gatherings

Quantic - Sound of Everything (Señorlobo & Watch TV Remix)

Buy / Stream the album here: https://orcd.co/imageanation

Philadelphia soul artist Valvin “V” Roane makes a welcome return to BBE Music with new album ‘Image A Nation’, his first full-length project on the label since 2005 underground classic ‘The Revelation Is Now Televised’.

Independently releasing several albums and EPs in the almost 15 years since his BBE debut, we are delighted to join forces with V once again for another timeless soul classic. Working with such luminaries as Justin Timberlake, Musiq Soulchild and Will Smith during a storied career, V also toured for many years as backing vocalist for Jill Scott.

Created with trailblazers and teachers like Quincy Jones and Marvin Gaye firmly in mind, ‘Image A Nation’ paints a vivid picture of a people and culture on the move.

“Synchronicity played a major factor in the themes and tone of both lyrics and music. We found ourselves telling a magical story of life as a voyage or trip, learning to avoid the pitfalls- forever reaching to find that ”utopia” but being tested as you go through a maze of obstacles. This was real life to a lot of us so it was easy to create from that theme.”

A collaborative effort from inception onwards, the core writing team behind ‘Image A Nation’comprised his production partners Jontae Slade, Andre Capers and Philly music scene stalwart (also occasional Questlove hype man) Yameen Allworld working closely alongside V.

“Every day for a month when I arrived to the studio, Yameen or Jontae would play me a new track they just did that day. The music was so good and perfectly in the realm I was looking for, that we would write and record it on the spot. A lot of this album happened like that.”

Once the songs had been sketched out, Wiz Khalifa and Jay Z’s former tour drummer Eric “Boots” Greene adroitly manifested V’s ambitious concept for the album from behind the studio desk, guiding the final arrangements, providing live instrumentation and lovingly refining ‘Image A Nation’ into something truly ageless.

In the grand tradition of social commentary personified by Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, songs like “Hell No Wont Go”, “Power To The People” and “Into The Light” offer the comfort of solidarity through dark and difficult times. Manifestations of hope and positive affirmations abound in “We Shall Overcome”, “Love Conquers All” and title track “Image A Nation”, adding up to an album which both acknowledges the struggles of yesterday and today, while constantly communicating a sense of openness and optimism for the future.

Music by Valvin Roane II and Yameen Allworld. 
Lyrics by Valvin Roane II and Yameen Allworld. 
Produced by Valvin Roane II and Yameen Allworld. 
All vocals by Valvin Roane II. 
Music recorded at JayWar Nix studio. 
Vocals recorded at The Grand Room studio and engineered by Leon “Miyachi” Pearl. 
Mixing, additional instrumentation and additional vocal arrangement recorded at Breed studio by Eric “boots” Greene. 
Publishing by Valvin Roane Music ASCAP/BBE Music, Jeffrey Nix ASCAP.

Love Conquers All

V - Love Conquers All

Buy / Stream the album here: https://orcd.co/neosoulsessions

Long-time ambassador of Black Music in the UK, club and radio DJ Ronnie Herel presents Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1, his debut compilation for BBE Music.

Cutting his teeth on the 80’s and 90s club scene in London, MOBO nominated DJ and producer Ronnie Herel has been a powerful champion of high-quality soulful music in the UK for over 3 decades. One of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s first signings, Ronnie went on to scout talent for TV show‚ The Voice’ before finding a new home as head of music at internationally renowned station Mi Soul.

Offering up a meticulously selected selection of hip-hop soul gems, Ronnie Herel’s Neo Soul Sessions Vol. 1 shines a light on a number of incredible artists, singers, songwriters, musicians and producers who find themselves in the netherworld between ‘underground’ and ‘overground’: too accomplished to fall into the former category, yet not ‘mainstream’ enough to fall into the latter. “The fact is” says Herel, “there’s a whole world of smokin’ grooves out there that most of the time gets overlooked for radio playlists; the powers-that- be opting for the more manufactured, purpose-built mainstream record.”

Featuring UK talents Omar, Etta Bond, Children of Zeus and Terri Walker alongside US heroes Foreign Exchange, Phonte, Erro and the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff, this collection delivers the very best in contemporary soul from both sides of the Atlantic.

“The words, thoughts, production, love and hard work these artists put into their music is clear for you to hear. Hopefully you will have made some new discoveries and will continue explore their music beyond this compilation. I hope there will be many more volumes to come, but we need your support and the artists need your support for that to happen, so tell everyone about this, and enjoy!” – Ronnie Herel

gatherings

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