Three vinyl re-releases and some DJ gigs this weekend!
My love for vinyl goes deep. After our house fire in 2020, when we lost pretty much everything we owned, digging for vinyl became a different kind of therapy. When the reality of not being able to get my journals or photographs or other keepsakes settled in, realizing I could still get pieces of my life back in the form of the records that helped shape me, I got obsessed. With some help from friends who sent records and a few record stores who gave discounts, my vinyl collection is now bigger than the one I lost. I’m very thankful.
This obsession with collecting records also made me reflect on my own music, the fleeting nature of digital distribution (if you can’t hold it in your hand, there’s no guarantee your favorite albums will remain accessible), and the desire for the one thing I’ve worked the hardest on in my life to live forever.
The music needs to be on vinyl.
Today, for the first time, I’m happy to announce that not just one, but THREE of my solo albums are available on vinyl, with full-color inserts, liner notes and the whole thing. You can order yours now via elasticStage and they will be shipping to wherever you are in the world, from London, UK.
Also, related to vinyl…. I’m happy to announce that I’m getting back to DJ’ing this weekend!
Tomorrow: Friday, February 14th I’ll be back at my old stomping grounds KEXP not on the air, but DJ’ing in the live room for the one and only Brother Ali as he celebrates the release of his new full-length album with Ant titled Satisfied Soul available now via Mello Music Group.
And this Sunday, February 16th, I’ll be DJ’ing a very special event honoring the great Curtis Mayfield at The Black & Tan Hall as a part of Sankofa Film Society’s LIFTED: A Soulful Brunch Series, from 11am-2pm.
If you didn’t know, let me tell you. Curtis Mayfield is my favorite musician of all time. The songwriting, the vocals, the production, the vulnerability, the love for the people, the soul... all of it. Along with his own music and his work with The Impressions, he also produced whole albums for Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Baby Huey, Linda Clifford and more. He inspired one young Bob Marley’s whole approach to music, and he has been my North Star as well.
For this event I’ll be playing nothing but Curtis Mayfield classics, deep cuts, covers, remixes, and samples. We also will be joined by Zola Mumford, Teme Wokoma, Carina del Rosario, Edwin Lindo, and Daniel Pak who will be sharing readings related to Curtis Mayfield and what it means to “Get Ready”.
Space is limited, so get your tickets now!
I’m gonna have more info about the new music soon, I promise.
Appreciate you all more than words can say,
Gabriel
PS: Apologies to everyone in North America for the extra shipping charge on the vinyl, but you can still get Evidence Of Things Not Seen on Bandcamp, shipped from the US for less shipping… and if you are in the UK or the EU, hey, you’re welcome!
PPS: I know there’s people waiting for the Lovework, Colored People’s Time Machine, and From The Ashes of Our Homes vinyl editions. It’s in the works but is taking longer as those albums all have to be double vinyls due to the length, and the places I’ve pressed vinyl with thus far don’t do double albums. I’ll make sure to tell you about it here the minute those records are available!