This mix is dedicated to the world amidst these trying times. Especially, to all of those who are feeling unsure of what tomorrow may bring for our loved ones, ourselves and our communities.

I am right there with you family and I hope this music can give you some sort of inspiration to help us all get through these uncertain times. Sending you nothing but love, strength and some funky, soulful medicine music. In solidarity from Mindanao, Philippines to where ever you are on this Planet Earth.

Trust (Y)our Struggle,
Pele

Flevans continues his mission to bring funk magic to the masses. On 'Realisation', he teams up with south coast songstress Laura Vane in the next chapter of a songwriting partnership that has taken clubs and airwaves by storm.

'Realisation' takes the best parts of the groove and feel of 80’s boogie classics and updates them with next level 2020 production skills while an extremely catchy hook makes certain this song will be in your head all year long.

Formerly with Tru Thoughts and now signed to Jalapeno Records - it’s fair to say that Mr Flevans has got a type… that type being Brighton labels with an ear for quality. No need to pop up to London – it’s all right here on his doorstep.

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released February 21, 2020

An ode to 90’s R&B, Amerigo Gazaway and Xiomara’s “1990” album is a nostalgic love letter to an era that redefined the genre. Known for his work reinterpreting classics, Gazaway (most recently tapped by the Miles Davis estate for his work on the lost Rubberband sessions), steps out of his role as a remixer and gives Bay Area artist, Xiomara, the bedrock for her voice to flourish.

With her breakout 2016 release “Seven Nineteen,” Xiomara’s soulful debut took home top rankings in SF Weekly’s “5 Best Bay Area Albums of 2016” list and led to guest spots on releases from Son Little, Blu, and Oh No to name a few. Leaning heavy on Xiomara’s songwriting and arrangement chops, the newly formed duo spent the last year crafting a collaboration as original as it is reminiscent.

Watch the video for "That Old Alarm" here: youtu.be/jdJD78WBNYc

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released November 4, 2019

Soul Mates 2019

Written & Performed by Xiomara
Produced & Mixed by Amerigo Gazaway
Executive Producer: Rickey Mindlin

Post-Production Mixing & Mastering by Art Webb
(thisisartmusic.com)

Additional Credits:

Lyrics written and performed by Blu
(thenewcolorblu.bandcamp.com)

Electric Bass, Turntables, Recorder, MIDI Sequencing, Drum Programming, Recorder: Amerigo Gazaway

From the album "All For You" by CRAC.
http://www.kingunderground.com/product/ku-065

Listen to Morning in America by Durand Jones & The Indications #np on #SoundCloud

From the album, "The Red". Coming Nov 29 on KingUnderground. VINYL pre-order 01/11. http://www.kingunderground.com/

2 track album

Record Kicks presents “Record Kicks Summer Soul” a super-hot new DIGITAL ONLY compilation of vintage soul and heavy funk ideal for your scorching summer days. 

A collection of essential deep soul releases from the very best of the Milan based label's roster that contains all the latest singles mixed together with heavy-weight classics and obscure pearls from the vaults. Tracklist includes “Worth It” the brand new singles by Portughese soul sister Marta Ren, “Tell Me Something” by Toronto's soulstress Tanika Charles and “Your Words” by Bordeaux based enfant prodige of Soul Alexis Evans. In the tracklist also classics cuts and obscure pearls like “Everything Better in The Summertime” by Nick Pride & The Pimptones, “Trading Water” by Baby Charles, “Mamacita” by Aussie Dojo Cuts and many more. 


Everything's better in the summertime, isn't it?

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releases July 19, 2019

released January 1, 2016 

Music by NORI THE FUNK BAND (NORI THE FUNK & JAPO)

RELEASE DATE OCTOBER 18TH 2019 

The High Anticipated album by JAY-Z's Soul Hurricane HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS produced by award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist SHAWN LEE. 

Hannah Williams, British Soul Sensation Sampled By Jay-Z, Stands Tall On New Album '50 Foot Woman' 

Hannah Williams, the British soul hurricane who sensationally became part of Jay-Z's chart-topping 4:44 album, is primed and ready for her own national and international breakthrough. 

Williams turned heads worldwide when the hip-hop superstar sampled her heart-stopping vocals on 'Late Nights & Heartbreak' for the title track, ‘4.44’ on his 2017 album. Now Hannah and her exemplary, Bristol-based band the Affirmations deliver a definitive career statement with the drop-dead soulful new album 50 Foot Woman which will be released October 18th on the Milan based imprint Record Kicks. 

The album captures all of the visceral power of the band's increasingly legendary live performances. Shades of classic Soul and Psychedelic Funk blend uniquely with modern-day flavours on a record destined to set the soul agenda for 2019 and far beyond. “I've...  more

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releases October 7, 2019 

Hannah Williams & The Affirmations are: 
Hannah Williams – Main Vocal 
James Graham – Wurlitzer, Piano, Organ 
Adam Newton – Bass 
Adam Holgate – Guitar 
Jai Widdowson-Jones – Drums, Percussion 
Victoria Klewin – Backing Vocals 
Hannah Nicholson – Backing Vocals 
Liam Treasure – Trombone 
Tom Taylor – Baritone Saxophone 

All tracks written by J. Graham, accept Track 3, written by V. Klewin and J. Grahm, Track 6 written by V. Klewin and Track 8 written by A. Holgate and J. Graham. 
Produced by Shawn Lee 
Recorded at Ata Studios, Leeds February – March 2019 by Neil Innes.
Mixed at Trans-Yank Studio, London by Pierre Du Plan and Shawn Lee. 
Mastered at Golden Studio, Ventura CA by JJ Golden.

"Tanika Charles Gets “The Gumption” To Become a Soul Star" Bandcamp Daily 
"Tanika Proves She Has 'The Gumption' on Her Confident New Album" Exclaim Mag 
"Best New Music" KCRW 
"We're hooked! 15 albums you need to hear this Spring" CBS Music 
"la soul ardente de Tanika Charles" FIP (Radio France) 
"Tanika Charles Is Living Her Best Life" Soul Bounce 
"A cut above the rest" ROCKERILLA Mag 
"Impressive!" BILLBOARD Mag 
"Tanika Shows Off Her 'Gumption' POPMATTERS 
"Essential release" Blues&Soul Mag 


The new album by Juno Award and Polaris Music Prize-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles. 

Produced by a stable of some of Canada's finest musical minds including DJ Kemo (The Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall), Chin Injeti (DJ Khalil, Eminem, Drake) and Daniel Lee (Hooded Fang, Phedre), Record Kicks proudly presents "The Gumption" the awaited new album by Canadian soul star Tanika Charles that will hit the streets worldwide on May 10. 

"What gave you the gumption?" Tanika Charles rhetorically asks during the introductory notes of her sophomore album appropriately titled The Gumption. While the apprehensive lover at the receiving end of that inquisition should feel slighted by the remark, it also alludes to the assuredness Tanika has gained since the release of her Juno Award and Polaris Music Prize-nominated debut Soul Run. The Gumption picks up where Soul Run left off, continuing her tradition of marrying classic soul with modern production styles. Across a dozen songs spanning 38 minutes, Tanika addresses moments of vulnerability, vindication, uncertain love, forbidden fruit and the state of the world today. "It's a little more mature. It's not feeling guilty about being up front, not being afraid to address situations that aren't comfortable for me. I'm comfortable in my skin now in a way I never was before. The overall theme is growth. I feel the music reflects that, and my words reflects that. Even the album cover tries to convey the feeling too. I'm not putting up with unnecessary nonsense anymore." 

Predominately guitar-driven mid-tempo soul, with a handful of dance floor friendly tunes and some psychedelic leanings, The Gumption was indirectly influenced by the likes of Alabama Shakes, The Supremes, Khruangbin, D'Angelo, and Moses Sumney. It is sonically moody at times, but with consistent silver-lining arcs. "I've grown up and learned to deal with situations significantly better. We have a tendency to hold back our innermost feelings for fear of hurting others. Even when we're happy we worry about over-sharing, as if joy is a competition you don't want to gloat about." 

The success of Soul Run propelled Tanika in front of new audiences far and wide, with extensive touring in North America and Europe. "I've been touring, experiencing new places and meeting new people. And in that time also worked on completing this album". While criss-crossing Canada with festival appearances on both the east and west coasts, Tanika also embarked upon four overseas tours for a combined 45 European shows within a one year period. This included performances at the prestigious Trans Musicales Festival in France, the Lärz, Germany Fusion Festival, Mostly Funk & Soul and Jazz Festival in UK, the Holy Groove Festival in Switzerland, and the Canarias Jazz Festival in Spain. 

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released May 10, 2019

2 track album

Zajazza, producer, beatmaker and globe-trotter joins Fraser, multi-instrumentalist and doctor in groovology. Together, they produced a 70's style record, sublimated with the voice of Maddy Butcher, Singer-Songwriter and DJ from Birmingham. 
This record is a perfect mix of Funk, Rock and spontaneity.

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releases April 24, 2019 

Composed by Zajazza & Fraser. 
Written by Maddy Butcher. 

Mix: Zajazza 
Mastering: Christian Hierro

Take the legendary music of The Doors and add the Djar One's production skillz and you have 2 killer reworks to burn the dancefloors !! 
ULTRA LIMITED EDITION 45 ORANGE VINYL 100ex !!! 
LIMITED EDITION 45 BLACK VINYL 200ex ! 

www.45live.net/magazine/article/djar-one-soul-kitchen-beats-house 
"Kickstarting the week in fine fashion is the brand new release from Djar One entitled 'Soul Kitchen' on Beats House Records. Channelling that unmistakeable Morrission growl by reinforcing the psych-tinged original with the producer's trademark beefy drums that will charm dancefloors worldwide. 'Soul Kitchen' is likely to have Djar One's peers simultaneously nodding their heads while at the same time ripping up their ideas book. None of the charm of the original release is lost here but what is gained is that club appeal that will make this an essential shopping list item for all DJs that like to keep the dancers dancing!"

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released April 8, 2019 

Reworked, mixed and mastered by Djar One at Beats House Studio, LH.

1st single "Tunring" is taken from "Suzume"LP, released 13th of April 2019
jlamotta.lnk.to/Suzume
Music & production by J.Lamotta Suzume 
Bass by Martin Bhul 
Rhodes piano by Doron Segal
Drums by Ra'fat Muhammad
Recorded at Jazzanova Studio, Berlin by Axel Reminder & Jose Victor Torelli
Mix by Q3000
Master by Roskow Kretschmann

11 track album

So how’s your year been? Compiling these annual compilations naturally puts me in a reflective mood, looking back over the months since I sat down to put together Volume Fourteen. Last year I wrote about how music can be a refuge from the harsh realities of the wider world and that seems truer than ever. I’ve not known a more turbulent year politically and it seems like there is worse to come in the years ahead. 

But now isn’t the time to dwell on that - you’re here for music and on that score 2018 can be judged in a much more positive light. For us at First Word it has been without doubt our best year yet, with albums from Children Of Zeus, Quiet Dawn, Kaidi Tatham and Eric Lau plus EPs from newcomer Yazmin Lacey and Souleance plus remix packages from Darkhouse Family and Profusion. For the fifteenth instalment of this compilation series I’ve picked one track from each of the year’s releases (including selections from our sister label Excursions) with a couple of exclusives added, rounding it out to 17 tracks of soul, hip hop, beats, jazz and bruk. 

Of the new tracks, we have low slung instrumental hip hop from FW extended family Mo Fingaz and Sleepin Giant, soulful beats from Jake Milliner (featuring Bubblerap) and a sneak peek at Don...  more

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released December 21, 2018 

Design & Sequencing by DJ Gilla

"Cool“ is the second album by Otis Junior and Dr.Dundiff. Otis and Dundiff both are originally from Louisville, Kentucky. They only met shortly before they released their first work together. Sometimes musicians take their time to find a formula, to carve out a way in which they create. Not those two. It was an instant creative connection, a artistic bond from the get go which makes them produce classic song after classic song. Otis once summarized their working approach like this: "As with our previous works, the concepts for the songs and album were born from Dundiff presenting me with broad ideas (instrumentals and titles) and allowing me to define them through my own perspective (with lyrics and melodies)“. 

Dundiff's organic yet hard hitting productions compliment Otis Junior soulful timbre perfectly. Around 60% of the sounds on the album are played live while 40% are based on samples which shows how the music is created within two different musical birthplaces. the result is too Hip Hop to be Soul and vice versa but it is sitting very well in between these chairs. 

When Otis Junior and Dr.Dundiff approach an album production they always try to establish an ongoing theme for the album. Their latest work deals with the concept of „Cool“ and the...  more

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released December 14, 2018

First Word Records is very proud to present a brand new EP from Yazmin Lacey - ’When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees’. 

This EP follows on from her two recent singles, ’90 Degrees’ and ‘Something My Heart Trusts’, both of which are included here, along with three previously unreleased tracks, ’Heaven’, ‘Body Needs Healing’ and ’Burn & Rise’. This set illustrates again Yazmin’s candid songwriting delivered in her uniquely laidback soulful style, whilst a glorious fusion of neo-soul and jazz performed by Pete Beardsworth and her trusty band rides throughout. 

In recent times, Yazmin has made live appearances on Jazz FM, BBC Radio 4, 1Xtra and NTS, & received widespread acclaim across the airwaves, including BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, Worldwide FM and Mi Soul, plus Spotify love from the likes of The Independent and heavy support from DJs such as Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan and Jamie Cullum. Yazmin appeared heavily in The Guardian / The Observer's recent extensive feature on the UK's new Jazz movement too. 

Initially a Brownswood ‘Future Bubbler’ graduate, Yazmin self-released her debut EP, 'Black Moon', last year. This lead to a Maida Vale session late 2017 with Jordan Rakei, Moses Boyd, Oscar...  more

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released June 22, 2018