Extra Soul Perception is a collaboration and community music platform which started life between the UK, Kenya and Uganda, and continuing to grow and connect independent musicians worldwide. In November 2019, eight artists from Kenya, Uganda and the UK spent a week in Nairobi together exploring new tangents in soul music, the result was their 2020 debut EP ‘New Tangents In Kampala, London & Nairobi Vol. 1’.

The collective was made up of Faizal Mostrixx (UG), Hibotep (UG), K15 (UK), Karun (KE), Labdi (KE), Lex Amor (UK), Lynda Dawn (UK) and Maxwell Owen (UK). Now with the with the addition of Itsmdnyt (UG), XL Middleton (US), Xenia Menasseh (KE), Sola and Azu Tiwaline (TUN), the collective are preparing to release their album ‘New Tangents in Kampala, London and Nairobi’, released 25th March.

Having started life in 2019 at a writing camp in Nairobi, the album was completed remotely over course of the worldwide lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Innovators in their own fields, each artist brings unique knowledge and musical culture to the project. Collectively they represent a broad spectrum of sound, each with a unique understanding of the power of soul music in its many forms. The album reflects this via an inspiring mixture of beautiful soul, glitchy beats, spoken word and bumping instrumentals.

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New Tangents In Kampala, London and Nairobi

Pre-order the album with 3 instant downloads: https://maratk.bandcamp.com/album/bad-meditation

Mara TK, a golden voiced, Maori-Scottish world-wandering citizen of Aotearoa (New Zealand) announces his debut solo album ‘Bad Meditation’, released 7th May on Extra Soul Perception. Stepping out on his own, Mara TK is the former frontman of the acclaimed Kiwi future soul trio Electric Wire Hustle. Written and produced by Mara himself, ‘Bad Meditation’ is his 13 track opus, a deeply personal account of heritage, love, loss and healing.

Mara shares  ‘Highly Medicated'  the single follows previous release ‘Met At The River’, which featured the vocals of Kenyan singer and songwriter Xenia Manasseh.

On the melancholic lament ‘Highly Medicated’, Mara opens up about his journey to heal following the death of his grandfather, who was his link to traditional customs in Aotearoa.

Mara explains “I tried everything to plug up the void and eventually I shut everyone out and I was finally alone. I takoto tūpāpaku au. I would put on videos of the old people here talking - interviews with my elders. They said ‘Love yourself, forgive yourself. This is where you start.’ and that’s been the best medication I’ve had so far”.

An alumnus of Red Music Academy in Toronto, Mara TK’s work beyond Electric Wire Hustle has seen him collaborate with critically lauded names including Om’Mas Keith of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Detroit producer and J Dilla collaborator Waajeed, and Steve Spacek.

Extra Soul Perception is a collaboration and community music platform that started life between the UK, Kenya and Uganda but is now continuing to grow and connect independent musicians worldwide. Now with Mara TK added to the roster, Extra Soul Perception has released music by Lex Amor, K15, Maxwell Owin, Lynda Dawn, Hibotep, Karun, Labdi, Faizal Mostrixx and more.

Bad Meditation

Mara TK - Highly Medicated [Clip]

This Spring sees the highly anticipated return of Mara TK, the golden voiced singer of the Kiwi future soul trio Electric Wire Hustle. While EWH’s globally acclaimed career has seen this Māori-Scottish singer wonder all across the world, with his debut solo album ‘Bad Meditation’ he is returning to deeply personal topics about his home in Aotearoa (or long white cloud, the Māori name for New Zealand). The third single and the album’s title track is released 9th April.

Electric Wire Hustle released three critically revered albums released over seven years with their final output being ‘The 11th Sky’ came in 2016 across which time they grew a devoted following.

In the five years since then, Mara TK has been on a journey of musical self-discovery, as he says; “writing this album has been a form of therapy over the last few years trying to figure out what kind of music I wanted to make next”. The result, ‘Bad Meditation’, is his thirteen-track magnum opus, written and produced by Mara himself.

Speaking of the process of making the album he says; “I was offered what was basically a whole studio worth of gear from a friend who was moving overseas. I took a gamble and bought that gear and have spent the last five years learning how to use this shit. I had to bet on my own ability to learn new things so it was scary, but also keep in mind that music, like any other creative form doesn’t have to be perfect - the brush strokes don’t have to be exactly straight”.

‘Bad Meditation’ is an account of love, loss, healing and the story of Mara’s Māori heritage. As he explains; “Growing up poor, everything goes through our indigenous lens. Here in Aotearoa we have our own Gods, our own values our own ways of speaking that are different to the colonial/capitalist culture”.

This sentiment is carried through on the groove of ‘Grew Up Inna Chaos’ and the storytelling on previous single, melancholic lament, ‘Highly Medicated’, which sees Mara open up about his journey to heal following the death of his grandfather, who was his link to traditional customs in Aotearoa. Current single ‘Bad Meditation’ and ‘Colours’ are filled with layered harmonies, while the influence of Mara’s father, psychedelic rock guitarist Billy TK, seeps through. Features on the album include Kenyan R&B singer and songwriter Xenia Manasseh on ‘Met At The River’ and Māori musician Troy Kingi on the Boris Gardiner inspired ‘Every Hori Is A Star’.

An alumnus of Red Music Academy in Toronto, Mara TK’s work beyond Electric Wire Hustle has seen him collaborate with critically lauded names including Om’Mas Keith of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Detroit producer and J Dilla collaborator Waajeed, and Steve Spacek.

Extra Soul Perception is a collaboration and community music platform that started life between the UK, Kenya and Uganda but is now continuing to grow and connect independent musicians worldwide. Now with Mara TK added to the roster, Extra Soul Perception has released music by Lex Amor, K15, Maxwell Owin, Lynda Dawn, Hibotep, Karun, Labdi, Faizal Mostrixx and more.

Mara TK - Bad Meditation [Clip]

This Spring sees the highly anticipated return of Mara TK, the golden voiced singer of the Kiwi future soul trio Electric Wire Hustle. While EWH’s globally acclaimed career has seen this Māori-Scottish singer wonder all across the world, with his debut solo album ‘Bad Meditation’ he is returning to deeply personal topics about his home in Aotearoa (or long white cloud, the Māori name for New Zealand). The third single and the album’s title track is released 9th April.

Electric Wire Hustle released three critically revered albums released over seven years with their final output being ‘The 11th Sky’ came in 2016 across which time they grew a devoted following.

In the five years since then, Mara TK has been on a journey of musical self-discovery, as he says; “writing this album has been a form of therapy over the last few years trying to figure out what kind of music I wanted to make next”. The result, ‘Bad Meditation’, is his thirteen-track magnum opus, written and produced by Mara himself.

Speaking of the process of making the album he says; “I was offered what was basically a whole studio worth of gear from a friend who was moving overseas. I took a gamble and bought that gear and have spent the last five years learning how to use this shit. I had to bet on my own ability to learn new things so it was scary, but also keep in mind that music, like any other creative form doesn’t have to be perfect - the brush strokes don’t have to be exactly straight”.

‘Bad Meditation’ is an account of love, loss, healing and the story of Mara’s Māori heritage. As he explains; “Growing up poor, everything goes through our indigenous lens. Here in Aotearoa we have our own Gods, our own values our own ways of speaking that are different to the colonial/capitalist culture”.

This sentiment is carried through on the groove of ‘Grew Up Inna Chaos’ and the storytelling on previous single, melancholic lament, ‘Highly Medicated’, which sees Mara open up about his journey to heal following the death of his grandfather, who was his link to traditional customs in Aotearoa. Current single ‘Bad Meditation’ and ‘Colours’ are filled with layered harmonies, while the influence of Mara’s father, psychedelic rock guitarist Billy TK, seeps through. Features on the album include Kenyan R&B singer and songwriter Xenia Manasseh on ‘Met At The River’ and Māori musician Troy Kingi on the Boris Gardiner inspired ‘Every Hori Is A Star’.

An alumnus of Red Music Academy in Toronto, Mara TK’s work beyond Electric Wire Hustle has seen him collaborate with critically lauded names including Om’Mas Keith of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Detroit producer and J Dilla collaborator Waajeed, and Steve Spacek.

Extra Soul Perception is a collaboration and community music platform that started life between the UK, Kenya and Uganda but is now continuing to grow and connect independent musicians worldwide. Now with Mara TK added to the roster, Extra Soul Perception has released music by Lex Amor, K15, Maxwell Owin, Lynda Dawn, Hibotep, Karun, Labdi, Faizal Mostrixx and more. 
credits

Mara TK - Grew Up Inna Chaos Feat. 2MY - [Clip]

Melvo is back with a new episode of The Remedy, a usual eclectic selection of music & with two new guests. 

Chicago artist Ric Wilson joins Melvo live in the studio to talk all things music, also, label feature with Extra Soul Perception. 

01. The Love Unlimited Orchestra – Satin Soul
02. Little Simz featuring Cleo Sol - Woman
03. Sinead Harnett - Ready Is Always Too Late
04. Kymara & Bobbie Johnson - Home
05. Takuya Kuroda - Everybody Loves the Sunshine
06. Jungle Brown - Keep It Movin'
07. Shelley FKA DRAM - Something About Us
08. Planet Giza featuring JMF - Hands On
09. Rochelle Jordan - ALL ALONG
10. Durand Jones & The Indications – Witchoo
11. Cupidon, KALLITECHNIS & Ric Wilson - Wake Up, Get Down
12. Ric Wilson & Terrace Martin - Move Like This
13. Royce Wood Junior - Honey'd Up
14. Bluestaeb featuring Ric Wilson & cay caleb. - Whoa Wait
15. Gabriels - Love and Hate in a Different Time (Aroop Roy Rework)
16. Makaz featuring LYMA - Not so different
17. Fényan featuring Kosmo Kint - Break Your Rules (Original Mix)
18. DJ Spoony featuring Lifford - Gabrielle
19. Faizal Mostrixx & Karun - In My Soul
20. Mara TK featuring Xenia Manasseh - Met at the River
21. Lynda Dawn & Bes Kept – Roses
22. Rasmus Faber featuring Dyanna Fearon - All of My Dreams (BBQ-79 Mix)
23. dego - This Is A Message To You
24. Hadiya George - Hot Flavor (Kaidi Tatham's Remix)
25. Brief Encounter - Human

The Remedy 011 w/ Ric Wilson + Extra Soul Perception

70s funk and 80s boogie from the London singer-songwriter. 

Interview & tracklist: https://www.stampthewax.com/2021/07/14/stamp-mix-111-lynda-dawn/

Buy Lynda Dawn - Roses 7" on Extra Soul Perception: https://lyndadawn.bandcamp.com/album/lynda-dawn-roses

Stamp Mix 111: Lynda Dawn

Lynda Dawn and XL Middleton collaborate on boogie 7" Roses for Extra Soul Perception. London soul singer Lynda Dawn returns with her first release since being tipped by The Guardian as one of their Ones To Watch in 2021.

Following her participation in the first ESP. writing camp in Nairobi 2019, ‘Roses’ was originally released on New Tangents...Vol. 1 EP alongside four other tracks with artists from the UK, Kenya and Uganda.

As part of the label’s commitment to international collaboration, Roses 7" brings two artists together for the first time, united by their love for boogie. To accompany the original, Lynda collaborated remotely with L.A. producer and record shop owner XL Middleton for an up-tempo fip, mixing g-funk and 90s RnB.

The Roses 7" is Extra Soul Perception’s second release of 2021, following on from Bad Medication, the debut album from former Electric Wire Hustle frontman Mara TK.

Tracklist

A1) Lynda Dawn & Bes Kept - Roses
A2) Lynda Dawn - Roses - XL Middleton Version

Press: andy@extrasoulperception.com
https://lyndadawn.bandcamp.com/album/lynda-dawn-roses
www.extrasoulperception.com

Exclusive Premiere: Lynda Dawn "Roses" XL Middleton Version (upcoming on Extra Soul Perception)

my love for you - stronger than pride

C1) Azu Tiwaline   Labdi - Hewa

B2) Sola   Labdi - Nanae

B1) Maxwell Owin   Xenia Menasseh Feat. Joe Armon - Jones - Probably Never

A3) Lynda Dawn   XL Middleton - Roses

A2) K15, Lex Amor   Karun - Hold On

Buy Vinly

A1) K15   Labdi - Utokapo

This week on the podcast we welcome Lucy Cook, long time friend of the festival who's been behind some of our favourite downtempo mixes of the past few years for the likes of Outsiders and MMSU. Settle in for 90-minutes of earworms, passing by downtempo, hip hop and acid jazz on a leisurely summer stroll.

Catch Lucy spinning this year for The Ghost's takeover of The Beach on the festival's last day.

DIM292 - Lucy Cook

For the 37th installment in our Just For The Night series, selectors take you on their own journey through groove. Anything goes.

Next up, Los Angeles producer & beat maker Dyami O'Brien aka Jamma-Dee 🌎 His adolescent obsession with record digging and beatmaking eventually led him to @Dam-Funk’s renown Funkmosphere parties where he built friendships with key players in the LA funk scene and began to make a name for himself as a DJ and producer. He's a part of the west coast modern funk and boogie scene, having released records under his own name and producing for the likes of @JoyceWrice & @Mndsgn.

His first full-length LP 'Perceptions' is one of our favourite 2023 releases, a masterclass in modern funk and soul production, with influences ranging from classic deep house & new jack rhythms to UK street soul & downtempo R&B, with collaborators including @The-Koreatown-Oddity, @Mndsgn & Benedek (check track Datafile Groove 🔥)

Enjoy this bouncing, groove-filled hour of all-wax deep cuts, garage house & more 🚀 

Eternal thanks @Jamma-Dee 🙏

Just For The Night #37 - Jamma-Dee

FAUZIA is an artist of many moods. The UK talent moves from IDM to soul on her NTS Radio residency, while her club DJ sets reveal her love for '90s-style breaks, electro and bass-heavy sounds. In the studio, she explores her softer side through self-released homespun dub and ambient jungle.

In recent years, she's gravitated towards live performances. Her gossamer vocals, one of her strongest suits, cuts through live instrumentation like a hummingbird in agile flight. In 2020, the London-based talent told Mixmag that she was done being categorised as a "dance music" artist—and so far, she's succeeded. While she incorporates clubby touchstones into her work, there's a deep level of cross-genre knowledge and blending at play.

FAUZIA's RA podcast makes that clear. Free of any four-to-the-floor music, it moves from experimental jazz to orchestral melodies to R&B ballads for a thoughtful and introspective journey full of her own unreleased music that points towards her newer interest in composition. This is music to be felt, so let your guard down and let it wash over you.

@FAUZIA

Read more at https://ra.co/podcast/926

C1) Azu Tiwaline Labdi - Hewa

Extra Soul Perception

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