{"product_id":"listen-up-2","title":"Listen Up","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Milton Keyes born and raised. Vocalist has the versatility to fit any vibe while\nnot compromising her signature sound. Although best known for her Garage hits\nwith Zed Bias in the early 2000s, Nicky was performing and recording with\nvarious acts well before the height of Garage's popularity. She started her career\nsinging in Soul and Funk bands, and over the last two decades has lent her voice\nto Electro, Hip-Hop, Drum \u0026amp; Bass, House, and Ska tracks.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2009 Nicky graced listeners with her debut solo EP \"See What You Mean.\"\nWithin only five tracks the singer-songwriter displays impressive range, from the\nup- tempo, energetic funk of \"I'm Hearing You\" to a bluesy rendition of Nina\nSimone's \"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood,\" to the hushed tones of the EP's sole\nacoustic number, \"Balancing Scales.\" She is backed on this effort by her band\nSoul Selecta, which includes renowned UK session players Dave Baldwin on\nHammond organ and Robert 'Skins' Anderson on drums\/percussion. Sadly, the\nrelease was criminally slept-on.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile \"See What You Mean\" was available on streaming services and CD, the EP\nnever received the vinyl treatment. So, rather than simply reissuing the project,\nNicky has teamed with KU to offer what she calls a \"reincarnation\" of her debut on\nwax.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow retitled \u003ci\u003eListen Up\u003c\/i\u003e, this underrated affair has had new life breathed into it. To\nbring out the best in the original recordings, each song has been meticulously\nremastered by Christian Obermayer at Strype Audio. Then to fill out the 12\", Nicky\nhas added a handful of unreleased songs, including a heavy groove cover of\nMichael Jackson's \"I Can't Help It,\" which sees her reconnect with Zed Bias; a\npunchy, funked up tune titled \"Listen Up;\" and the original version of \"Balancing\nScales\" that reveals what the track sounded like before it was stripped down to\njust guitar and vocals. This offering perfectly captures Nicky's distinct tastes and\ninspirations. Further, it fills a hole in your record collection that you didn't know\nwas there until now.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"King Underground","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50445978435915,"sku":"2049893","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8ca71302-1830-403f-b7a9-b1a75e05a703_2bac9ea5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727050884","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/listen-up-2","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}