 of his tracks ‘lema lazu’ and ‘shifting sands’ as part of my repertoire. We also decided to work on a version of ‘indeginous man’ and create new pieces of music for my next album. I’m very fortunate to have met Seb, a real inspiration who has no limits to his creativity.

Randolph Matthews – I Love (Documented 2007)
This is my debut album released in 2007. It took me about 10 years to have the passion to do my own thing and motivate myself to take it on. Thanks to documented recorded label, who trusted in the project and provided the creative tools, finance and enthusiasm, I was able to take one step on the 1000 mile journey.

Special thanks go out to Tony Nwachuku, promoter, producer and innovator of Attica Blue and CDR Promotons. I was bale to twist organic energy from voice, drums and guitar and twist it into a cacophony of sound bytes and emotion. Tony was so inspiring and I felt tested to let go and capture even more of the moment. It took 6 months of recording and decision making to unleash the grainy African under toned feeling.

I wanted to create an album that wasn’t driven by categorising myself, and creating something that was true to the attraction I have to culture music, pop folk and the age of technology. Featuring myself on instruments and Danny Fisher and Dave Austin, my long time musical collaborators, they really brought ‘I love’ to life and with ‘dazed and confused’ harmonized well with the angelic tones of Deborah Jordan, whose essence is the response of the broken hearted victim in the story. ‘Cohon Peace’ is my ode to the root of expression and pulse canvas, bringing words and heart song together in a hip hop vocal percussion back ground - this was made within 20 minutes and always a hit with vocal dance company.

I’m truly fortunate to have this starting point and I’ve learnt loads about the industry and what it will take to run the gauntlet, which I recognise is BE TRUE AND DO IT!

Lowbudgetsoul - Strangers To The Ordinary (Futuristica Music 2006)
Lowbudget Soul started in 2001, with long time neighbourhood music producers and dj Simons and Tris Old English Browne.

They had an idea to put a soul hip hop beat crunching mix classically defined sound with a really earthy tone. I enjoyed writing on this project as the soulful roots in my heart were given an opportunity to fly freely within a rich background created by Tris.

We worked over the course of three years together, drawing on life as we walked it and then finally in 2007 we completed the “Strangers To The Ordinary”. Also on the album was Marcia Escoffery (backing for Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Mae) and Nanar, both with vast experience of writing and live work. Our first Low Budget Soul 12" release “Fills My Heart/Mystery Rose” was played six times in a row on Norman Jay’s Giant 45's Radio.

“Great Deep Soul Album” – Giles Peterson (BBC Radio 1)
“A Future Soul Classic” – Straight No Chaser Magazine
“Very satisfying & Quirky album” – Patrick Forge (Kiss 100)
“Captures an essence & cohesive spirit that is too often missing in modern hip hop and soul” Giant Step (NYC)
“Great Soul Album from LBS for fans of Ubiquity, Madlib & J-Dilla” – Groove Distribution

Gumdrop – Hi-Flautin (alteredvibes 2006)
Gumdrop is an electro funk project I did with long time friend Rob Mac.

Rob, alongside compatriot Matty Smooth, were the innovators of scratch promotion, bringing together the very best of hip hop in London and the USA. It was a real smash to go to and experience a happening right in the heart of London.

Rob Mac was producing music and I was asked to sing on one of his album tracks for the speaka project, featuring Valerie Perkins, Roger Robinson and the soulful expression of Alison David. We toured this project throughout Europe in 2002 and performed at The Drum Rhythm festival in Amsterdam - which was fun and received lots of interest. A few years later, after completion of this project, Rob unleashed, amongst other aliases ‘Jumbonics’ and ‘Speeka’, ‘Gumdrop’ - which I had the pleasure to work on.

Rob and I work in a particular way which is effortless. He’s a great all rounder and has a theme to his work which moves it steadily forward. Keeping with the hip hop George Clinton sensibility, Rob created some great mid tempo tracks, with live kit from Matty Smooth and Phat Beats and Bass line, SYRUP to the air drums.

This album led to a tour in England and synchronisation releases for adverts, one being ‘braun’ in Japan and in Europe through Westbury Music.