![papaya noon - on your side [Audio] @Firstwordrecords](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y90BmvYllms/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw374
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #ContemporaryRampB
Album: on your side [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 1
Title: on your side
Artist: papaya noon
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW374
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 25th June 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you ‘on your side’, the new single from papaya noon.
papaya noon are a Cardiff-based duo comprised of vocalist Annie Mirza and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marriott.
Formed five years ago, they make jazz-infused R&B music that incorporates their mutual love of classic soul, hip hop & electronica.
They’ve already amassed an impressive fan-base online, receiving praise along the way from such luminaries in the US as Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, 9th Wonder & Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde).
This is a result of their unique style, captivating grooves & deeply catchy hooks, encompassing a distinctive blend of soul music, from retrospective 90s vibes to alternative futuristic flavours, creating a sonic palette that’s wonderfully contemporary, yet very much their own.
All their music is written, performed & produced single-handedly by the duo themselves, who’ve managed to create a magically powerful potion from their plant-filled Cardiff studio space, and create huge anticipation for their future output in-turn.
The last release (‘blush’) got support from Somewhere Soul, Stereofox, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), BBC Wales, Dan Digs (NPR), Dubmission (WYEP, USA), Gilles Smith (NTS) & Soho Radio, to name a few.
The follow up ‘on your side’ is the second single taken their forthcoming debut EP ‘through the moods’.
A short but sweet soulful uptempo bop, Greg’s lush rhodes, slinky synths & deeply funky bassline accompany Annie’s glorious vocal harmonies, creating another slice of infectious audio magic, set to become another future soul classic.
The duo said that this one is “written from the perspective of a breakup. Someone is over explaining and justifying reasons for leaving, but you don’t need it. You’re on their side..
When we released the teaser of this track back in 2023, it got some support from some of our music idols, but in the same space, we both experienced extreme loss in our personal lives…”
Already being compared to the likes of Moonchild & The Internet, papaya noon were named as one of Clash Magazine’s “must-see” acts at FOCUS Wales in 2025, bringing their music to life on stage with their 5-piece live band, additionally performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, Inglefest, Nowadaze, Swn Festival & Good Vibrations Society, as well as NXNe and BreakOut West in Canada, and supporting the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band & Reel People.
With everything already pointing to the duo swiftly becoming one of the hottest new soul acts in Britain, this is only the beginning of the journey for papaya noon…
‘on your side’ will be released on all digital platforms on Thurs 25th June, with the debut EP set to drop in mid-July.
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw374
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #ContemporaryRampB
Album: on your side [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 1
Title: on your side
Artist: papaya noon
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW374
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 25th June 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you ‘on your side’, the new single from papaya noon.
papaya noon are a Cardiff-based duo comprised of vocalist Annie Mirza and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marriott.
Formed five years ago, they make jazz-infused R&B music that incorporates their mutual love of classic soul, hip hop & electronica.
They’ve already amassed an impressive fan-base online, receiving praise along the way from such luminaries in the US as Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, 9th Wonder & Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde).
This is a result of their unique style, captivating grooves & deeply catchy hooks, encompassing a distinctive blend of soul music, from retrospective 90s vibes to alternative futuristic flavours, creating a sonic palette that’s wonderfully contemporary, yet very much their own.
All their music is written, performed & produced single-handedly by the duo themselves, who’ve managed to create a magically powerful potion from their plant-filled Cardiff studio space, and create huge anticipation for their future output in-turn.
The last release (‘blush’) got support from Somewhere Soul, Stereofox, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), BBC Wales, Dan Digs (NPR), Dubmission (WYEP, USA), Gilles Smith (NTS) & Soho Radio, to name a few.
The follow up ‘on your side’ is the second single taken their forthcoming debut EP ‘through the moods’.
A short but sweet soulful uptempo bop, Greg’s lush rhodes, slinky synths & deeply funky bassline accompany Annie’s glorious vocal harmonies, creating another slice of infectious audio magic, set to become another future soul classic.
The duo said that this one is “written from the perspective of a breakup. Someone is over explaining and justifying reasons for leaving, but you don’t need it. You’re on their side..
When we released the teaser of this track back in 2023, it got some support from some of our music idols, but in the same space, we both experienced extreme loss in our personal lives…”
Already being compared to the likes of Moonchild & The Internet, papaya noon were named as one of Clash Magazine’s “must-see” acts at FOCUS Wales in 2025, bringing their music to life on stage with their 5-piece live band, additionally performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, Inglefest, Nowadaze, Swn Festival & Good Vibrations Society, as well as NXNe and BreakOut West in Canada, and supporting the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band & Reel People.
With everything already pointing to the duo swiftly becoming one of the hottest new soul acts in Britain, this is only the beginning of the journey for papaya noon…
‘on your side’ will be released on all digital platforms on Thurs 25th June, with the debut EP set to drop in mid-July.
![papaya noon - on your side [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y90BmvYllms/mqdefault.jpg "papaya noon - on your side [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw374
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #ContemporaryRampB
Album: on your side [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 1
Title: on your side
Artist: papaya noon
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW374
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 25th June 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you ‘on your side’, the new single from papaya noon.
papaya noon are a Cardiff-based duo comprised of vocalist Annie Mirza and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marriott.
Formed five years ago, they make jazz-infused R&B music that incorporates their mutual love of classic soul, hip hop & electronica.
They’ve already amassed an impressive fan-base online, receiving praise along the way from such luminaries in the US as Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, 9th Wonder & Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde).
This is a result of their unique style, captivating grooves & deeply catchy hooks, encompassing a distinctive blend of soul music, from retrospective 90s vibes to alternative futuristic flavours, creating a sonic palette that’s wonderfully contemporary, yet very much their own.
All their music is written, performed & produced single-handedly by the duo themselves, who’ve managed to create a magically powerful potion from their plant-filled Cardiff studio space, and create huge anticipation for their future output in-turn.
The last release (‘blush’) got support from Somewhere Soul, Stereofox, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), BBC Wales, Dan Digs (NPR), Dubmission (WYEP, USA), Gilles Smith (NTS) & Soho Radio, to name a few.
The follow up ‘on your side’ is the second single taken their forthcoming debut EP ‘through the moods’.
A short but sweet soulful uptempo bop, Greg’s lush rhodes, slinky synths & deeply funky bassline accompany Annie’s glorious vocal harmonies, creating another slice of infectious audio magic, set to become another future soul classic.
The duo said that this one is “written from the perspective of a breakup. Someone is over explaining and justifying reasons for leaving, but you don’t need it. You’re on their side..
When we released the teaser of this track back in 2023, it got some support from some of our music idols, but in the same space, we both experienced extreme loss in our personal lives…”
Already being compared to the likes of Moonchild & The Internet, papaya noon were named as one of Clash Magazine’s “must-see” acts at FOCUS Wales in 2025, bringing their music to life on stage with their 5-piece live band, additionally performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, Inglefest, Nowadaze, Swn Festival & Good Vibrations Society, as well as NXNe and BreakOut West in Canada, and supporting the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band & Reel People.
With everything already pointing to the duo swiftly becoming one of the hottest new soul acts in Britain, this is only the beginning of the journey for papaya noon…
‘on your side’ will be released on all digital platforms on Thurs 25th June, with the debut EP set to drop in mid-July.")
![Bastien Keb & Bastien Keb - Play Dead (feat. Malik Ameer Crumpler & Mark Millington) [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YAuexN6Awm0/mqdefault.jpg "Bastien Keb & Bastien Keb - Play Dead (feat. Malik Ameer Crumpler & Mark Millington) [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw355
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: Ghouls / Play Dead / Après Minuit [SINGLE]
Track: 2 of 3
Title: Play Dead
Artist: Bastien Keb & Bastien Keb (feat. Malik Ameer Crumpler & Mark Millington)
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW355
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 29th October 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to bring you the second single taken from Ghouls; the forthcoming 6th album by Bastien Keb.
A multi-instrumentalist originally from the Midlands, Bastien Keb (aka Sebastian Jones) previously released his highly-acclaimed album 22.02.85 on First Word back in 2017; this new album being a very welcome return to the Worldwide Award-winning UK independent label.
His music has been widely supported across BBC Radio in the past by Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Huw Stephens, Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbs, Nemone and Tom Ravenscroft. This is in addition to glowing press reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and The Line Of Best Fit.
Hes built up a steady fanbase through his extensive catalogue over the years, with material for labels like Def Pressé, Gearbox, One-Handed Music and most recently for Shabaka Hutchings Native Rebel Recordings imprint, on a collaborative project with South Londons Confucius MC (Speakers Corner Quartet).
Ghouls is the title track of this new project - an appropriately haunting selection of sounds for the Halloween season.
Synth-heavy alternative new-wave / post-punk vibes on this one, with a real retro feel.
This is accompanied by two more album tracks; Play Dead features Malik Ameer Crumpler on vocals and Kebs cousin Mark Millington on sax. This one is another slice of jazzy-spoken word, painting a full picture for the imagination.
Completing this triple threat is Après Minuit - a downtempo instrumental jazz-funk cut, complete with epic harmonics, spine-tingling vocals and featuring Mark Millington blowing the sax once again.
Mark released his solo debut album on the Alberts Favourites label earlier this year, but has been active in the music industry for over three decades, whilst Malik Ameer Crumpler is a poet, composer, editor and professor originally hailing from California, now based in Paris, whos been involved in numerous albums while writing for various forms of experimental media. Both artists feature heavily throughout the full-length album, adding their own unique layers to the overall piece.
These three tracks give you a full flavour of the diversity and mood of the forthcoming LP - a soundtrack to an imaginary movie of the mind.
Through the reflective and introspective multi-mood journey of its 19-tracks, Ghouls spans psychedelic-chamber-funk, warped anti-ballads, cinematic instrumentals, Ethio-jazz & ethereal ambience.
Entirely sample-free, this album is full to the brim with musical experimentation, with Kebs compulsion to make all the individual pieces of music independently; combining strings, harps, saxophones, theremins, clarinets, flutes and trumpets.
He signals to the fuzzy, nostalgic nebulous of mid 90s skate videos, as well as harking back to the scores & moods of movies like The French Connection and La Haine. There there are whispers of sounds in the air from jazz clubs, street preachers & Turkish restaurants.
Keb describes the sonic experience of this forthcoming album simply as this… Youre half awake, and half asleep, but youre warm…
Ghouls will be released digitally worldwide on Weds Oct 29th, with the album of the same name dropping on vinyl & digital, November 14th 2025. There will also be an accompanying book of words & artwork put together by Bastien & Malik released around the same time.")
![Bastien Keb - Apres Minuit (feat. Mark Millington) [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YrxfABzLzzU/mqdefault.jpg "Bastien Keb - Apres Minuit (feat. Mark Millington) [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw345
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #CrossoverJazz
Album: Ghouls [ALBUM]
Track: 8 of 19
Title: Apres Minuit
Artist: Bastien Keb (feat. Mark Millington)
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW345
Formats: Vinyl LP/Digital
Digital Release: 14th November 2025
Physical Release: 14th November 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are very proud to bring you Ghouls, the 6th studio album from Bastien Keb.
Through the reflective and introspective multi-mood journey of its 19-tracks, this album spans psychedelic-chamber-funk, warped anti-ballads, cinematic instrumentals, Ethio-jazz & ethereal ambience.
Part soundtrack, part beat-tape, part memoir, this is a dreamlike soundscape sewn together from half-forgotten memories & late night breakdowns.
Entirely sample-free, this album is full to the brim with musical experimentation, with Kebs compulsion to make all the individual pieces of music independently; combining strings, harps, saxophones, theremins, clarinets, flutes and trumpets.
He signals to the fuzzy, nostalgic nebulous of mid 90s skate videos, as well as harking back to the scores & moods of movies like The French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Warriors and La Haine. There are whispers of sounds in the air from jazz clubs, street preachers & Turkish restaurants.
Keb describes the sonic experience of this album simply as this… Youre half awake, and half asleep, but youre warm…
For this 19-track opus, Keb is joined extensively by Malik Ameer Crumpler; a poet, composer, editor and professor based in Paris, whos been involved in numerous albums while writing for various forms of experimental media.
A multi-instrumentalist originally from the Midlands, Bastien Keb (aka Sebastian Jones) previously released his highly-acclaimed album 22.02.85 on First Word back in 2017; this new album being a very welcome return to the Worldwide Award-winning UK independent label.
His music has been widely supported across BBC Radio in the past by DJs including Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Huw Stephens, Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbs, Nemone and Tom Ravenscroft. This is in addition to glowing press reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and The Line Of Best Fit.
Hes built up a steady fanbase through his extensive catalogue over the years, with material for labels like Def Pressé, Gearbox, One-Handed Music and most recently for Shabaka Hutchings Native Rebel Recordings imprint, on a collaborative project with South Londons Confucius MC (Speakers Corner Quartet).
Keb concludes this record is for anyone feeling lost in a world that seems to have lost itself without knowing it. Its for the people who know that the world is missing the beauty of the lights in the distance, whilst being distracted by new shoes and flashy phones...
Ghouls is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, November 14th 2025.")
![Amanda Whiting - Mary Over There [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_YOmoyLkV8s/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Mary Over There [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw332
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: The Liminality of Her (Deluxe Edition) [ALBUM]
Track: 11 of 14
Title: Mary Over There
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 - Toast Rack [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a0cEZVOoM4Q/mqdefault.jpg "Werkha - Toast Rack [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw341
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #ElectronicaDance #BeatsampBreaks
Album: Toast Rack [SINGLE]
Track: 1 of 3
Title: Toast Rack
Artist: Werkha
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW341
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 3rd July 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records is proud to present Toast Rack - the new single from Werkha as he announces his third full length album Unsung Irregular (out 10th October).
This is the third track taken to be taken from the project, following on from recent singles S-Bend and Everyday (feat. Ríoghnach Connolly) which saw support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Nemone, Don Letts and Zakia (BBC 6 Music), BBC Manchester, Worldwide FM and Rinse FM.
The track takes its name from the iconic Toast Rack building in Manchester, synonymous with the areas of Fallowfield and Rusholme where Werkha is originally from and still lives close to today.
Toast Rack came about as a result of a request from long-time collaborator Yandass Ndlovu. She was pulling together a performance of different dances and choreographers, and it was up to me to create a piece of music for one of them.
Developing the track after it had been used in this performance, Werkha returned to the production and began to weave it into the style of Unsung Irregular. He drew on textures that can be found across the album including the silvery harmonic sounds of acoustic guitar, alongside familiar bounding key pars and off kilter percussion. The resulting sound is a moment of joy, designed to make people move.
When I listen to or play this song, I am taken back to the various occasions that my music has been used for creating movement. For choreography. For dance.
I am connecting my music to the joy of movement. The joy of collaboration. The joy of connecting with others over something familiar… This has been at the core of my music as Werkha since I began.
Werkha (aka Tom Leah) is a multi-instrumentalist born in Rusholme, Manchester. His releases on First Word (The Rigour EP from 2020, and the All Werk Is Play LP from 2022) have seen support from a wide range of tastemakers such as Jamz Supernova, Scratcha DVA, Mo Ayoub and Julie Adenuga.
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.
Hes played full band and solo across the UK and Europe, touring with the likes of Bonobo, Chet Faker, Rebecca Vasmant and Mr Scruff, and performing 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.
Putting community at the centre of much of what he does, Werkha works for a mental health arts charity in Stockport, and collaborates with Reform Radio to curate opportunities for upcoming Mancunian artists. As Werkha says, a commercial music entity doesnt exist without a grassroots industry to propagate it.
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 Earth Percent, Plantlife, Manchester Museum, RSPB Haweswater and Kendal Mountain Festival.
Werkha is a thoughtful, conscientious artist, whose approach to creating is innovative, unique, ever evolving and deeply groovy. Were very excited to present this new material to you over the coming months.
—-
Toast Rack is released on all DSPs, Thursday 3nd July 2025, alongside pre-orders for full-length album Unsung Irregular, out 10th October on vinyl and digital via First Word Records.")
![Amanda Whiting - Moving On [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a2D1jjchybM/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Moving On [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw334d
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #Fusion
Album: Can You See Me Now? [EP]
Track: 6 of 6
Title: Moving On
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.")
![Georgie Sweet - Equal Measure [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a4-2_BqvMWA/mqdefault.jpg "Georgie Sweet - Equal Measure [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw364
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #ElectronicaDance #JungleDrumnBass
Album: Equal Measure (Nu:Tone Remix) [SINGLE]
Track: 2 of 2
Title: Equal Measure
Artist: Georgie Sweet
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW364
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 3rd April 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to present the Nu:Tone remix of Georgie Sweets Equal Measure.
This is the second in a set of new versions of tracks that originally appeared on the Brighton-based singer-songwriters soulful sophomore album I Swear To You, released Summer 2025, produced & co-written by Marc Rapson.
This record received an abundance of love & praise from the likes of Gilles Peterson (including a live Worldwide FM session), Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Patrick Forge (NTS), Clash Magazine, Somewhere Soul, Assorted Tapes (USA), Bandcamp (Albums of the Year) and many more, across Rinse FM, Soho Radio and beyond.
The remix of Equal Measure comes courtesy of legendary D&B producer, Nu:Tone. Real name Dan Gresham, Nu:Tone has been active in the scene for over two decades, primarily for the Hospital Records label, working with the likes of 4hero, Ben Westbeech, Flava D, Shy FX, Zed Bias, Roni Size and his brother Logistics, as well as previously remixing artists such as Adele, Ms Dynamite, Emeli Sandé, Lenny Fontana, Quantic & Professor Green, to name a few.
For this mix, Nu:Tone turns the original track into a soulful drum & bass roller - a delectably crispy slice of uptempo liquid funk.
Taken from an EP dropping in May featuring a varied selection of producers at the top of their game right now, including Children of Zeus, Kaidi Tatham, Don Leisure & Last Nubian.
Equal Measure is released on all digital platforms, April 3rd 2026.")
![Victoria Port - I Wont Wait (Clean Radio Edit) [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bNQhM5W5kak/mqdefault.jpg "Victoria Port - I Wont Wait (Clean Radio Edit) [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw354
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #Soul
Album: I Wont Wait [SINGLE]
Track: 2 of 2
Title: I Wont Wait (Clean Radio Edit)
Artist: Victoria Port
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW354
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 16th October 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to present I Wont Wait; the second single taken from the sophomore solo EP by Victoria Port.
Forming part of a forthcoming 5-track set merging retro soul with contemporary sounds, this was put together from sessions recorded at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London, and Victorias home studio Candle Shop. This project exemplifies Victorias talents as a singer-songwriter, developing upon the building blocks of her debut EP Did it Again and Victorias work as one half of electronic-soul duo, Anushka (BBE / Tru Thoughts / Brownswood).
I Wont Wait comes from the Abbey Road sessions and is a future soul classic, leaning into a timeless sound palette with rich instrumentation and gloriously epic harmonies. Victoria is accompanied on this track by frequent collaborators Hemai, JNR Williams and Ross Lanning, whilst the band includes highly-acclaimed drummer Moses Boyd, and vocalists such as Lea Lea.
The sonic tapestry stitched together on this EP epitomises the quality of British soul music of modern times; a vintage symphonic approach with modern-day production techniques, encompassing the Ronson-era of the late great Amy Winehouse, to the pack leaders of nowadays such as SAULT and Jungle. Its a logical progression considering Victorias lifelong influences of US luminaries like Minnie Riperton, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone and Dionne Warwick, and the contemporary output of labels like Daptone and Big Crown.
Her fanbase includes Gilles Peterson who recently featured her live on air on his Saturday afternoon BBC 6 Music show, and has tipped her as an exciting emerging new artist whose sound fits alongside current successful acts like Cleo Sol, Lynda Dawn and Yazmin Lacey.
Victorias previous EP had support from a wide range of tastemakers, including Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Somewhere Soul, Mo Ayoub (Selector Radio), Ronnie Herel (Mi-Soul Radios One to Watch), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) and across platforms like Rinse FM, NTS, Soho Radio and Global Soul, whilst her work with Anushka also received airplay from Annie Mac, Jamz Supernova, Huw Stephens and BBC Radio 1.
Victoria says The song is about knowing what you want from life and from love. If it doesnt feel like 2000s R&B, I dont want it!
Its about not being someones option, but a priority and not waiting for the one to feel complete or content.
Sonically, its heavily influenced by the music I heard growing up, Motown and soul from the 60s, but with future soul energy, especially in the outro.
Already a seasoned live performer with various live solo appearances including We Out Here, Jazz Cafe and Koko, she has a forthcoming headline show as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, taking place at The Lower Third on November 23rd.
Victoria Port is all set to become one of the leading lights in the world of British soul music.
I Wont Wait is released on digital platforms October 16th, with the EP Barefoot In The Garden due to follow in early November on vinyl & digital.")
![Georgie Sweet - Become New (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [feat. Kaidi Tatham] [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c1ksY16GyK0/mqdefault.jpg "Georgie Sweet - Become New (Kaidi Tatham Remix) [feat. Kaidi Tatham] [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw362
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #SoulRampB #ContemporaryRampB
Album: I Swear To You: The Remixes [EP]
Track: 3 of 5
Title: Become New (Kaidi Tatham Remix)
Artist: Georgie Sweet (feat. Kaidi Tatham)
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW362
Formats: Digital
Digital Release: 1st May 2026
About This Release:
First Word Records are proud to present ‘I Swear To You: The Remixes’ by Georgie Sweet.
This is a 5-track EP consisting of new versions of tracks that originally appeared on the Brighton-based singer-songwriter’s soulful sophomore album ‘I Swear To You’, released Summer 2025, produced & co-written by Marc Rapson.
Covering a wide spread of genres, these mixes include versions from a varied selection of producers at the top of their game right now; Children of Zeus, Kaidi Tatham, Don Leisure, Last Nubian & Nu:Tone.
The original album received an abundance of love & praise from the likes of the legendary Jimmy Jam, Gilles Peterson (including a live Worldwide FM session), Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Tony Minvielle & Simon Phillips (Jazz FM), Patrick Forge (NTS), Kev Beadle (Totally Wired), Clash Magazine, Somewhere Soul, Assorted Tapes (USA), Bandcamp (‘Albums of the Year’) and many more, across Rinse FM, Soho Radio and beyond.
The EP kicks off with the remix of ‘Energy’, courtesy of label-mates and Mancunian hip hop-soul kings, Children of Zeus. This follows on from a previous collaboration between the artists, as Georgie’s first appearance on the First Word label was her feature on the title track of the duo’s last album ‘Balance’, back in 2021. For this new version, Konny Kon and Tyler Daley flip the track in their trademark bass-weighted style of alternative R&B, with Tyler also providing additional vocals to the piece.
Next up, Cardiff beatmaker Don Leisure steps up with his flip of ‘Equal Measure’. Long-time First Word family, both with his solo projects (the acclaimed ‘Shaboo’ series and the ‘Halal Cool J’ beat tape), and as half of Darkhouse Family with Earl Jeffers. Last year, Don Leisure won the Welsh Music Prize with his album ‘Tyrchu Sain’ for the Welsh indie-label Sain Records. On this one, he lays down a grimey chopped-up hip hop beat in his uniquely heavy style.
Belfast-based broken-beat pioneer Kaidi Tatham is next with a version of ‘Become New’. King Kaidi is an absolute pioneer in the realms of British black music, working with Amy Winehouse, Soul II Soul, Nubya Garcia, regular collaborator Dego and global luminaries like Leroy Burgess, Slum Village, Marcos Valle & extensively with DJ Jazzy Jeff and his PLAYlist project. With past releases for Theo Parrish, and fans including Madlib, he’s a true legend in the game, and here drops a piece of electronic jazz-bruk fusion in his inimitable style & fashion.
Taking things up a step for the club dancefloors, we welcome Last Nubian aka Tre Wright, who delivers a tough vibey 4/4 house mix of ‘The Ones We Loved’. Tre has been carving out a space for himself past few years in a multitude of places, releasing for Eglo Records, Touching Bass & CoOp Presents, with support from the likes of Mixmag & BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong. This as well as working with his soulful new band project, Ships of the Pharoahs. Definitely one to watch..
Finally, another remix of ‘Equal Measure’ comes courtesy of legendary D&B producer, Nu:Tone, who’s been active in the scene for over two decades, primarily for the Hospital Records label, working with the likes of 4hero, Ben Westbeech, Flava D, Shy FX, Zed Bias, Roni Size and his brother Logistics, as well as previously remixing artists such as Adele, Ms Dynamite, Emeli Sandé, Lenny Fontana, Quantic & Professor Green, to name a few. For this mix, Nu:Tone turns the original track into a soulful drum & bass roller - a delectably crispy slice of uptempo liquid funk.
This EP exemplifies Georgie’s prowess as a vocalist and songwriter, with each track proving to work across a multitude of genres, and cementing her place as one of the most exciting young talents in the game.
‘I Swear To You: The Remixes’ is released on all digital platforms, May 1st 2026.")
![Bastien Keb - Chapter 2 - A Party [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cFYhuoJZ--c/mqdefault.jpg "Bastien Keb - Chapter 2 - A Party [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw345
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #CrossoverJazz
Album: Ghouls [ALBUM]
Track: 13 of 19
Title: Chapter 2 - A Party
Artist: Bastien Keb
Label: First Word Records
Cat#: FW345
Formats: Vinyl LP/Digital
Digital Release: 14th November 2025
Physical Release: 14th November 2025
About This Release:
First Word Records are very proud to bring you Ghouls, the 6th studio album from Bastien Keb.
Through the reflective and introspective multi-mood journey of its 19-tracks, this album spans psychedelic-chamber-funk, warped anti-ballads, cinematic instrumentals, Ethio-jazz & ethereal ambience.
Part soundtrack, part beat-tape, part memoir, this is a dreamlike soundscape sewn together from half-forgotten memories & late night breakdowns.
Entirely sample-free, this album is full to the brim with musical experimentation, with Kebs compulsion to make all the individual pieces of music independently; combining strings, harps, saxophones, theremins, clarinets, flutes and trumpets.
He signals to the fuzzy, nostalgic nebulous of mid 90s skate videos, as well as harking back to the scores & moods of movies like The French Connection, Taxi Driver, The Warriors and La Haine. There are whispers of sounds in the air from jazz clubs, street preachers & Turkish restaurants.
Keb describes the sonic experience of this album simply as this… Youre half awake, and half asleep, but youre warm…
For this 19-track opus, Keb is joined extensively by Malik Ameer Crumpler; a poet, composer, editor and professor based in Paris, whos been involved in numerous albums while writing for various forms of experimental media.
A multi-instrumentalist originally from the Midlands, Bastien Keb (aka Sebastian Jones) previously released his highly-acclaimed album 22.02.85 on First Word back in 2017; this new album being a very welcome return to the Worldwide Award-winning UK independent label.
His music has been widely supported across BBC Radio in the past by DJs including Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, Huw Stephens, Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbs, Nemone and Tom Ravenscroft. This is in addition to glowing press reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian and The Line Of Best Fit.
Hes built up a steady fanbase through his extensive catalogue over the years, with material for labels like Def Pressé, Gearbox, One-Handed Music and most recently for Shabaka Hutchings Native Rebel Recordings imprint, on a collaborative project with South Londons Confucius MC (Speakers Corner Quartet).
Keb concludes this record is for anyone feeling lost in a world that seems to have lost itself without knowing it. Its for the people who know that the world is missing the beauty of the lights in the distance, whilst being distracted by new shoes and flashy phones...
Ghouls is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, November 14th 2025.")
![Amanda Whiting - Little Elfy [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cG8bW0uFMt8/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Little Elfy [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw322
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #SmoothJazz
Album: A Christmas Cwtch [ALBUM]
Track: 7 of 14
Title: Little Elfy
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.")
![Amanda Whiting - Christmas Is Coming [Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cOa3f4xB6sg/mqdefault.jpg "Amanda Whiting - Christmas Is Coming [Audio]
Download & Stream: https://kud.li/fw322
Subscribe: https://sb.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
Official stream from First Word Records. Distributed by Kudos Records.
More music playlists: https://pl.kud.li/UC_iUEtWIfatGspcK52G3Gug
#FirstWordRecords #Jazz #SmoothJazz
Album: A Christmas Cwtch [ALBUM]
Track: 3 of 14
Title: Christmas Is Coming
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.")
