Wah Wah 45s are very excited to welcome Jamie Finlay back to the fold – one of our most beloved artists with his first new music for the label in fifteen years.
Jamie is an award-winning composer, songwriter and audio practitioner based in Manchester. His early releases on Wah Wah 45s, as well as on Development and Still Music, explored an eclectic range of music fusing soul, jazz, broken beat, funk, spoken-word, deep house and hip hop. His releases garnered rave reviews and saw him perform sell out shows at London’s Jazz Café, support slots for the likes of Roy Ayers, and guest vocals on stage with jazz musician Matthew Halsall. His work has been remixed by Mr. Scruff, Moodymanc and Part-Time Heroes, and has found DJ support from Gilles Peterson, Osunlade, The Juan Maclean, Zed Bias and Luke Una.
For the last ten years Jamie has worked extensively in music and sound for film, art and interactive projects. His work in this field has gained recognition and accolades from institutions such as Sundance Film Festival, BFI London and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).
This year, Jamie returns to Wah Wah 45s with his debut LP, Sun Dogs. Written and produced between 2021 and 2023, it’s a deeply personal album that explores themes of love, loss, and finding strength in turbulent times.
With its ethereal vocals and minimalist, psychedelic production style, Family is the striking first single to be taken from the album. Written by Jamie and featuring a sublime, haunting vocal performance from hotly tipped Mancunian singer, songwriter, producer and vocalist for A Certain Ratio, Ellen Beth Abdi, Family explores what the essence of a family unit is.
“Families come in many forms, but at the core it’s about that closeness, solidarity and unconditional love. This can come from anywhere with any group of people. It’s not just about blood, it’s about how we look after each other.” Jamie Finlay
The forthcoming album, Sun Dogs is a unique blend of electric soul, spiritual jazz and psychedelia with the emphasis firmly on songwriting. Deeply layered and textural with complex harmonies, sonorous arrangements, memorable melodies and brass lines that go from delicate to thunderous. It was recorded in Jamie’s Manchester studio and features some of the most exciting talent to emerge from the city’s music scene in recent years. As well as Ellen Beth Abdi, the album also features multi instrumentalist Caitlin LM and singer Kemani Anderson from Secret Night Gang.
Jamie looks forward to taking the project live in 2024 with his incredible band featuring many of the artists and musicians that appear on the album.
Reactions and Radio Play
Radio play from Deb Grant & Tom Ravenscroft (BBC 6 Music, UK); Dom Servini (Jazz FM / Soho Radio, UK), Kev Beadle (Totally Wired Radio, UK), Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe, UK), Sven Thomschke (Radio Z, Germany)
Featured on Somewhere Soul New Music Friday Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0tB0SEV6OkYhtD7X9nFAgr?si=f6ac8ae648df4d1c
Featured on Qobuz New In Soul / Funk / R&B Playlist https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/2098537
“Absolutely stellar and beautiful…” Deb Grant (BBC 6 Music, UK)
“This sounds amazing!” A Certain Ratio (Manchester, UK)
“Nice one.” Osunlade (Yoruba Recordings, USA)
“BEAUTIFUL! Will playlist on PBB RADIO.” Laurent Garnier (PBB Radio / Worldwide FM, France)
“Rather beautiful – lovely lyrics and fabulous voice – look forward to more.” Debbie Golt (Resonance FM, UK)
“Quality track!” DJ Angola (Wonderwheel, USA)
“Lush! Beautifully crafted downtempo goodness.” Phat Phil Cooper (Nu Northern Soul, UK)
“Lovely and powerful.” DJ Soulist (Souleance, France)
“Cant wait to hear the album!” Kate Magic (Soho Radio, UK)
“Thanks for the chance to listen to this one, it’s a wonderful release with simple, deep and beautiful.” Dazzle Drums (Block Party, Japan)
“Wow!! Whattatune!” Cesare Cera (Radio Bologna Uno, Italy)
“Beautiful and hypnotic soul.” Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“Hauntingly lovely vocals ..wicked track!!” Raj Selli (Solar Radio, UK)
“This is classic songwriting on a high level.” DJ Bunel (Radio Helsinki, Finland)
“TRUTH! 👍🏿” Michael Stukes (WHCR 90.3FM, USA)
“Sublime.” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France)
“Lovely. Thank you!” Kid Hops (KEXP 90.3FM, USA)
“Coool.” Tjerk Coers (Armada Music, The Netherlands)
“Nice one!” Junior (Evesdrop Radio, Record Breakin’, USA)
“Ace.” Tobi Kirsch (HHV, Germany)
“Really nice tune.” DJ Simao (Toulouse, France)
“Nice vibe.” Sista Selecta (2Bob Radio, Australia)
“Very nicely done!” Dr Phil Dorsey (Thebocx.com, USA)
“Really nice! Proper set starter!” Steve KIW (Balearic Assassins, UK)
“A wonderful first impression of the forthcoming album!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, Germany)
“Sweet lyrics with soothing vocals. A horn section would sound nice in there. Will play on WRUV-FM.” Jay Paul (WRUV FM, USA)
“Thank you, deep!” Enrique Domenech (Freeform, Spain)
“Jamie returning to Wah Wah makes me feel old! Good thing the music is so impressive!” Jon Freer (Freer Sounds, UK)
“Stunningly beautiful words, mood and production.” DJ Mr Lob (Various, Melbourne, Australia)
“Sensational track!!!” Markus Milz (Radio Corax 95.9FM, Germany)
“Good one.” Lorenzo Aldino (Jockey Club Ibiza, Spain)
“I can see some massive remixes on the horizon!” Electric Brother (Radio Guerrilla, Romania)
“Love the stripped back vibe to this.” DJ Osric (RTR FM, Australia)
“Finesse et soul.” Jean-Marc Baehler (Couleur 3, Switzerland)
“Nicely done chillout!” Phil Dorsey (The BocX, USA)
“Bliss!” Mr. Ed (Deep South Sounds, Ireland)
“Beautiful.” Rado Tomek (Nu Spirit Club, Slovakia)
“Beautiful!” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Sweet stuff.” Chris Greenwood (Mi-Soul Radio, UK)
“Will be playing on my “Random Jukebox” show.” Karl Phillips (Source 96.1 FM, UK)
“This is gorgeous.” Bob Hill (Illicit Grooves, UK)
“Gorgeous slow burn introduction to the album, looking forward to it dropping.” Jamie Groovement (Reform Radio, UK)
“Deeply alluring magic.” Lee Bright (Tangential Music, UK)
“A moody masterpiece.” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“Instantly appealing and classy.” Nick Emancipation (the Alternative 9, UK)
“Lovely!” Cal Gibson (Various, UK)
“An inspired signing by the Wah Wah peeps!” Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe, UK)
“What a lovely downtempo, soulful groove, exemplary of some of the great music emanating from England’s northern conurbation right now. Tasteful, relevant, engaging – bodes well for the album release to come.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
“Now this is a slick little number. strong vocals match the lyrics. Simple backing vocals and production but it works.” Roger Grant (Soul Partizan Radio Show, UK)
“Very nice – will play.” DJ Lamp (Radio Reverb, UK)
“CLASSY.” Mr Shiver (Various, UK)
“NICE.” Nigel Wood (Various, UK)
“This is a bit different to Little Trumpet but Sun Dogs sounds like it’s going to be even better!” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
Reviews
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