Publication date: 15 July 2005
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BEHIND THE BEAT: A UK Gospel.com Report
2005 has been somewhat quiet in terms of huge, big-noise,
sit-up-and-pay-attention album releases...
sit-up-and-pay-attention album releases...
We still have about five months to go, but there really hasn't been anything
MAJOR, like we had with the buzz about SIANI and RAYMOND & CO in 04...
However there's a quiet revolution in the making. And this one already has a
groundswell of serious proportions. You may not recognise the name LAIN,
but you more than likely would remember the group NU COLOURS from the
90s, of which he was a member. His debut album, BROTHER SOUL, holds
the distiction of being the first album to have sold out, and in record time, on
UKG SHOP. And there's good reason for that. It is one of 2005's best
releases, as LAIN puts top-drawer British Soul back on the map...
MAJOR, like we had with the buzz about SIANI and RAYMOND & CO in 04...
However there's a quiet revolution in the making. And this one already has a
groundswell of serious proportions. You may not recognise the name LAIN,
but you more than likely would remember the group NU COLOURS from the
90s, of which he was a member. His debut album, BROTHER SOUL, holds
the distiction of being the first album to have sold out, and in record time, on
UKG SHOP. And there's good reason for that. It is one of 2005's best
releases, as LAIN puts top-drawer British Soul back on the map...
And what better way to learn more about the man and the music than to read about the album in
LAIN's own words...? Kick back, relax and find out about one of this year's genuine, high-quality
sleeper hits. This album will make you think, reflect and - if you're open to it - act on the positive
dictates of our faith.
Links UKG Shop, as well as LAIN's own website at the end of this piece... Enjoy...
Yinka Awojobi, Content Development, UK Gospel.com
LAIN's own words...? Kick back, relax and find out about one of this year's genuine, high-quality
sleeper hits. This album will make you think, reflect and - if you're open to it - act on the positive
dictates of our faith.
Links UKG Shop, as well as LAIN's own website at the end of this piece... Enjoy...
Yinka Awojobi, Content Development, UK Gospel.com
Congratulations on an excellent album. Gotta say it's one of 2005's
strongest by far. I know we explore your history in detail on the
UKG Spin! BioChannel show, but I'd like to touch on a few points
that we didn't cover in the audio interview, particularly as far as the
album goes.
It's different from the usual 'Black' gospel album in that it's quite
introspective, but despite that, it's accessible and has range and
depth...
strongest by far. I know we explore your history in detail on the
UKG Spin! BioChannel show, but I'd like to touch on a few points
that we didn't cover in the audio interview, particularly as far as the
album goes.
It's different from the usual 'Black' gospel album in that it's quite
introspective, but despite that, it's accessible and has range and
depth...
It was written over quite a long period of time. I've been through
many experiences, and shared these with the people I'd been
working with. And I didn't write it as a 'black gospel' album. I wrote it as a man of faith writing about every aspect of his life and beliefs.
many experiences, and shared these with the people I'd been
working with. And I didn't write it as a 'black gospel' album. I wrote it as a man of faith writing about every aspect of his life and beliefs.
...And in some ways it also has elements of that kind of uplifting message that 'BATTLE' had. While most people probably won't recognise you as an artist, almost everyone remembers WOOKIE's BATTLE as this HUGE Top Ten Garage tune from 2000, but won't realise you were the voice AND pen behind the song...
It often happens that way, that you love a song and find out years later who it was by. I was talking to a friend recently about a song I did with NU COLOURS and he didn't know that I had done the track he used to rave to!
I remember when these major labels were trying to sign the single, and about 3 weeks into their bidding one of the guys rang up in total amazement saying 'that ... tune it's like ... a gospel tune!!'
...A lot of people raved first, then listened later. I found that to be a common trend.
I remember when these major labels were trying to sign the single, and about 3 weeks into their bidding one of the guys rang up in total amazement saying 'that ... tune it's like ... a gospel tune!!'
...A lot of people raved first, then listened later. I found that to be a common trend.
And l imagine even fewer people realised BATTLE was a Christian song in the first place...
Anyway there's more on that in the audio interview, so I'll leave it there. Let's do this. I give you the track name and you tell me the story behind it...
PEACEFUL WATERS (One of my favourites)
STORY:
TRACK: BOTTLE
STORY:
TRACK: IF ONLY
STORY:
TRACK: EVERY MORNING (Another one of my favourites)
STORY:
STORY:
TRACK: BOTTLE
STORY:
TRACK: IF ONLY
STORY:
TRACK: EVERY MORNING (Another one of my favourites)
STORY:
written with a friend of mine MIKE MCEVOY, this song is about an ever-
shrinking world of hustle and bustle, where everything is instant. Importance is
placed on things that are meaningless...
When I first started visiting London I was amazed at seeing so many
homeless people on the streets. It seemed to be normal to everyone walking
past them. It kind of stuck out in my mind...
As a young guy you think you know it all, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I guess you live and learn.
when I wrote this it was very relevant. Today with issues like 'Make Poverty History' and
the G8 summit, the Iraqi war and London bombings, it's still as relevant. To stand in front of a nation and make a promise and keep it is virtually unheard of...
shrinking world of hustle and bustle, where everything is instant. Importance is
placed on things that are meaningless...
When I first started visiting London I was amazed at seeing so many
homeless people on the streets. It seemed to be normal to everyone walking
past them. It kind of stuck out in my mind...
As a young guy you think you know it all, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I guess you live and learn.
when I wrote this it was very relevant. Today with issues like 'Make Poverty History' and
the G8 summit, the Iraqi war and London bombings, it's still as relevant. To stand in front of a nation and make a promise and keep it is virtually unheard of...
TRACK: 3RD NIGHT (LOVE this one too!)
STORY:
TRACK: RAINBOW
STORY:
TRACK: BELIEVE
STORY:
TRACK: BREAK MY HEART
STORY:
STORY:
TRACK: RAINBOW
STORY:
TRACK: BELIEVE
STORY:
TRACK: BREAK MY HEART
STORY:
When MIKE STOREY played the melody to me on his piano, the story of the resurrection came to me. There was something special about the melody, and whereas MIKE thought it was quite sultry, he was a little surprised by the song I came up with, but he did like what I'd done.
With RAINBOW I was trying to be a little more creative, more poetic with all of those metaphors. In the bible it talks about the tree planted by the water, and the vine and the branches, sowing seeds on good ground, stony ground, etc. This is my version of events pertaining to me.
This is my version of a track I did on another project I'm working on called MARSK.
Any one who has had a love one pass away will know that life is short, and so we should
do and say those important things while we can, before its too late.
With RAINBOW I was trying to be a little more creative, more poetic with all of those metaphors. In the bible it talks about the tree planted by the water, and the vine and the branches, sowing seeds on good ground, stony ground, etc. This is my version of events pertaining to me.
This is my version of a track I did on another project I'm working on called MARSK.
Any one who has had a love one pass away will know that life is short, and so we should
do and say those important things while we can, before its too late.
TRACK: FREE
STORY:
TRACK: ONLY LOVE
STORY:
TRACK: WHAT I'M FEELING
STORY:
TRACK: ANGRY
STORY:
STORY:
TRACK: ONLY LOVE
STORY:
TRACK: WHAT I'M FEELING
STORY:
TRACK: ANGRY
STORY:
Both myself and GERARD SAUNDERS were working with a trainee sound engineer who seemed to constantly find trouble where ever he went. On this occasion he had to go before the magistrates court. I just wrote from his point of view, trying to get away from his situation...
This was written with JASON CHUE a.k.a WOOKIE, while I was still based over at SOUL II SOUL.
DOBIE (TONY CAMBELL) is the original SOUL II SOUL beat master. This is the live version of our collaboration.
I felt quite strongly about what happened in Iraq, war first questions later. How we react in anger isn't the same as when we take a moment to calm down and think rationally about how to respond to a given situation
This was written with JASON CHUE a.k.a WOOKIE, while I was still based over at SOUL II SOUL.
DOBIE (TONY CAMBELL) is the original SOUL II SOUL beat master. This is the live version of our collaboration.
I felt quite strongly about what happened in Iraq, war first questions later. How we react in anger isn't the same as when we take a moment to calm down and think rationally about how to respond to a given situation
TRACK: GOOD DAY
STORY:
BROTHER SOUL comes recommended. Highly recommended. The project will still sound quite fresh quite a few years from now, and is another example of why UK gospel music has a tremendous future. Get yourself a copy in UKG Shop, and check out LAIN's website. All the relevant links in the box below...
STORY:
BROTHER SOUL comes recommended. Highly recommended. The project will still sound quite fresh quite a few years from now, and is another example of why UK gospel music has a tremendous future. Get yourself a copy in UKG Shop, and check out LAIN's website. All the relevant links in the box below...
This is just a feel good track. If you tell yourself you're gonna have a good day, you will...
LINKS
UKG Shop: does what it says on the tin.
Buy 100% UK Urban gospel music
including BROTHER SOUL...
Our Online audio page on SoundClick.
Listen to lots of UK music (including
LAIN) and try before you buy. Optimised
for both broadband and modem.
LAIN's official website, and home of his
label, BLACK GEEZA...
Buy 100% UK Urban gospel music
including BROTHER SOUL...
Our Online audio page on SoundClick.
Listen to lots of UK music (including
LAIN) and try before you buy. Optimised
for both broadband and modem.
LAIN's official website, and home of his
label, BLACK GEEZA...
Back to the Home Page. What else...?
TRYUMF talks about 'GHETTO SCRIPTURE'
MUYIWA on 'DECLARING HIS POWER'
NOEL ROBINSON on 'GARMENT OF PRAISE'
TRYUMF talks about 'GHETTO SCRIPTURE'
MUYIWA on 'DECLARING HIS POWER'
NOEL ROBINSON on 'GARMENT OF PRAISE'
