In 2020 I came to recognise even more that the only certainty in life is change and that relationships with family and friends are incredibly important, and must be nurtured. I’ve also come to more deeply appreciate my ability to create as an artist and have been really energised with the recent collaborations I have been a part of, some coming about because creatives have especially wanted to reach out during these testing times. For me 2021 will be a year where I will extend those collaborations and share my artistry as I delve into new ways of connecting with fans, friends and loved ones particularly with the possibility of lockdown continuing for an extended period of time.
This EP is an inspiring coupling of songs that I hope will lift your spirits for the start of a new year.
String Arrangement - Ayanna Witter-Johnson (1)
Recorded by Pete Lyons at Zed One Studios (1) | Lavar Bullard at Fifth Element Studios (1) | Ayanna Witter-Johnson (All songs)
Produced by James Yarde (1) | Ayanna Witter-Johnson (2,3)
Executive produced by Victor Redwood-Sawyerr, Ayanna Witter-Johnson & James Yarde Mixed and mastered by DL (1) | 2b3 Productions (2,3)
All songs written by Ayanna Witter-Johnson apart from Rise Up ft. Akala (Ayanna Witter-Johnson, James Yarde & Akala) & Declaration of Rights (Bernard Collins)
This reminds me of hanging in dank basements with musicians way better than me and just being in awe of the emotions they could pull out of listeners.
Really stunning stuff, I hope it promises a lot more to come. Solvent
I got caught by the fist track and it's mystic and spiritual jazz vibe but I also got blown away by the flute solos and melodies in tracks like "snake eyes" - Chip Wickham's got it - and also his band, this is finest Jazz. StrangeFlow