PRE-ORDER: George & Glen Miller - Easing 12" (SOUNDWAY)

Soundway Records presents the official vinyl release of George & Glen Miller's 1979 hit "Easing" - encapsulating late 70s New York in its blend of disco, soul and Caribbean soca. 
Restored, remastered and cut loud for the dancefloor, the 12” single features the original vocal on the A-side and the essential instrumental on the flip. 

The Miller brother’s musical journey began in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 70s. During their teenage years they formed The Groovy Millers - a five piece band made up of George, Glen and their three siblings. After a chance meeting with Lord Shorty, they went on to collaborate with one of the Soca stars of the time and firmly plant their feet in the Soca scene of the musically rich Caribbean island. 

Of the five siblings it was George and Glen that pursued a career in music, and in the late 70s the two brothers made the move to North America to develop their music style. Disco dominated the airwaves at the time and a studio session with the prolific Frankie McIntosh resulted in the masterpiece that is Easing. Drawing influence from the blossoming disco and soul scene, George and Glen added Caribbean flavour to the New York sound to startling effect. Soft, subtle keys and guitars are punctuated with layered trumpet and violin riffs, complimenting George’s silken, restrained vocal. Frankie McIntosh’s arrangement shines through with what might be his finest work, placing this track on the mantle with other New York classics of the time. 

PRE-ORDER: V/A - Esa Williams Presents Amandla: Music To The People 4x12" (SOUNDWAY)

This summer, Soundway Records will release Esa Presents Amandla: Music To The People, a double vinyl electronic music compilation by DJ and producer Esa Williams.

Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, during the last days of Apartheid, Esa recalls the immense power of music had in resisting oppression and division. “Amandla, Awethu”, which literally means “the power is ours”, was an ubiquitous chant echoing throughout the politically charged atmosphere of the time – a call to unite, and a call from which this release derives not only its title, but its intention as well.

“Music was a crucial way of bringing people and communities together”, reflects Esa, “and it’s what I hope to achieve with this compilation, too”.

For Esa Williams is not only a musical polymath but also passionate about connecting people through music. A skilled DJ, producer and educator, Esa has found ways of bringing people together and enhancing the talent present - from being a band leader, reigniting the legendary Ata Kak band from Ghana, or a collaborator with the likes of Tanzanian artist Mim Suleiman, to focusing his energy on electronic music-focused educational programmes in Cuba, Brazil, and East & South Africa.

The last few years have seen a recent surge in interest in South African music from the 80s and 90s, including bubblegum, which was recently showcased on Soundway’s critically acclaimed 2018 compilation Gumba Fire: Bubblegum Soul & Synth Boogie in 1980s South Africa, put together by DJ Okapi. It was only natural that the label looked to delve deeper into the country’s rich musical legacy and tap another of its esteemed ambassadors for the role of compiler.

The result is a rainbow of complementary electronic styles hailing from not only South Africa but further afield, including zouk from Brazil and the French Antilles, as well as Afro-futurism and Tanzanian fusion. Together, they form a comprehensive picture that connects the dots of Esa’s musical journey – from growing up in South Africa, to artists he has encountered in his worldwide travels who have helped develop his identity as a musician.

One such artist is South African icon Penny Penny, whose kwaito house anthem “Shilungu” has been made available for the first time on vinyl since its original 2001 release – both on Amandla, as well as on the compilation’s 12” teaser released by Soundway in May 2019. Penny Penny’s first album “Shaka Bundu”, while a hit in South Africa on its initial cassette release in 1994, it was reissued by Awesome Tapes From Africa in 2013, propelling him and the sound of Tsongan disco into the global spotlight.

TRACK LIST - 4 x 12” BOXSET:

Penny Penny - Shilungu

Alaska - Accuse (Instrumental)

Ze Spirits Band - Tucheza (Esa Extended Mix)

Nonku Phiri feat. Dion Monti - Sîfó

Os Panteras - Melo Do Anjo (Outra Edit)

Pascal Latour - Lague Yo (Boulo Edit)

Mim Suleiman - Presha Kuka (Unreleased Version)

Esa - Pantsula Traxx

Narchbeats - Cheeks

DJ Spoko - #Justsnares

PRE-ORDER: Flamingo Pier - Flamingo Pier EP 12" (SOUNDWAY)

Due out February 8th on Soundway Records

Soundway Records presents the latest outing from Flamingo Pier, a music collective behind some of the finest dance parties in East London and New Zealand. 

Following their self-released debut EP, DJ residents Luke Walker, Dominic Jones and Bradley Craig have crafted 4 dancefloor-worthy tracks influenced by the boogie, disco, Afro and classic house that their parties are known for.

Slick, rolling disco synths and punchy drum machines are woven in with Afro-centric percussion and dreamy vocal chants, for an exotic disco-boogie journey from start to finish.

Early support for the EP already coming from Bill Brewster, JD Twitch (Optimo), Session Victim and Ray Mang, with Earthboogie laying down a tribal remix of “Find Your Way” for the digital EP.

The EP is being released to coincide with the Flamingo Pier Festival in Waiheke, New Zealand on 9 February 2019. Confirmed acts include Tim Sweeney (Beats in Space), Harvey Sutherland, CC:Disco, Lord Echo, Julien Dyne and Earthboogie.

Tracklist:

1. Flamingo Pier - Tell Me How

2. Flamingo Pier - Hold It

3. Flamingo Pier - Find Your Way

4. Flamingo Pier - The Deepest

PRE-ORDER: Julien Dyne - Teal 2LP (SOUNDWAY)

Due out October 19th, Pre-Orders Available Now

New Zealander Julien Dyne is a multi-instrumentalist with a long and impressive history of collaborative, live and solo musicianship. Best known for his solo work as BBE and having worked with the likes of Theo Parrish, Steve Spacek, Andreya Triana and Lord Echo - one of Soundway's most successful artists. In addition to this - having remixed the likes of Marcel Vogel, Ghostwave and Leroy Burgess (alongside Frank Booker) - Dyne has also accumulated a number of accolades over the course of a 10-year career including but not exclusive to being hotly tipped by both Moodymann and Gilles Peterson. 

Dyne’s new project for 2018 is an 11-track LP on Miles Cleret’s extolled Soundway label. Demonstrating a shift in gears and movement toward a more uptempo, Afro inspired sound ‘Teal’ melds instrumental flair with astute production and a persistent grain of impassioned, effortless soul. Including collaborations with fellow New Zealander Mara TK, long term band-mate Ladi6, Fat Freddy’s Drop’s trumpeter Toby Laing, Australian vocalist Tim Guy and jazz luminaries Jonathan Crayford and John Bell - this is a body of work for the listener and the dancer alike with a mood as fitting for headphones as it is for the floor.