Georgian Kiss - Souleance

On a Saturday morning at the start of November 2013, First Word Records took 3 of our favourite producers out of London to spend the day browsing through the vinyl shelves of the biggest record nerd we know - the incomparable Mr Thing. This was the culmination of an idea that first manifested itself on Record Store Day 2012. Like most ideas it was a natural conclusion to a conversation about records and music - kidkanevil had expressed a desire to dig through Mr Thing's sizeable collection for some inspiration. Chatting to Mr Thing it seemed unfair to limit this to only one producer - Tall Black Guy and Eric Lau were top of our wish list. So - a double 7" (Mr Thing would make a beat too - they are his records after all) in time for Record Store Day 2013 (yes, we're a year late). There was however one stipulation about the records from the usually mild-mannered Mr Thing:
'The guys can sample anything they like, but Nothing Leaves The House....'
And who were we to argue.....
The result is four tracks that celebrate our love for record digging, sample chopping and the simple love of a dope beat.


kidkanevil - Loopin III

Eric Lau - Chop For Mr Thing

Mr Thing - Changes

On a Saturday morning at the start of November 2013, First Word Records took 3 of our favourite producers out of London to spend the day browsing through the vinyl shelves of the biggest record nerd we know - the incomparable Mr Thing. This was the culmination of an idea that first manifested itself on Record Store Day 2012. Like most ideas it was a natural conclusion to a conversation about records and music - kidkanevil had expressed a desire to dig through Mr Thing's sizeable collection for some inspiration. Chatting to Mr Thing it seemed unfair to limit this to only one producer - Tall Black Guy and Eric Lau were top of our wish list. So - a double 7" (Mr Thing would make a beat too - they are his records after all) in time for Record Store Day 2013 (yes, we're a year late). 

There was however one stipulation about the records from the usually mild-mannered Mr Thing:

'The guys can sample anything they like, but Nothing Leaves The House....'
And who were we to argue.....

The result is four tracks that celebrate our love for record digging, sample chopping and the simple love of a dope beat.

Tall Black Guy - One To One

First Word are proud to present 'Vendetta', the lead track from 'The Soviet Tape Vol.1' - a new collaborative LP from Fulgeance & DJ Scientist - premiered exclusively for THUMP.

DJ Scientist, one of Germany's most prolific record collectors (check out his incredible 'Soviet Grooves' mix for Solid Steel) dug out a slew of samples from his archives, enlisting Fulgeance (MPC virtuoso and one half of Souleance) who transformed the source material into a truly unique and original album.

Taking forgotten records from Russia to Moldavia, The Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and beyond, the duo have interspersed the largely instrumental album with skits culled from 60s CIA documentaries as well as vocal cuts featuring Blu, Open Mike Eagle and DistantStarr. This all adds up to a release that is both a throwback to the uncertain times of the Cold War and a tribute to the great depth of music that the former Union was responsible for.  

With high-concept artwork from Emile Sacre, taking it's cue from original Soviet records, the album is in turns jazzy, psychedelic and soulful, but with hip hop at it's core. A follow up is already in the works - keep 'em peeled comrades!

@fulgeance
@djscientist

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-soviet-tape-vol.-1/id939105985

Fulgeance & DJ Scientist - Vendetta - (Thump Exclusive)

"Tides" is the debut album from Manchester-based producer Matt Brewer aka Frameworks. Since the release of his first EP ‘Vanish’ back in 2012, Frameworks has been building a loyal following for his atmospheric and haunting compositions. ‘Tides’ sees him joining the dots between instrumental hip hop heroes Aim and RJD2, the epic soundscapes of Cinematic Orchestra and the deft songwriting of Bonobo.

Previous collaborators Rioghnach Connolly and JP Cooper return for the album with two tracks apiece. Rioghnach gives a captivating vocal performance on lead single
‘Calm The Still Night’ and the brooding ‘Dawn’, whilst JP (recently signed to Island Records) brings raw soul to ‘Old Friend’ and ‘No Place To Hide Away’.

The bedrock of the album is instrumental with Frameworks’ trademark string-laden productions taking in cinematic jazz (‘Patience’), folk (‘End’) and more uptempo fare in
the shape of ‘Breathing Light’ and ‘A New Sun’. Tides’ shows just how accomplished Frameworks is as a producer and composer, showing a lightness of touch and genuine song-writing talent that few can emulate.

Frameworks - Old Friend Ft. JP Cooper

Running an independent record label in 2015 is a tricky, (and some would say foolish) task. It is of course, a privilege to be given the responsibility to get an artist's music out into the world, but the label's side of the job is more about spreadsheets and sales ledgers than champagne and cigars. That is why last year's Record Store Day was genuinely one of the most memorable and important days in the life of First Word. We released our first RSD release - Nothing Leaves The House, a project that was dreamt up on RSD 2012, and finally shared two years later. Unlike most records we release, we were able to be there as music fans discovered the record in the shops - an experience that was inspiring, humbling and ever so slightly addictive.

So we were always going to return with part two in 2015, this time with a twist. A year on from the day the trio of Eric Lau, Tall Black Guy and kidkanevil visited Mr Thing's collection to sample his records (where nothing could leave the house), we gathered them at London's Love Vinyl record shop where he had brought one record from his collection for each producer. Their challenge was to make a beat from the individually chosen records: the results massively exceeded our expectations. Originally Mr Thing was going to make a track from something in his collection too, but the three producers decided that he should go through the same process as they would. They picked a record from the racks of the shop (they had to find one he didn't already own first) and his beat was created from that. The result is 4 tracks that truly capture the personalities of each producer, and a record that is born out of a heartfelt love of records - we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.

We'll be back for round 3 in 2016...

DJ Gilla, April 2015


Dedication A, B & C - Eric Lau

Carnival - Mr Thing

Explorer Flip - kidkanevil

Solar Coaster For The People - Tall Black Guy

Sarah Williams White is the latest signing to South London label First Word Records. Hailing from the ‘Hilly Fields of Lewisham’ Sarah is part of a new wave of artists from her corner of London that includes Mo Kolours, Henry Wu as well as her brother Paul White. 

A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Sarah cites influences including Jamie Lidell, Erykah Badu and PJ Harvey as well as more contemporary acts such as Hiatus Kaiyote and Thundercat. Her sound mixes soulful, intricate vocals with subtle beats and layered harmonies.

This approach is writ large across ‘Hum’, the first single taken from her debut mini-LP ‘Of The New World’ due out later this year. Over a skittering beat Sarah showcases both her deft songwriting and breathtaking vocal abilities. Her deceptively intricate production is pulled together with a catchy hook and backed with layers of handclaps, percussion and vocal melodies.

Also included in the single package are two remixes - first up, Sarah’s brother Paul (Golden Rules / One-Handed Music) creates a shimmering, eerie backdrop for Sarah’s vocals, adding darker textures to stunning effect. It confirms Paul’s status as one of the most interesting musical talents that the UK has produced over the last few years. First Word’s own Quiet Dawn has also contributed a mix, taking the track into a more sensual territory, with live bass and subtle guitar creating a neo-soul vibe reminiscent of Jill Scott.


Sarah Williams White - Hum (Single Version)

‘Of The New World’ is the debut album from South London singer and producer Sarah Williams White. 

Sarah is part of a new wave of artists from her corner of London that includes Mo Kolours, Henry Wu as well as her brother Paul White. 

A multiinstrumentalist and vocalist, Sarah cites influences including Jamie Lidell, Erykah Badu and PJ Harvey as well as more contemporary acts such as Hiatus Kaiyote, Jamie Woon and Thundercat. Her sound mixes soulful, intricate vocals with subtle beats (courtesy of Timmy Rickard) and layered harmonies.

Over 12 tracks (7 songs and 5 interludes / soundscapes), this mini-album showcases Sarah’s range of abilities. Tracks like ‘Hum’ and ‘Winter Sun’ highlight her delicate yet powerfully soulful voice, whilst ‘Rainmaker’ and ‘New World’ show her ear for unusual beats and deft musicianship. Elsewhere the hypnotic interludes (‘Arrival’, ‘Adrift) would not be out of place in the more abstract work of her fellow South Londoners over at the 22a label.

Over it’s all too brief 27 minutes this is an album that draws the listener into it’s unique sound – drawing an ethereal thread through a work of wide and ambitious influences. With fans including Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), John Kennedy (Radio X) and Dan Le Sac as well as support from BBC Introducing and BBC London, this is just the beginning for one of the rarer talents that you’ll hear in 2015.

Sarah Williams White - Rainmaker

'Still Standing' is the debut single from the latest signings to First Word Records, Children of Zeus. COZ is a soul project from two of Manchester's most respected artists Konny Kon & Tyler Daley. Konny Kon is a DJ, MC and beatmaker best known as one third of Broke’N'English alongside fellow Mancunians DRS and Strategy. Tyler Daley, also known as Hoodman went from being a respected MC and actor to one of the most in demand soul singers of recent times, lending his vocals and writing talents to music from Soul II Soul's Caron Wheeler, 50 Cent, Lisa Mafia, Bugsy Malone and more.

Whilst the likes of Dub Phizix, Chimpo, Zed Bias and Levelz are making waves in D&B, Bass Music and Grime, Children of Zeus came to break the trend and bring a soulful side that is much needed to continue Manchester's rich musical history. Over the last few years the duo have been releasing tracks through their Soundcloud, generating daytime radio play and legions of devoted fans. They are now finally ready to commit some of these recordings to wax with two tracks that represent the sound that they describe as ‘future classic soul for sophisticated hoodrats’. ‘Still Standing’ is a Bilal-esque slice of neo-soul, a love-letter to the mother’s that raised them, whilst on the flip ‘No Strings Attached’ blends dusty soul samples with a tale of life on the road and the temptations it brings. Look out for COZ’s debut live show in London later this month and more new music very soon.

Children Of Zeus - Still Standing

Children Of Zeus - No Strings Attached

Exclusive first plays of the four tracks for our Record Store Day release 'Nothing Leaves The Archive'. The third and final part of the trilogy, featuring Mr Thing, Tall Black Guy, kidkanevil and Eric Lau.

Thanks to Tom Ravenscroft and 6 Music for the support and all at The John Peel Archive for allowing us access to the collection.

Listen to the full show here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075bp5k

Pick up your copy of the record at your local store on April 16th 2016.

'Nothing Leaves The Archive' First Play. Tom Ravenscroft Radio Rip.

Radio Rip of Huey Morgan's interview with Mr Thing about our Record Store Day Release 'Nothing Leaves The Archive'. Includes plays of all four tracks and the stories behind them.

Special thanks to Tom Whalley for putting this great package together.

Nothing Leaves The Archive - Huey Morgan interviews Mr Thing

First Word Records is very proud to present a brand new full-length album from Kaidi Tatham. ‘It’s A World Before You’.

Following on from two EPs released on First Word last year (‘Changing Times’ and ‘Hard Times’), Kaidi has delivered us thirteen tracks that deftly illustrate his various talents as a multi-instrumentalist.

Kaidi is probably best known for his work with Bugz In The Attic, though his musical contributions over the years have also included Amy Winehouse, Slum Village, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Moonchild, Leroy Burgess, Amp Fiddler, Chris Dave, Macy Gray, King Britt, DJ Spinna, Mr Scruff and IG Culture to name but a few! In recent times, he’s worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff on a variety of projects, including his most recent album ‘M3’, touring Europe for Jeff and Will Smith’s reunion shows, and on the PLAYlist album 'Chasing Goosebumps', with Glenn Lewis, Stro Elliot (The Roots), Masego, Maimouna Youssef, Rich Medina, Daniel Crawford and more.

All this in addition to heating up dances around Europe with his inimitable DJ sets, and working heavily with First Word label-mate, Eric Lau (who also mixed the forthcoming album) on a variety of projects, and adding releases to his already impressive catalogue on 2000 Black, Eglo and Theo Parrish's Sound Signature, with regular compadre, Dego (who features on the album’s title track).

This album personifies Kaidi’s diverse palette of sounds – bar Eric & Dego’s features, every piece of music is played by himself. Largely flowing on a broken beat rhythm section, Kaidi effortlessly incorporates washes of afro, latin and funk throughout. 

‘It’s A World Before You’ is set to cause serious damage to sound-systems over the Summer, and show and prove once again the skills of one of the UK’s best unsung musical talents, Kaidi Tatham.

It's A World Before You

It's A World Before You (ft. Dego)

First Word Records is very pleased to welcome Yazmin Lacey to the label, with this her first offering, '90 Degrees'. 

2017 was an amazing year for this Nottingham-based singer; the release of her debut EP, 'Black Moon', was championed by people such as Gilles Peterson, gal-dem, Jamie Cullum and Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra). Jamz also invited Yazmin to be a part of a live Maida Vale session along with the likes of Jordan Rakei, Moses Boyd, Oscar Jerome and Children of Zeus. The Brownswood 'Future Bubblers' graduate has also supported artists such as Ezra Collective and Fatima in recent times. 

Yazmin kicked off 2018 with a fine start too, by performing at the Worldwide Awards with Skinny Pelembe, and she returns to the road in Spring for a run of dates across the UK, as well as several festival appearances across Europe locked in, and a headline show at Rich Mix in London on April 5th. 

This first new musical offering for 2018 exemplifies just why Yazmin has caught the ear of international DJs and tastemakers, with her candid approach to songwriting, and a unique fusion of Neo-Soul and contemporary Jazz. 

In Yazmin's words: "'90 Degrees' is about that time of the day / night when there's a shift in pace and energy. When you decide to lock off from the 'outside' world and create your own atmosphere, take some time to give thanks for what's breathing love into your life and smoke off the fuckeries. Everyone needs a little routine for self preservation.

Taken from the EP 'When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees', out 22nd June 2018.

When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees

90 Degrees

First Word Records are thrilled to announce a brand new addition to the label – LA beatmaker and producer 14KT. 

Known for his deft, soulful hip hop production, KT has broadened his palate for his FW debut to create 'For My Sanity', the first offering from his jazz-influenced project IAMABEENIE. 

The album will be released in early 2019, but we couldn't wait that long to share this taster of what 14KT created as a form of escaping from his "normal" ways of making music. Case in point: the first single taken from the project – 'The Power of Same' feat. Muhsinah. 

Strongly rooted in KT's spiritual practice, 'The Power of Same' is a bass and synth-heavy ode to consistency and unconditional love, laced nicely together by his signature drum lines, harmonious guitar riffs (played on the track by Stro Elliot) and the unmistakable sound of James Poyser (The Roots). Vocal powerhouse Muhsinah adds layers of emotion via her endearing delivery of the core message, and, deep in the background you can hear KT sharing a very personal routine with us all - giving thanks to God. 

How much of a personal project this is, in 14KT's words? "This was inspired by a bible study plan I was reading called The Power of Same. It spoke about the power of being consistent in our lives. I thought about how consistently God's love and my family's love have gotten me through my journey of life. Once I made a "skeleton" of the song, I reached out to the brother James Poyser who I was extremely blessed to work with. My brother Stro Elliot was living right down the street from me at the time. One night he walked over to my house, I played the record for him, he picked up my electric guitar and played the first thing that came to mind - which was perfect. I played the record for my brother Tall Black Guy, who suggested I reach out to Muhsinah to add vocals. I sent the record to her and two days later she sent me exactly what you hear. Amazing. That was definitely the spirit of God working. Huge shout out to my Playlist family. Love y'all." 

To date, 14KT has released seven solo albums, as well as his collaborative hip hop album, 'Takin' Ls' with emcee Ozay Moore, R&B/soul album, 'Saturn Return' with singer/songwriter AB, and 'The Big Knock', together with Mayer Hawthorne as Jaded Incorporated. 

Last year saw another duo collaboration album with Michigan rapper Ro Spit, entitled 'RSXGLD', a project held in high regard by the global hip hop community.14KT is also part of Jazzy Jeff's Playlist Retreat, alongside our very own Eric Lau, Tall Black Guy and Kaidi Tatham, who also turns out an unmistakably dope remix on this 7" single. 

A very warm welcome to the family, KT!

The Power Of Same

14KT featuring Muhsinah - The Power Of Same (Kaidi Tatham Remix)

OUR BEATS GOT SOUL
Recent releases from; Children Of Zeus, Darkhouse Family, Tawiah, Souleance, Kaidi Tatham, Ross McHenry, Olivier St. Louis, Myele Manzanza, Takuya Kuroda, Eric Lau and much more.
For our full catalogue head to http://shop.firstwordrecords.com/

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