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Since more then 20 years Gilles Peterson is a globe trotting purveyor of all sounds. In 2006 he opened the doors of the record company Brownswood Recordings with the aim of publishing music from all sorts of styles and genres. Since then artists such as Ghostpoet, Jose James, or the Owiny Sigoma Band transformed the label into a trademark of unbreakable sound that longs from Folk to Soul, Afro, Salsa, and Dubstep. Beside artist albums Gilles Peterson also compiled samplers like Brownswood Bubblers or Havana Cultura: New Cuba Sound and introduced young talents and a new generation of Cuban musicians. For Carhartt Radio Brownswood DJ Mumblz mixed a show that gains an inside into the labels catalogue and presents some tracks of befriended artists such as dBridge or King Coya. To take a look behind the scenes we talked with the Brownswood mans of action Fawaz Al-Jabban and Arthur Bray about their aims, inspirations, and their hometown London.
How would you describe the musical bandwidth of Brownswood Recordings in your own words?
Fawaz Al-Jabban: No limitations!
What was your biggest hit so far?
Arthur Bray: Our artist Ghostpoet recently got nominated for the Mercury Award for his album Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jams, we’re over the moon about this!
How does living in London shape the work at Brownswood Recordings?
Arthur Bray: London is a very inspiring place to live. With so many music scenes constantly moving and shifting, your discover subcultures, new genres, and hybrids of existing genres. Whether it’s dance culture or sound system culture, London is very much rooted. It's multicultural background has bred a generation of people with a massive appetite for different kinds of music. Hence, this city is a great hub for Brownswood as we believe very much in this diversity.
Fawaz Al-Jabban: We’re constantly inspired by artists around us, collaborating in ventures to bring together different cultures and sounds. For example, Gilles Peterson is currently working with dubstep pioneer Mala in bringing dubstep (a signature south London sound!!!) to Cuba.
On what projects is Brownwood Recordings working on now?
Fawaz Al-Jabban: Zara Mcfarlane is our latest signing. She is an amazing Jazz vocalist who recently releases her debut album Until Tomorrow on the label. She is destined for great things! We are also releasing the next in the Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura series, in which Gilles works closely with an array of Cuban musicians, singers, and rappers to create some electrifying results! The new year will see Gang Colours release his debut album as well as a bunch of other stuff.
(DJ Mumblz)
How did you select the tracks for your Carhartt Radio show?
Arthur Bray: The mix DJ Mumblz did for Carhartt is a collection of tracks that we were feeling at the time, many of which have been signed to Brownswood, either from our artists or our various compilations like Bubblers or Brownswood Electric. I feel it represents a lot of what we are about as a label as well as showing the diversity of the sounds that we support and love.
What was the last amazing show or party that you went to and why?
Fawaz Al-Jabban: I think everyone really enjoyed Gilles Peterson’s World Wide Festival this summer at Sete, France. We had everyone from Flying Lotus, David Rodigan to Derrick Carter come play over 5 beautiful days on the French coast. It was truly a blast!
What advice would you give to producers who are just starting out?
Fawaz Al-Jabban: Work hard, develop your own style, and persist!
And at least: what is the best part of being part of Brownswood Recordings?
Arthur Bray: Just being part of the ever developing music scene in London and having the opportunity to explore so many different styles of music and meet so many different people.
Brownswood Recordings Discography