{"title":"Don Leisure","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"beyond-the-midnight-sun","title":"Beyond The Midnight Sun","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst Word Records are very proud to bring you a new album from Don Leisure with Amanda Whiting. \n\n'Beyond The Midnight Sun' expands upon ground first explored on Don Leisure's track 'All Praises Due', which also featured Amanda (with Angel Bat Dawid), and featured on his previous album 'Shaboo Strikes Back'. This is a full-length project that these two formidable Welsh artists have collaborated on together. \n\nTo bring you up to speed, Cardiff DJ and beat-maker Don Leisure has been twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize, with the afore-mentioned album 'Shaboo Strikes Back', and a previous project, 'Steel Zakusi'. As well as being 50% of Darkhouse Family with Earl Jeffers, he's released music under various monikers on labels such as Metalheadz, International Anthem, Fat City, Earnest Endeavours, Group BraCil and on Rough Trade with another regular collaborator, Gruff Rhys. Other collabs have included Charlotte Church, Om'Mas Keith, DJ Spinna and First Word label-mate Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus).\n\nHis DJ portfolio includes sets for BBC 6 Music, NTS, Rinse FM, Solid Steel, Boxout FM (India), The Jazz Cafe, Fabric and Boiler Room, while previous support has come from Lauren Laverne, Tom Ravenscroft, Huw Stephens, Lefto, Rob Da Bank, Huey Morgan, Jon1st, Om Unit, Kid Fonque, Mr Thing and many more. His album 'Shaboo' was named \"the best album of its kind since J Dilla's 'Donuts'\" by Piccadilly Records.\n\nJoining him throughout this project, we have the pleasure of welcoming the phenomenal talents of highly-acclaimed harpist Amanda Whiting to the First Word label. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician quickly established herself as an essential player in the UK jazz scene, carving her unique sound following the paths forged by Ashby and Coltrane.\n\nShe's toured extensively with her own band, as well as with Matthew Halsall, Chip Wickham, DJ Yoda and Rebecca Vasmant, whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for Scrimshire's Albert's Favourites imprint. Along the way, there's been a nomination for 'Instrumentalist of the Year' from Jazz FM and she's garnered the support of DJs such as Radio 2's Jamie Cullum (\"highly recommended\") and 6 Music's Cerys Matthews (\"my highlight of the Cheltenham Jazz festival 2023\").\n\nDon explains more…\n\n\"The project is a journey down the road that was revealed to me on 'All Praises Due' on 'Shaboo Strikes Back'. Amanda's willingness and eagerness to continue collaborating was a dream come true. Being able to get harp parts from someone who is so open minded is such a rare treat that a deeper project was inevitable. \n\nI wanted to move in a different direction from the beat tape format on my previous releases while still maintaining the core Don Leisure sound, fused with live instrumentation and vocals etc\".\n\nThe talents of Deborah Jordan are also featured on a couple of the album's tracks. Deborah is a stalwart in the UK soul and jazz scene in her own right, working over the years with artists like 4Hero, Bugz In The Attic, Ty, Jneiro Jarel, K15, Robert Mitchell and Kaidi Tatham (someone who's collaborated with all the players on this release at some point).\n\n'Beyond The Midnight Sun' is a 7-track affair comprised of delectable spiritual jazz fused with hip hop beats, psychedelic electronics and a touch of soul.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50395867316555,"sku":"2164011","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_cc1e6926_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726474309"},{"product_id":"shaboo-vs-halal-cool-j","title":"Shaboo vs. Halal Cool J","description":"\u003cp\u003eNext up on First Word Records, we welcome the return of Don Leisure, with an EP of beats that see his two alter-egos go head-to-head, 'Shaboo vs Halal Cool J'.\nProbably best known as 50% of Darkhouse Family, along with Melange label boss Earl Jeffers, they released their acclaimed debut album 'The Offering' in 2017 and subsequent remix project last year, featuring DJ Spinna, Kaidi Tatham and more. The duo are coolly establishing themselves as Cardiff's very own Mizell Brothers, recently producing Kamaal William's latest work, featuring on Kutmah's recent Izwid compilation, and collaborating on the Chicago x London project 'Where We Come From', featuring Makaya McCraven, Joe Armon-Jones, Nubiya Garcia, Theon Cross and First Word label-mate Quiet Dawn, amongst others.\n'Halal Cool J' appeared originally in early 2017 with 'An Ottoman Excursion' on our sister-label, Excursions. A series of edits born out of a decade-long love of Turkish music, and some record-digging expeditions in Istanbul, something Don Leisure did the very day after 'The Offering' release party, prompting another series of beats. Ahead of an all-new full-length Halal Cool J album, here we have two tracks to give you a taste, 'Kazakh Honey' and 'Kaymak'.\n'Shaboo Strikes Back' on the flip-side, with a track of the same name, and 'Mango Season'. 'Shaboo' was the name of a beat album that came out on First Word in 2017, inspired largely by Don's Bollywood actor Uncle, Nasser 'Shaboo' Bharwani, and by memories of journey's with headphones hurling out Hip Hop, fused with the sonics of his Mum's interruptions, and her favourite Asian radio station. 'Shaboo' featured in several end-of-year album lists, with Piccadilly Records calling it \"the best album of it's kind since Dilla's 'Donuts'. Unmissable.\"\nBoth prior projects got love from DJs and selectors far \u0026amp; wide, including Tom Ravenscroft, Lefto, Huey Morgan, Rob Da Bank, Om Unit, Simbad \u0026amp; Mr Thing. A truly global affair, the beat battle of 'Shaboo vs Halal Cool J' takes us on several short, sweet hikes across a variety of Eastern climes.\nJoin in the journey once again on 7\" vinyl and digital on April 5th.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word","offers":[{"title":"7\"","offer_id":50432160203083,"sku":"2165147","price":6.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_e5cda192_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726864612"},{"product_id":"shaboo-strikes-back","title":"Shaboo Strikes Back","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst Word Records is very proud to welcome back Don Leisure, with a brand new 25-track album \u003ci\u003eShaboo Strikes Back\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFive years have passed since the first \u003ci\u003eShaboo\u003c\/i\u003e album was released. A collection of beats and pieces that documented the road trip of Don's youth - hip hop music interspersed with Asian radio station jingles of old, dedicated to Bollywood actor, Nasser Shaboo Bharwani - Don Leisure's late uncle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis album was heralded as \"\u003ci\u003ethe best album of its kind since J Dilla's 'Donuts\u003c\/i\u003e'\" and deemed \"\u003ci\u003eunmissable\u003c\/i\u003e\" by the folks at Piccadilly Records. It also had strong support from BBC 6 Music's Tom Ravenscroft (\"\u003ci\u003every, very good this indeed\u003c\/i\u003e\"), Huey Morgan (\"\u003ci\u003emy beat of the week\u003c\/i\u003e\"), Worldwide FM's Lefto (\"\u003ci\u003edefo down with this\u003c\/i\u003e\"), Rob Da Bank (\"\u003ci\u003ethis is wicked\u003c\/i\u003e\") and the likes of Mathieu Schreyer (KCRW, LA), Alex Ruder (KEXP, Seattle), Kid Fonque (5FM, South Africa), Om Unit, Jon1st, Mr Thing, Rob Luis (Tru Thoughts), Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s), Tim Parker (NTS) and tons more from across the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon Leisure is a DJ and producer based in Cardiff, Wales, sometimes known as one half of Darkhouse Family, along with Earl Jeffers. He's been a prolific beat-maker for many years, releasing under a variety of monikers for labels such as Metalheadz, International Anthem, Fat City, Izwid, Earnest Endeavours and Group BraCil. His most recent release was a remix for Gruff Rhys, which was released on Rough Trade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2020 he was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize for his '\u003ci\u003eSteel Zakusi\u003c\/i\u003e' project, and has dropped several releases for First Word, including the acclaimed 2019 '\u003ci\u003eHalal Cool J\u003c\/i\u003e' album and various Darkhouse Family projects, including collabs with artists as diverse as Charlotte Church, Om'Mas Keith and Children of Zeus's Tyler Daley, additionally to remixes from DJ Spinna and label-mate, Kaidi Tatham. As a DJ he has provided mixes for BBC 6 Music, NTS, Rinse FM, Solid Steel and Boxout FM in India, as well as performing at The Jazz Cafe, Fabric and on Boiler Room.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'\u003ci\u003eShaboo Strikes Back\u003c\/i\u003e' is a much-awaited sequel to the 2017 smash, and again features a modest 25 tracks. Psychedelic fuzzy samples and phat beats aplenty, Don Leisure once again takes us on a far-out trip across soundscapes. A real tapestry of flavours, from jazz to reggae, and from the soulful to the spiritual, this time round he's invited a few special guests to join him on his travels - most notably Welsh legend Gruff Rhys provides the vocals on '\u003ci\u003eNeon Drizzle (Hotel Shaboo)\u003c\/i\u003e', whilst acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid and Jazzman-signed harpist Amanda Whiting lend their talents to '\u003ci\u003eAll Praises Due\u003c\/i\u003e'. There is even a special cameo appearance from his young daughter, (aka Shaboo's great-niece!), Naima, on '\u003ci\u003eNaima's Dream\u003c\/i\u003e'.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Word","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50490349257035,"sku":"1149286","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/29b7757f-b387-43ab-93e9-a4e149cafdf0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727659368"},{"product_id":"tyrchu-sain","title":"Tyrchu Sain","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon Leisure\u003c\/strong\u003e has cemented his name as one of the most forward-thinking and experimental beatmakers and producers within the current musical ecosystem. As well as being 50% of Darkhouse Family (alongside Earl Jeffers) he has collaborated with the likes of Angel Bat Dawid, Gruff Rhys, DJ Spinna and First Word label-mates Amanda Whiting and Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWelsh beatmaker \u003cstrong\u003eDon Leisure\u003c\/strong\u003e releases a new album \u003cem\u003eTyrchu Sain\u003c\/em\u003e including single ‘\u003cem\u003eTyrchu\u003c\/em\u003e’ which features the soft-spoken vocal stylings of \u003cstrong\u003eGruff Rhys\u003c\/strong\u003e over a gently rolling, tape saturated and expertly chopped instrumental, creating (in Gruff’s own words) ‘Shiny new beat-treasures with ghostly reflections of Welsh pop’s past - skillfully dug from Sain Records’ deepest veins’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA dedicated student of music, over the years, \u003cstrong\u003eDon\u003c\/strong\u003e has amassed a vast encyclopaedic knowledge of music genres and subcultures, including a fascination with Welsh psychedelic folk music from the mid-20th century. This introduction was made by respected musician, producer and selector Andy Votel’s 2005 two-part compilation series ‘Welsh Rare Beat’ (in collaboration with \u003cstrong\u003eGruff Rhys\u003c\/strong\u003e and Don Thomas), comprising twenty-five tracks from Sain Records’ back catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow the oldest independent record label in Wales, Sain is a wildly influential bastion of home-grown Welsh talent, co-founded by Welsh-language folk singer Dafydd Iwan, whose music has seen a cultural resurgence in recent years with his 1983 song Yma o Hyd (We’re Still Here) becoming a huge anthem for Wales football fans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sain Recordiau","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":51245489750347,"sku":"2240063","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Black LP - 2240065","offer_id":51245491290443,"sku":"2240065","price":36.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot_2025-01-17_at_17.38.49_3cf1df4d_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1739224291"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/don-leisure.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}