Emanative

Emanative is the project of UK drummer, percussionist and producer Nick Woodmansey. The project brings together a changing group of musicians and vocalists, with Jessica Lauren, Ben Hadwen and Level Neville Malcolm forming the core line-up for the album described here. Vocals are provided by Deborah Jordan, Liz Elensky and Heidi Vogel.

Style and approach

The music draws on jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop and club culture, with a preference for feel and communication over polished technique. Woodmansey describes the project as a way to work with players who can move between abstract music, soul, jazz and dancefloor-oriented material. The sound uses live drums, sampled drums, vintage analogue synthesizers, upright bass, horns and flutes, along with bass clarinet and gyaling.

Background and development

Before focusing on Emanative, Woodmansey works with and as part of various other bands and projects. He moves from a rock background towards soul, funk and hip-hop, then turns to jazz as a major influence while deciding to become a producer. He begins experimenting with early Emanative material by sampling his live drums and jazz records and live sessions. The project’s sound settles when he starts working with Ben, Jessica and Neville, and the first two tracks they create together are modal, downtempo pieces.

Recordings and label connections

One of those early tracks, “Petite Planète”, attracts interest from Simon S at Futuristica Music, and the track is signed there along with a vocal version that is still in progress at the time. Encouraged by this response, and by Deborah Jordan, Woodmansey develops more hip-hop and dancefloor-oriented material, which leads to an album for Futuristica Music.

A later break comes through BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson, who hears “Turn Your Lights On”, featuring Flying Lotus collaborator Ahu on vocals, and champions it on air. Peterson then releases it on Brownswood Recordings as part of the Brownswood Bubblers 3 compilation. Single releases “Petite Planète” and “When On Earth” also receive support on Radio 1 and other shows.

Collaborations and related work

Woodmansey also remixes José James’s “Velvet” for Brownswood. The remix remains unreleased at the time described here, but receives worldwide airplay from Michael Ruetten, Dom Servini and Gilles Peterson. Heidi Vogel appears on both that remix-related work and on “Wind, Sand And Stars” from the album, having recently toured worldwide with the Cinematic Orchestra.

The album concept

The album Space is shaped by 1970s spiritual soul and jazz, as well as more recent dance culture and a hip-hop attitude to production. Its influences include Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, alongside the contemporary underground hip-hop scene. The title reflects an interest in science fiction and eastern influence, and also pays tribute to French aviator and writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, with the idea of regaining personal viewpoint and direction.