{"title":"Don Letts","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon Letts is a British film director, musician and DJ. Born on 10 January 1956, he has made significant contributions to the music industry throughout his career. With his diverse talents, Letts has become an influential figure in both the film and music worlds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a filmmaker, Letts is known for his groundbreaking documentaries that explore various aspects of music culture. His unique perspective and ability to capture raw emotions have earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to his work behind the camera, Letts is also an accomplished musician and DJ. He has collaborated with renowned artists and bands, bringing his distinctive style to their projects. His passion for music shines through in every performance.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"outta-sync","title":"Outta Sync","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom working with the likes of The Clash and Bob Marley to colliding genres with Big Audio Dynamite, still presenting his own radio show on BBC 6Music, winning a Grammy and receiving an honorary doctorate for his contribution to culture Don Letts appears to have done it all. Indeed along with the release of his best selling autobiography ‘There and Black Again’ last year and ‘Rebel Dread’ a film documenting his life released this year you’d be forgiven for thinking he had. But there’s one thing the 66-year old  polymath hasn’t done… until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon Letts now releases his debut album, titled \u003ci\u003eOutta Sync\u003c\/i\u003e, which was produced by Gaudi. The single 'Outta Sync' a heady cocktail of dubbed out bass heavy rhythms, island vibes n’ spoken word juxtaposed with melodic hooks and harmonies. The album is exactly what you’d anticipate a Don Letts project to sound like. ‘Outta Sync’ the title track is also notable as one of a few songs that can introduce such a storied life within a single verse: “Now, because of my duality, raised on pop and bass, didn't really bother me, ’cause it's all about the taste, I’m the vinyl generation, and that’s how I got my start, combining clothes and music, and I turned it into art.” And that’s just the introduction! Don goes on to reflect upon the changing world around him and his own shifting perceptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIronically he hadn’t really intended to make music of his own. But then lockdown hit and his old friend, producer extraordinaire and Killing Joke bassist Youth encouraged him to give it a go, even sending him some bass lines to work with, yet Don wasn’t entirely convinced. That changed when he worked in the studio with dub producer Gaudi, another long time friend of Don known for his work with Steel Pulse, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Horace Andy to name but a few. The pair  produced a remake of Big Audio Dynamite’s ‘Sightsee MC’ for the dub-inspired post-punk band Megative. They then collaborated on a dub remix of B.A.D’s  classic ‘E=MC2’ for 2021’s  LateNightTales compilation ‘Version Excursion’.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon and Gaudi sonically clicked and ended up working together in Gaudi’s studio for nine months, three days a week, navigating both lockdown and Don’s arkestral vision. The result was Letts’ debut solo album, produced and co-written by Gaudi. Featuring eleven mostly self-written tracks, \u003ci\u003eOutta Sync \u003c\/i\u003ereflects his myriad tastes and interests, as well as his unique worldview. It also highlights an intriguing array of guests: the legendary Terry Hall of The Specials, The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne makes an appearance, as does lovers rock queen Hollie Cook. Don co-wrote the song ‘Situationist’ with Zoe Devlin Love, previously of Alabama 3. Keeping it in the family is Don’s daughter Honor, who sings on the sitar-studded electronic groove ‘Civilization’. Collectively it’s a snapshot of who Don Letts really is in the here and now. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cooking Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Green LP","offer_id":50411031003467,"sku":"2002323","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50411030118731,"sku":"2002319","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50411030610251,"sku":"2002321","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/20000000185415_215dd87d_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726651776"},{"product_id":"there-and-black-again-the-autobiography-of-don-letts","title":"There and Black Again: The Autobiography of Don Letts","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/blog.roughtrade.com\/uk-books-of-the-year-2021\"\u003eRough Trade Books of the Year #4\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThere and Black Again\u003c\/i\u003e is a story of a first generation British-born son of Windrush parents, growing up in London to become a witness and part of a social and cultural revolution around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStarring the Grammy award winning filmmaker, rock star, dj, radio broadcaster, social commentator, husband and father Don Letts, \u003ci\u003eThere And Black Again\u003c\/i\u003e takes in many lives and places. It is written as scenes from a movie shot on location in London, Kingston, New York, Los Angeles, Windhoek, Salt Lake City and Goldeneye.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCo-starring a cast of hundreds, including Joe Strummer, John Lydon, Bob Marley, Chrissie Hynde, Chris Blackwell, Paul McCartney, Nelson Mandela, Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Chuck D., McLaren and Westwood, etc., it takes in major cultural movements from skinhead through punk to Black Lives Matter, and includes scenes of civil unrest, live music, humour and political struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThere And Black Again\u003c\/i\u003e describes in clear-eyed detail a life of work and love, of battles against prejudice and negativity, of failures and great successes. It describes a six-decade journey through sound and vision which has left a body of award-winning work in film, television and music that is unique in scope and variety.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":50450364563787,"sku":"1105075","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50450366792011,"sku":"2214189","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/46c42104-aceb-4aeb-873a-8069327ea67c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727111174"},{"product_id":"outta-sync-remixes","title":"Outta Sync Remixes","description":"\u003cp\u003eTwo remixes of Don Letts from David Holmes and Gaudi. Limited to 300 Copies.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cooking Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"7\"","offer_id":50522074251595,"sku":"2024115","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/20000000188420_7bf7c22d_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727998582"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_322ac68b_thumbnail_4096_a13c616d-cd28-416f-b0b7-97949c2b37ce.jpg?v=1726651733","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/don-letts.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}