Nala Sinephro - 1.8 (Warp Records)

WHAT YOUR EARS SAY & THE COVER LOOKS LIKE

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WHAT WE SAY

The jazz just keeps coming & the new LP from Nala Sinephro for Warp Records is not just the freshest of the recent releases but my new firm favourite. With a crack crew she's taken her harp & spiritual inclinations on a ride through becalmed ambient waters, traversed the odd tempestuous fusion & somehow had a peep into our deep space electronic future.

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WHAT THE RELEASE NOTES SAY

On Space 1.8, we discover Nala Sinephro's unique sound world as she bends notes and tones, weaving them together to craft a place of solace. Space 1.8 draws from Sinephro’s interest in frequency and geometry, and is based on the premise that sound moves matter. The album takes shape as a metaphysical structure, where each of the eight curative Spaces is a womb-like cocoon created by Sinephro in service of relief and an affirmative, ecstatic freedom.

The album was composed, produced, performed, engineered, recorded, mixed by Sinephro at the age of 22, who performs on modular synths, alongside pedal harp. Here, Sinephro collaborates with friends, all leading lights from across the UK’s jazz scene, including - James Mollison, Shirley Tetteh, Nubya Garcia, Eddie Hick, Dwayne Kilvington, Jake Long, Lyle Barton, Rudi Creswick, Twm Dylan and Wayne Francis. Space 1.8 was recorded across 2018 to 2019 both in Sinephro’s house and at the Pink Bird recording studio, a small backyard shed in Wanstead near Epping Forest.
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Following electrifying live performances across the London scene, word of mouth quickly spread throughout the UK jazz scene of Nala Sinephro’s playing, consequently landing her performances as part of the celebrated jazz night Steam Down, alongside playing with and supporting the likes of Demae, Eun, Coby Sey, Rosie Turton, Robert Ames, London Contemporary Orchestra, Touching Bass, Spitfire Audio, Nadeem Din-Gabisi. She was touted as one of The Guardian’s artists to watch in 2020, has garnered support from the likes of Gilles Peterson; and is a resident DJ on NTS sharing monthly selections of celestial sounds. 
On the album, Sinephro’s work is driven by a fascination with the effects differing frequencies can have on the human body, and layering multiple tunings to explore the alchemical power of sound. Her compositions fuses meditative sounds, jazz sensibilities, folk and field recordings. But beyond genre, sound itself is Sinephro’s main preoccupation. Her practice as a composer and producer is rooted in the study of frequencies and the nurturing properties sound can provide - even as a performer, playing modular synth and harp are deeply therapeutic for her.

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IF YOU LIKE THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS

Smartlink
to the playlist on Apple Music, Deezer, Youtube & Soundcloud