Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Throwing back to @WeOutHereFestival 2024. We had a brilliant takeover in the Brawnswood tent on the opening night, celebrating our 20th birthday!
Big love to all the artists & everyone that came out and partied with us!
Featuring Allysha Joy, Amanda Whiting, Konny Kon, Werkha, Don Leisure, BobaFatt & DJ Gilla.
Video by Tāne Stappard.
Throwing back to @WeOutHereFestival 2024. We had a brilliant takeover in the Brawnswood tent on the opening night, celebrating our 20th birthday!
Big love to all the artists & everyone that came out and partied with us!
Featuring Allysha Joy, Amanda Whiting, Konny Kon, Werkha, Don Leisure, BobaFatt & DJ Gilla.
Video by Tāne Stappard.
![Werkha - Sastrugi [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rnW8Z9I227o/mqdefault.jpg "Werkha - Sastrugi [Audio]
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#FirstWordRecords #ElectronicaDance #BeatsampBreaks
Album: Unsung Irregular [ALBUM]
Track: 11 of 11
Title: Sastrugi
Artist: Werkha
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW340
Formats: Vinyl LP/Digital
Digital Release: 10th October 2025
Physical Release: 10th October 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is very proud to present the new album from Werkha, Unsung Irregular.
This is his third full-length studio LP, and is comprised of 11 tracks showcasing Werkhas unique blend of jazzy breakbeat-tinged electronics and analogue aesthetics. It includes the singles S-Bend, Toast Rack, and two collaborations; Everyday (feat. Ríoghnach Connolly) and Narrow In (feat. Daudi Matsiko) - a pair of revered artists with roots in folk music, complimenting the close connection to nature found throughout Werkhas productions.
——
Werkha (aka Tom Leah) is a multi-instrumentalist born in Rusholme, Manchester. His previous releases on Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records include The Rigour EP (2020), and the All Werk Is Play LP (2022), carrying on from his initial output on the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts label.
Hes had previous support from a wide range of tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Nemone, Don Letts, Jamz Supernova and Zakia (BBC 6 Music), Mo Ayoub (BBC Radio 1), Julie Adenuga, Scratcha DVA, BBC Manchester, Worldwide FM and Rinse FM.
Alongside his own releases, hes collaborated and remixed with Quantic, A Certain Ratio, Marcos Valle, Eska, Chunky, Andrew Ashong and extensively with Keisha Thompson and Bryony Jarman-Pinto, to cite a few.
Werkha has done full band and solo performances across the UK and Europe, touring with the likes of Bonobo, Chet Faker, Rebecca Vasmant and Mr Scruff, and sharing billing with Crazy P, GoGo Penguin, Todd Terje, Lefto and MCDE, gracing stages at legendary venues like The Roundhouse, The Jazz Café and Manchester Cathedral, and various festivals including Glastonbury, SXSW, We Out Here, A Love Supreme and Latitude.
Additionally to playing live, Werkha is a formidable DJ, recently doing a mix for Selector Radio (British Council) and previously for the likes of Tom Ravenscroft & Afrodeutsche (BBC 6 Music), NTS, Primavera Sound and Reform Radio.
——
Werkha is a thoughtful, conscientious artist, whose approach to creating is innovative, unique, ever evolving and deeply groovy.
Putting community at the centre of much of what he does, Werkha worked for a mental health arts charity in Stockport, outreach in rural Cumbria and does continual collaboration with Reform Radio to curate opportunities for upcoming Mancunian artists. As Werkha says, the music we love to listen to doesnt exist unless we water the roots from which it grows.
In recent years, he has been creating and building his side-project, Saturama - a live audio-visual experience aimed at reconnecting to our rainforests in the UK, which has received support from organisations like Plantlife, Manchester Museum and RSPB Wild Haweswater, with more exciting collaborations in the pipeline.
——
The new album Unsung Irregular is a deeply considered and thematically rich project, exploring hidden disabilities and spotlighting the power of irregularities that often go unnoticed.
Werkha says as an album title, Unsung Irregular is an anchor point that brings together a lot of the meaning behind each individual track... its a meeting of beauty and a mishap of the form – an irregularity that I hope I can give a voice to.
More than a reflection on chronic pain, Unsung Irregular is a celebration of movement, and the resilient power of music to transform discomfort into rhythm. Scoliosis has shaped his life in ways both visible and invisible, and the album traces those contours with unflinching honesty.
I dont outwardly use my own vocals on records, so I reach for different sounds and instruments to represent the stories I want to tell.
The process of healing is written into every detail: field recordings, processed vocal textures, geographical references. From the conspicuous architectural reference point of Toast Racks title, to tracks like By Helm and Weak Point which are linked not just by theme, but by sound design; echoing physical locations and personal milestones in Toms recovery.
Theres a vocoder I used on a sample of my voice on By Helm… I used that same texture sidechained to kit in Weak Point… L...")
![Werkha & Daudi Matsiko - Narrow In [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/roaTfDSoiPg/mqdefault.jpg "Werkha & Daudi Matsiko - Narrow In [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw346
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#FirstWordRecords #ElectronicaDance #Electronic
Album: Narrow In [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 1
Title: Narrow In
Artist: Werkha & Daudi Matsiko
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW346
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 11th September 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you new music from Werkha featuring Daudi Matsiko.
Narrow In is the 5th single taken from Werkhas forthcoming 3rd album Unsung Irregular.
This is a short sweet blast of uptempo folktronica, merging positivity with an air of melancholy. Werkhas unique drum padding and synth pops combine with the sumptuous strings of Simmy Singh, and accompanied by Daudi Matsikos earthy vocals and gentle guitar licks over a 110bpm 4/4 strut; once again crafting a sound sculpture that combines the analogue with the electronic.
Werkha (aka Tom Leah) says of the track concept I love little overgrown paths and narrow lanes. These lonins (cumberland dialect for old lane or narrow road) feel like magical places of sanctuary for the imagination.
This song really resonates with the feeling of curiosity these places hold. The old lanes that cut though our countryside are stooped in mystery, the magic of stories past.
That freedom to wander is a huge part of my love of being outside, and a huge part in the story of our health. Yet its often only through narrow paths that we are told were allowed to access our own land, and perhaps the healthier versions of ourselves.
Theres many obstacles along the way, through the undergrowth and the lack of attention these narrow ins are given…
Daudi Matsiko is a British-Ugandan singer-songwriter and guitarist thats been pricking plenty of ears in recent years with his haunting but reverent take on folk music, often compared to Nick Drake. A graduate of Montreals Red Bull Music Academy, hes toured with artists such as Portico Quartet, Keaton Henson and GoGo Penguin.
Daudi says of the collab Getting to work on this track with Tom was such a joy. The making of this song was full of laughter and imbued with Toms resilience and charm! Writing these lyrics came so easily. It didnt feel wrong to put my whole heart into it. It was a true collaboration and Im grateful to have been a part of it! Big ups Werkha!
Werkha adds Daudi really helped the journey this song took. Our collaboration on this track was that opening, that glade the song was searching for. We wandered through that process following shared instinct, looking to the title Narrow In as our guide.
I recorded strings with Simmy Singh in south Wales, where equally narrow lanes dart along hedgerows and treelines.
Through the obstacles and obstructions of day to day life, these are the places that can hold you. Theyre worth the cuts and bruises, the following of our instincts and benefits our health yields from them.
——
Werkha is a multi-instrumentalist born in Rusholme, Manchester. His previous releases on Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records include The Rigour EP (2020), and the All Werk Is Play LP (2022), carrying on from his initial output on the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts label.
Hes had previous support from a wide range of tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Nemone, Don Letts, Jamz Supernova and Zakia (BBC 6 Music), Mo Ayoub (BBC Radio 1), Julie Adenuga, Scratcha DVA, BBC Manchester, Worldwide FM and Rinse FM.
Alongside his own releases, hes collaborated and remixed with Quantic, A Certain Ratio, Marcos Valle, Eska, Chunky, Andrew Ashong and extensively with Keisha Thompson and Bryony Jarman-Pinto, to cite a few.
Werkha has done full band and solo performances across the UK and Europe, touring with the likes of Bonobo, Chet Faker, Rebecca Vasmant and Mr Scruff, and sharing billing with Crazy P, GoGo Penguin, Todd Terje, Lefto and MCDE, gracing stages at legendary venues like The Roundhouse, The Jazz Café and Manchester Cathedral, and various festivals including Glastonbury, SXSW, We Out Here, A Love Supreme and Latitude.
Additionally to playing live, Werkha is a formidable DJ, recently doing a mix for Selector Radio (British Council) and previously for the likes of Tom Ravenscroft & Afrodeutsche (BBC 6 Music), NTS, Primavera Sound and Reform Radio.
——
Werkha is a thoughtful, conscientious artist, whose approach to creating is innovative, unique, ever evolving and deeply groovy.
Unsung Irregular is Werkhas third full-length studio LP, and is comprised of 11 tracks showcasing his unique blend of jazzy breakbeat-tinged electronics and analogue aesthetics. It ...")
![Amanda Whiting - Contented [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rvNijrHdQ5I/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Contented [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw334d
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#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: Can You See Me Now? [EP]
Track: 1 of 6
Title: Contented
Artist: Amanda Whiting
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW334D
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 6th June 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is very proud to bring you a brand new EP from Amanda Whiting, entitled Can You See Me Now?
Amanda Whiting is a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist & composer. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician has established herself in recent years as an essential player in the UK jazz scene.
Over the past few years, shes had the support of radio stations & tastemakers such as BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC 6 Music (Cerys Matthews). BBC Radio 3 (Soweto Kinch), Selector Radio (Sian Eleri), NTS Radio (Patrick Forge), FiP (Laurent Garnier), Soho Radio (Tina Edwards) and across Jazz FM, who also nominated her for Instrumentalist of the Year.
Amanda joined the roster of Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records in late 2023, initially via a collaborative project with Don Leisure on Beyond The Midnight Sun, as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project Shaboo Strikes Back.
She followed the Liminality of Her record late last year with a divine album of seasonal favourites, from Bill Evans to Vince Guaraldi, on A Christmas Cwtch.
Amandas 2024 album The Liminality of Her featured in Spotifys Best UK Jazz of 2024 and received glowing reviews in Jazzwise, Somewhere Soul, Bandcamp, Clash, AllMusic, Harp Column, Apple Music and HHV, to name a few, along with numerous Album of the Year nods and various other accolades, garnering praise critically and publicly.
Mojo Magazine cites Amandas compositions as cinematic, lyrical and lissom by turns.
Amanda has previously performed, toured and collaborated with a wildly eclectic set of artists, including Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda, Gizmo Varillas and Chip Wickham, whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for the Alberts Favourites imprint.
Shes performed with her own trio at numerous festivals across Europe, including We Out Here, and had headline shows at The Jazz Cafe and Hootananny in London, with an upcoming show at the legendary Ronnie Scotts in June 2025.
Can You See Me Now? is another triumphant opus from Whiting; laidback, deliciously jazzy and thematically inquisitive, featuring some exceptional production and accompaniment from Adam Scrimshire (Alberts Favourite). The EP begins with the crackling Old Ways intro (inspired by Naderman No.6 for Harp) leading into opening track Contented; an epic ethereal piece of tranquil spiritual jazz, complete with the gloriously powerful vocal harmonies of Faye Houston. This sets the mood perfectly for this project, as we head into a short solo for Whiting on Still which appears as it says on the tin. A moment of calm. Lead single What Is It We Need? commences with dusty upright bass from Whiting Trio member Aidan Thorne, ahead of a beautiful goosebump-enducing lead-vocal from the national treasure that is Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts); an absolute powerhouse in her own right. Intent picks up the pace a touch with some delightfully skippy jungle-esque drums from Jon Reynolds. It Could Be follows; a soulful string-laden stepper, again featuring Faye Houston, and hits like the delicate breath of a Summer breeze. We close the set with the appropriately-named Moving On, which takes us out with a slightly-warped phasing dreamlike ambience.
In Amandas words thematically, the EP is about the journey as a woman and the stages of life. Standing up and being seen. An important and profound message in the world today!
We must stand tall, dont self abase or dim your light
The past has gone. Now step up, be intent, move forward, move on
Dont be silenced. Feminine energy is our might.
Lift your veil, show your worth. We are women, we are strong.
Can you see me now?
Can you hear my dreams?
Can you feel my intentions?
Im here to be seen.
Can You See Me Now? is due for release on vinyl & digital, June 6th 2025.")
![Amanda Whiting - Peace Piece [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s9GciV_oal0/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Peace Piece [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw322
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#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #SmoothJazz
Album: A Christmas Cwtch [ALBUM]
Track: 9 of 14
Title: Peace Piece
Artist: Amanda Whiting
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW322
Formats: Vinyl LP/CD Album/Digital
Digital Release: 2nd December 2024
Physical Release: 12th December 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are very proud to bring you A Christmas Cwtch, the brand new album from highly-acclaimed Welsh jazz-harpist, Amanda Whiting.
Expertly crafted with love, care and dedication, A Christmas Cwtch takes on assorted classics from the likes of Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Holst and Tchaikovsky, and re-presents them with original arrangements by Amanda and her accomplished trio. The end result is a 14-track selection pack of feel-good seasonal jazz-harp magic, including recent singles Peace Piece and Skating.
Amanda says just mention Christmas and you hear Guaraldi, Bill Evans and the sound of sleigh bells and harps. Its my favourite time of year and the music evokes everything warm and cwtchy. Sparkling lights, mince pies, mulled wine and nostalgia around the tree.
On the word cwtch, Amanda explains that a cwtch is the most important word to Welsh folk. Its a hug, with a little squeeze. Its a feeling. Its cosy, loving and safe. I wanted this album to hold you, cwtch you and allow you to indulge.
Inspired by artists like Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, Amanda is a classically trained virtuoso, well established in the UK jazz scene, with releases on Jazzman and Alberts Favourites.
Her most recent projects were released on Worldwide Award-winning UK label, First Word; Beyond the Midnight Sun (with label-mate and Welsh Music Prize nominee, Don Leisure) and the hugely popular 2024 album The Liminality of Her, which received widespread praise in outlets such as Jazzwise, Mojo, Clash, Bandcamp, AllMusic, Somewhere Soul, HHV, Apple Music and Harp Column.
She has had wide support on the airwaves from tastemakers such as Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Deb Grant (BBC 6 Music), Patrick Forge (NTS), Soweto Kinch (BBC Radio 3), Kev Beadle (Totally Wired), Tina Edwards (Soho Radio), Laurent Garnier (FiP) and Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2).
A Christmas Cwtch exemplifies Amandas talent and personality simultaneously, celebrating an array of her favourite things; the harp, her Welshness, her love of jazz, her love of classical music and her love of Christmas. This album is an absolute delight, and the perfect soundtrack for the season. An essential stocking filler!
A Christmas Cwtch is scheduled for December 2nd 2024 release on digital, vinyl and CD.")
![Allysha Joy - learning to love [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sEZkPdAY9X8/mqdefault.jpg "Allysha Joy - learning to love [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw304
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#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #NeoSoul
Album: The Making of Silk [ALBUM]
Track: 10 of 11
Title: learning to love
Artist: Allysha Joy
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW304
Formats: Vinyl LP/Digital
Digital Release: 13th September 2024
Physical Release: 13th September 2024
About This Release:
First Word Records is proud to bring you ‘The Making of Silk’, the brand new album from Allysha Joy.
Allysha Joy is a deeply-expressive singer, songwriter, producer & keys player hailing from Naarm (Melbourne), known for both her solo work and as front woman for 30/70. A uniquely-talented artist, her husky soulful voice, formidable Fender Rhodes prowess and raw poeticism has garnered legions of attentive fans the world over.
As an integral performer in the modern day jazz-soul scene, previous support has included selectors Gilles Peterson & Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), China Moses (Jazz FM) & Laurent Garnier (PBB France), along with stations such as NTS, Lot Radio, KEXP & KCRW, and publications including OkayPlayer, Dazed and The Vinyl Factory.
Along with a recent foray into the USA market with a string of successful shows, Allysha Joy has performed alongside acts such as Snarky Puppy, PJ Morton, The Teskey Brothers, Kokoroko and Children of Zeus, to name a few.
Joy has previously released two full-length solo albums Acadie : Raw in 2018, Torn : Tonic in 2022 and an EP, Light It Again in 2020, along with countless collaborations and features over the past few years.
Entirely self-produced and affectionately poured over, The Making of Silk is about a new understanding of the meaning of love.
Joy says, its the kind of love that bell hooks writes about, that lives in the poetry of Mary Oliver, Hafiz and the passionate dreaming of a Koryusai painting. It’s about a love that is compassionate, that lives in open conversation, deep listening, the front lines of social movement and would never seek to stifle the light in you. It’s about accepting our aloneness, the impermanence of all things and still forever wanting to prove it wrong, to say that I understand that all things change, all things end, hurt exists, but I will love regardless.
Riding on the waves of rich string arrangements, layers of vocal harmony and the raw poeticism she is known for, Allysha Joys next album is embodying love.
‘The Making of Silk’ is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, September 13th 2024.")
![Amanda Whiting - Nomad [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sGtIm9ynTLg/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Nomad [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw332
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#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: The Liminality of Her (Deluxe Edition) [ALBUM]
Track: 5 of 14
Title: Nomad
Artist: Amanda Whiting
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW332
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 11th April 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is very proud to present a deluxe edition of Amanda Whitings The Liminality of Her album, featuring three brand new tracks along with a remix from label-mate, Quiet Dawn.
Amanda Whiting is a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist & composer. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician quickly established herself as an essential player in the UK jazz scene, carving her own unique sound, following on from the paths forged by Ashby and Coltrane.
Following the release of The Liminality of Her a year ago, the album featured in Spotifys Best UK Jazz of 2024 and received glowing reviews in Mojo, Jazzwise, Somewhere Soul, Bandcamp, Clash, AllMusic, Harp Column, Apple Music and HHV, to name a few, along with numerous Album of the Year nods and various other accolades, garnering praise critically and publicly.
Over the past few years, shes had the support of radio stations & tastemakers such as BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC 6 Music (Cerys Matthews, New Music Fix). BBC Radio 3 (Soweto Kinch, Breakfast Show), BBC Wales (Adam Walton), Selector Radio (Sian Eleri), NTS Radio (Patrick Forge), FiP (Laurent Garnier), Soho Radio (Tina Edwards) and Jazz FM (Tony Minvielle, Chris Phillips, Robbie Vincent, Dom Servini), who also nominated her for Instrumentalist of the Year.
This album exemplifies Amandas talents as a performer and composer, taking in an array of hypnotising sonics from the worlds of jazz; from fusion to spiritual and beyond. A confident display of purposefully blissful compositions that saunter as much as they soothe, whilst being unafraid to lean into some deep uptempo grooves.
Amanda describes the theme of this project as liminality... that place in between, the transition from one place to another. No longer what it was, yet not what its going to be.
The harp always presents itself at these moments. Its a sound that causes an emotion. My instrument chose me. Its been with me through every chapter of life. Its how I speak, especially when there are no words.
This album is a rite of passage for her. A feeling of alchemy, a feeling of liberation. Moments of inner searching, intertwined, waiting but moving forward. Never looking back.
The Liminality of Her encompasses the highs and the lows. The nomadic love of freedom and spirituality. Its all so much bigger than you or I…
For this special deluxe edition, Amanda takes on Hammerstein & Rodgerss classic My Favorite Things, presents two new compositions (Mary Over There and At Ease) and French multi-instrumentalist Quiet Dawn provides a dancefloor friendly remix of the single Intertwined, featuring the vocals of Brighton-based singer PEACH.
Amanda joined the First Word label roster via a collaborative project with Don Leisure, Beyond The Midnight Sun, as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project Shaboo Strikes Back.
Shes previously performed, toured and collaborated with a wildly eclectic set of artists, including Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda, Gizmo Varillas and Chip Wickham (who also features on this project), whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for Scrimshires Alberts Favourites imprint, ending 2024 with a divine seasonal album A Christmas Cwtch, also on First Word.
Shes performed with her own trio at numerous festivals across Europe, including We Out Here, and had headline shows at The Jazz Cafe and Hootananny in London, with an upcoming show at the legendary Ronnie Scotts in June 2025.
The Liminality of Her (Deluxe Edition) is released digitally on April 11th 2025.")
![Werkha - By Helm [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sUoCCUzgX4I/mqdefault.jpg "Werkha - By Helm [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw340
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#FirstWordRecords #ElectronicaDance #BeatsampBreaks
Album: Unsung Irregular [ALBUM]
Track: 4 of 11
Title: By Helm
Artist: Werkha
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW340
Formats: Vinyl LP/Digital
Digital Release: 10th October 2025
Physical Release: 10th October 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is very proud to present the new album from Werkha, Unsung Irregular.
This is his third full-length studio LP, and is comprised of 11 tracks showcasing Werkhas unique blend of jazzy breakbeat-tinged electronics and analogue aesthetics. It includes the singles S-Bend, Toast Rack, and two collaborations; Everyday (feat. Ríoghnach Connolly) and Narrow In (feat. Daudi Matsiko) - a pair of revered artists with roots in folk music, complimenting the close connection to nature found throughout Werkhas productions.
——
Werkha (aka Tom Leah) is a multi-instrumentalist born in Rusholme, Manchester. His previous releases on Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records include The Rigour EP (2020), and the All Werk Is Play LP (2022), carrying on from his initial output on the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts label.
Hes had previous support from a wide range of tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Nemone, Don Letts, Jamz Supernova and Zakia (BBC 6 Music), Mo Ayoub (BBC Radio 1), Julie Adenuga, Scratcha DVA, BBC Manchester, Worldwide FM and Rinse FM.
Alongside his own releases, hes collaborated and remixed with Quantic, A Certain Ratio, Marcos Valle, Eska, Chunky, Andrew Ashong and extensively with Keisha Thompson and Bryony Jarman-Pinto, to cite a few.
Werkha has done full band and solo performances across the UK and Europe, touring with the likes of Bonobo, Chet Faker, Rebecca Vasmant and Mr Scruff, and sharing billing with Crazy P, GoGo Penguin, Todd Terje, Lefto and MCDE, gracing stages at legendary venues like The Roundhouse, The Jazz Café and Manchester Cathedral, and various festivals including Glastonbury, SXSW, We Out Here, A Love Supreme and Latitude.
Additionally to playing live, Werkha is a formidable DJ, recently doing a mix for Selector Radio (British Council) and previously for the likes of Tom Ravenscroft & Afrodeutsche (BBC 6 Music), NTS, Primavera Sound and Reform Radio.
——
Werkha is a thoughtful, conscientious artist, whose approach to creating is innovative, unique, ever evolving and deeply groovy.
Putting community at the centre of much of what he does, Werkha worked for a mental health arts charity in Stockport, outreach in rural Cumbria and does continual collaboration with Reform Radio to curate opportunities for upcoming Mancunian artists. As Werkha says, the music we love to listen to doesnt exist unless we water the roots from which it grows.
In recent years, he has been creating and building his side-project, Saturama - a live audio-visual experience aimed at reconnecting to our rainforests in the UK, which has received support from organisations like Plantlife, Manchester Museum and RSPB Wild Haweswater, with more exciting collaborations in the pipeline.
——
The new album Unsung Irregular is a deeply considered and thematically rich project, exploring hidden disabilities and spotlighting the power of irregularities that often go unnoticed.
Werkha says as an album title, Unsung Irregular is an anchor point that brings together a lot of the meaning behind each individual track... its a meeting of beauty and a mishap of the form – an irregularity that I hope I can give a voice to.
More than a reflection on chronic pain, Unsung Irregular is a celebration of movement, and the resilient power of music to transform discomfort into rhythm. Scoliosis has shaped his life in ways both visible and invisible, and the album traces those contours with unflinching honesty.
I dont outwardly use my own vocals on records, so I reach for different sounds and instruments to represent the stories I want to tell.
The process of healing is written into every detail: field recordings, processed vocal textures, geographical references. From the conspicuous architectural reference point of Toast Racks title, to tracks like By Helm and Weak Point which are linked not just by theme, but by sound design; echoing physical locations and personal milestones in Toms recovery.
Theres a vocoder I used on a sample of my voice on By Helm… I used that same texture sidechained to kit in Weak Point… Lin...")
![Georgie Sweet - The Ones We Loved [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/snmCZIkc9ek/mqdefault.jpg "Georgie Sweet - The Ones We Loved [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw338
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#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #Soul
Album: The Ones We Loved / Bedsheets [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 2
Title: The Ones We Loved
Artist: Georgie Sweet
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW338
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 15th May 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you the second two-track single from our latest signing, Georgie Sweet - The Ones We Loved / Bedsheets.
Georgie is a singer / songwriter currently based in Brighton, with a uniquely smooth, soulful vocal tone. One of the UKs best kept secrets, shes been a vocalist from a young age, initially working with her musical parents (a producer and professional singer respectively), she previously released an album entitled Misunderstood back in 2020 on Futuristica Music; an independent imprint run by Deborah Jordan & Simon S.
As welll as working with acclaimed producers like K15 and Mecca:83 on her debut record, it saw the start of a songwriting partnership with multi-instrumentalist Marc Rapson, who is on the boards throughout this new project. The duo began working on an abundance of beautiful new material shortly after the release of Misunderstood, with this single being another taste of whats to come.
The last single (Smaller / All That We Were) caught the ears of tastemakers such as BBC 6 Musics Gilles Peterson (this one melts), Jazz FMs Tony Minvielle (supremely talented) and Clash Magazine (exudes soulful grace), whilst previous material found itself in the crates of legendary luminaries like DJ Jazzy Jeff & DJ Spinna amongst others.
Georgie recently signed to Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label, First Word Records; although she previously featured before on the label, via the title track of the highly-acclaimed 2021 sophomore album by Children of Zeus, Balance, along with Akemi Fox.
With a hugely diverse set of inspirations ranging from Stevie Wonder to Michael McDonald, Hiatus Kaiyote to Chappell Roan, Mac Miller to Sampha, and George Duke to EW&F, Georgies respect, love and admiration for a wide range of music is clear; from jazz to soul to pop to hip hop. Her own sound sits within the realm of glo-fi alternative r&b.
An exciting new talent, her prowess as a vocalist and a songwriter is growing exponentially; this additionally to studying and working as an illustrator and animator, Georgie is an all-round creative soul.
The Ones We Loved begins with an ethereal acapella from Georgie, building to lush harmonies, before dropping into a synth-bass lead 100bpm groove.
Georgie explains This ones about staying spiritually connected to the people weve lost and grieving with hope. Its about the spiritual side of loss and how we can actually find comfort in not knowing what the afterlife holds for us, rather than being scared by it. It offers peace in the idea that separation isnt forever, even if we dont fully understand whats to come.
This release is backed with the beautiful Bedsheets; a downtempo epic, with a deeply infectious chorus hook.
For this one, Georgie says Bedsheets represents that dark before the light, mirroring the final track of the album, I Swear To You. Its the feeling of desperation and loneliness in modern life. Its the darkness, but its important because it sets the stage for the light, reflecting the tough times we all face.
The Ones We Loved / Bedsheets is out on all digital platforms on May 15th and is taken from Georgies forthcoming sophomore album I Swear To You, due for release on First Word this Summer.")
![Amanda Whiting - Still [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tBoo1OXWaYc/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Still [Audio]
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#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: Can You See Me Now? [EP]
Track: 3 of 6
Title: Still
Artist: Amanda Whiting
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW334D
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 6th June 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is very proud to bring you a brand new EP from Amanda Whiting, entitled Can You See Me Now?
Amanda Whiting is a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist & composer. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician has established herself in recent years as an essential player in the UK jazz scene.
Over the past few years, shes had the support of radio stations & tastemakers such as BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC 6 Music (Cerys Matthews). BBC Radio 3 (Soweto Kinch), Selector Radio (Sian Eleri), NTS Radio (Patrick Forge), FiP (Laurent Garnier), Soho Radio (Tina Edwards) and across Jazz FM, who also nominated her for Instrumentalist of the Year.
Amanda joined the roster of Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records in late 2023, initially via a collaborative project with Don Leisure on Beyond The Midnight Sun, as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project Shaboo Strikes Back.
She followed the Liminality of Her record late last year with a divine album of seasonal favourites, from Bill Evans to Vince Guaraldi, on A Christmas Cwtch.
Amandas 2024 album The Liminality of Her featured in Spotifys Best UK Jazz of 2024 and received glowing reviews in Jazzwise, Somewhere Soul, Bandcamp, Clash, AllMusic, Harp Column, Apple Music and HHV, to name a few, along with numerous Album of the Year nods and various other accolades, garnering praise critically and publicly.
Mojo Magazine cites Amandas compositions as cinematic, lyrical and lissom by turns.
Amanda has previously performed, toured and collaborated with a wildly eclectic set of artists, including Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda, Gizmo Varillas and Chip Wickham, whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for the Alberts Favourites imprint.
Shes performed with her own trio at numerous festivals across Europe, including We Out Here, and had headline shows at The Jazz Cafe and Hootananny in London, with an upcoming show at the legendary Ronnie Scotts in June 2025.
Can You See Me Now? is another triumphant opus from Whiting; laidback, deliciously jazzy and thematically inquisitive, featuring some exceptional production and accompaniment from Adam Scrimshire (Alberts Favourite). The EP begins with the crackling Old Ways intro (inspired by Naderman No.6 for Harp) leading into opening track Contented; an epic ethereal piece of tranquil spiritual jazz, complete with the gloriously powerful vocal harmonies of Faye Houston. This sets the mood perfectly for this project, as we head into a short solo for Whiting on Still which appears as it says on the tin. A moment of calm. Lead single What Is It We Need? commences with dusty upright bass from Whiting Trio member Aidan Thorne, ahead of a beautiful goosebump-enducing lead-vocal from the national treasure that is Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts); an absolute powerhouse in her own right. Intent picks up the pace a touch with some delightfully skippy jungle-esque drums from Jon Reynolds. It Could Be follows; a soulful string-laden stepper, again featuring Faye Houston, and hits like the delicate breath of a Summer breeze. We close the set with the appropriately-named Moving On, which takes us out with a slightly-warped phasing dreamlike ambience.
In Amandas words thematically, the EP is about the journey as a woman and the stages of life. Standing up and being seen. An important and profound message in the world today!
We must stand tall, dont self abase or dim your light
The past has gone. Now step up, be intent, move forward, move on
Dont be silenced. Feminine energy is our might.
Lift your veil, show your worth. We are women, we are strong.
Can you see me now?
Can you hear my dreams?
Can you feel my intentions?
Im here to be seen.
Can You See Me Now? is due for release on vinyl & digital, June 6th 2025.")
![Ruby Wood - Dominos [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/toNEec0PMEM/mqdefault.jpg "Ruby Wood - Dominos [Audio]
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#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #NeoSoul
Album: No Rain, No Flowers [EP]
Track: 4 of 8
Title: Dominos
Artist: Ruby Wood
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW366
Formats: 12 Vinyl/Digital
Digital Release: 24th July 2026
Physical Release: 24th July 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records proudly bring you the sophomore EP from Ruby Wood - ‘No Rain, No Flowers’.
Ruby is a singer / songwriter hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the UK. Her soulful yet distinctive voice has enabled her to front numerous projects over the years; perhaps best known as lead vocalist of the critically acclaimed Submotion Orchestra, since 2009.
Her first solo EP ‘Sincerely’ dropped back in 2023, and received love from the likes of Jamie Cullum, Craig Charles, Jyoty, Huey Morgan, Wordplay & saw Ruby named Mi-Soul Radios One to Watch.
The follow-up EP ‘No Rain, No Flowers’ is a personal tale of growth through adversity. Reflecting on long-term love, fleeting intimacy, grief, and the relationships that shape us. Rather than offering answers, the 8-track EP sits with life as it is. Imperfect, cyclical and shared. The title speaks to the belief that difficult experiences are not separate from growth, but essential to it.
Musically, the project encompasses contemporary flavours within the realms of r&b, soul and hip hop. It features an impressive collective of vocal collaboraters; Illa J, Devin Tracy, Abnormal Sleepz & PRIDO. Each bring their own distinct perspective, whilst complimenting the EP’s introspective tone; favouring warmth, restraint & lyrical authenticity. All are backed by a smooth sonic backdrop of beautifully rich instrumentation, produced primarily by Rob Mitchell of Abstract Orchestra.
Ruby has performed live shows with Nightmares on Wax & Abstract Orchestra as well as with r&b legend Bryson Tiller at his sell-out UK gigs, including Wembley Arena & Manchester Apollo. This is additionally to touring with Bonobo & Nubiyan Twist, and collaborating with the likes of Krept & Konan, Alfa Mist, GLXY and Roska, to name a few.
The diversity of her career, ranging from the intimate to the large-scale performances, gives Ruby a unique balance of vulnerability and musical depth, prioritising authenticity over spectacle. As a solo artist, her work is rooted in honest lived experiences, leading to a focus on songs that resonate long after first listen.
This EP offers a reflection of where Ruby is at now, informed by where she’s been before. It’s a project that embraces imperfection, recognising that those experiences that challenge us the most, shape us the deepest.
‘No Rain, No Flowers’ is released on vinyl & all digital platforms Friday July 24th.")
