Manchester six-strong soul collective and Tru Thought's newest signee, Pieces of a Man, released their debut single, "Nothing To Lose" today, sharing a powerful video - watch via YouTube. "Nothing To Lose" is the lead single from Pieces of a Man forthcoming debut album, Made In Pieces, out July 12 on Tru Thoughts. Pushing the sonic boundaries of a conventional soul band, the group creates immersive, textured soundscapes, built with elements of hip-hop, funk, R&B, gospel and neo-soul. Produced by legendary mastermind Zed Bias - aka Maddslinky - who hailed it as one of his favorite tracks ever - "Nothing To Lose" is the meeting of smooth R&B instrumentation and anthemic gospel, with a hook that elevates the song to the heavens.
Cited by the band as one of the most "soul-affirming recording sessions of their career," the track features a wealth of talent including Harleighblu (Tru Thoughts),
Misha B (X-Factor),
Amp Fiddler (George Clinton's
Parliament + Funkadelic), Tyler Daley (Children Of Zeus), Andrew and Eloise Bridge - true Manchester gospel and R&B veterans - and up-and-coming Mancunian talent, Penny Nicholls.
The euphoric hook in "Nothing To Lose" was written on the train home after the band attended a solidarity vigil with Manchester's LGBT community, marking the horrific mass shooting in a gay nightclub in Florida. "I was struck visually with how people held up their phone flashlights despite being vulnerable themselves", explains vocalist Illya.
Acting as a psalm to victims of prejudice, the song is inspired by the memory of Trayvon Martin and the wider Black Lives Matter movement, the outcome of the EU referendum and Trump's journey to the White House. In the band's words, "The verses really pick up on the idea that we do have nothing to lose except our identity and passion, and that we should have a loose grip on the material wealth that surrounds us."
With the gospel choir acting as the canvas of the song, each vocalist on "Nothing To Lose" - without preparation or rehearsal - is given the freedom to express themselves; belting powerful and soul-charged deliveries, painting the track with harmonies and swirling cadences. Vocalist Tolu demonstrates his impressive range, from an honest single-track verse in mellifluous baritone, all the way to the layered, rich tones of seductive soprano.
Amp Fiddler lends his exceptional and truly mesmerizing voice to the outro of the song, channeling the grief from the loss of his son into his performance, described by everyone in the studio as a, "genuinely moving experience."
Zed Bias adds, "Amp Fiddler, the man who gave J Dilla the musical bring in, was a constant spiritual presence in the room."
Talking about recording "Nothing To Lose", Bias said, "All these amazing souls came together and stood around eight microphones, creating a beautiful series of moments that day, which I was lucky enough to capture on 2-inch Tape. It has a really special place in my heart, this one."
The single is also accompanied by a music video, directed, produced and starring the band themselves - an epic montage of aerial drone shots across the city of Manchester and the surrounding countryside, with a dramatic storyline that encapsulates the emotional-weight and importance of the song.
With early support from BBC Introducing, Mike Chadwick (Jazz FM/Snarky Puppy), and Lubi Jovanic (Soul Rebels), alongside live shows at the prolific Band on the Wall, Jazz Café and Soundcrash's Funk & Soul Weekender, plus supporting the likes of Jarrod Lawson, Bilal, Omar and Cory Henry, Pieces of a Man are pushing the electro-soul re-emergence in the UK as a collective powerhouse.
Photo Credit: David Klein
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