This month the incomparable Alice Russell returns to the U.S. for a series of special live dates. The British soul singer extraordinaire will headline Tru Thoughts’ 15th anniversary show, taking place on October 24 at the The Skirball Center in Los Angeles alongside label mates Lost Midas and The Seshen. As diehard collectors already know, Tru Thoughts will be releasing a limited edition anniversary box set compilation via Pledge Music on October 21. Before embarking on her five-date U.S. excursion, we checked in with the new mom and asked her to share her five favorite songs of the moment.
Alice Russell’s cover of Connan Mockasin’s “I’m The Man, That Will Find You” is out now. Catch her this month at World Cafe in Philadelphia on October 16, Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on October 17, Le Poisson Rouge in New York on October 18 and Kanbar Hall in San Francisco on October 24.
1. Denai Moore
I have to thank SBTRKT for leading me to this lady. She guested on [“The Light”] on his latest album and that led me to seek more of her and I found it. This track is so subtle yet so powerful. It creeps up on you and almost takes the whole song till she lets the drums come in, the harmonies build and then she’s gone again, leaving you the only option to go back to the start and listen again. I am excited to hear more from this beautiful singer.
2. Machinedrum
I found out about Machinedrum as we randomly were both playing at the same small festival in Italy. After our live set there was time to go and have ourselves a little party time, and we found ourselves in a tent with a big old sound system and there he was, Machinedrum, up there doing his thing, mic in hand, singing and dancing away behind the decks. He made my hips hurt. I find his approach to remixing and the way he kicks it as a DJ/PA so open. His sets are so refreshing and makes me want to jump up and down by the sound system.
3. Georgia Anne Muldrow
She is a high priestess. Like Nina she can deliver the message singing, rapping or just talking and it gets you. She is crazily prolific. It seems a constant stream of music flows out of her at all times. I love her production style: all layered up, Dilla beats, all wonky and hypnotic and above all of that I just love her voice. Just give me that and I’m in love.
4. Jay Electronica
I know this is last year’s offering but for me it’s still on heavy rotation. You hear every word he speaks: he hits you hard. He’s a great communicator when it comes to his art. This heady mix of his verse…then in comes Latonya Givens. When I first heard it I thought it was Bilal! Her husky magic dust at the end makes you want to rewind straight back to the start again.
5. The Invisible
I love The Invisible, and I rather love Dave Okumu as a writer and producer. He is on my wish list to work with [smiles]. Here they give their electro magic touch to the “post-war years” often when they rework a track and even when Dave worked on Jessie Wares’ album. I love that you often hear Dave’s voice layered there like a thick husky trademark soothing your ears.
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