TC & The Groove Family - We Have Each Other

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: BTG198
Barcode: 5051142068682
Release Date: 14 Jun 2024
Genre: Jazz Crossover

Audophile 180g Black 12” LP. Artwork design by Raimund Wong.

Description:

10-piece UK afro-fusion outfit TC & The Groove Family are proud to share their new EP ‘We Have Each Other’. Releasing on Friday 7th June via Bridge The Gap, the project sees the band refine the sound debuted on their 2022 album ‘First Home’. Returning to work once again with producer Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, ONIPA), the project explores a darker sonic palette, channelling a deep appreciation of UK bass and electronic music alongside afro-jazz sounds and hip-hop sensibilities.

The record documents a time of change within the group - a new lineup, plus members living in different cities and pursuing various paths - whilst also reflecting the turbulent socio-political climate, and the major shifts and changes on the horizon for humanity. However, despite the heavy subject material, the band strike an optimistic, uplifting tone, with MC Franz Von channeling the music into a message encouraging listeners to look around and embrace
community, whatever that may look like. Bandleader Tim Cook shares: 

“Our collective purpose is to craft music that empowers and energises individuals to embrace their true selves with pride, celebrating the unity and strength we radiate as one community. No one needs to be alone when they are striving for common humanity. No one should be lonely when we celebrate each other, drawn together by a sound that says it’s good to be me, it’s better to be us. As our MC, Franz Von says, music brings peace, love & energy”.

Opener and lead single ‘Stand Strong’ is a love letter to afrobeat, creating a contemporary twist with its Khruangbin-esque guitar lines and weaving horns, whilst ‘Here, Now’ takes the tempo down to an atmospheric haze of dubbed-out ambient effects, pierced by uplifting horn melodies. ‘Blessed’ sees the group welcome Nubiyan Twist’s Aziza Jaye for a dancehall-meets-North African-flavoured feature, subtly reimagining what Elephunk era Black Eyed Peas would
sound like today.

At the EP’s centre-point and emotional peak, title track ‘We Have Each Other’ showcases the band’s jazz fusion, Latin and dark electronic influences. The tracks growling, subbed-out bass tones return as a theme for ‘Wile Out’ - a UK hip-hop & jungle tinged collaboration with SANITY complete with virtuosic, tight-knit grooves, furious horn lines and a whirlwind of immersive turntablism.

Originally formed in Leeds, TC & The Groove Family’s sound reflects the diverse musical and cultural backgrounds at the core of the project, with songs exploring grooves and genres including afrobeat, broken beat, jungle, jazz and grime. Their music has drawn widespread acclaim, supported by tastemakers including Jamz Supernova and Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, Jazz FM, Rinse FM, Radio FIP and more. The group have performed at the likes of Glastonbury, We Out Here, Greenman and Boomtown, and will embark on a UK tour across May & June in support of the release of ‘We Have Each Other’.

Press / Promotion: 
Bridge The Gap Management running PR, Radio and Marketing campaign. 
Social media campaign in action with £1000 budget split across Meta and TikTok. 
10-date UK tour, as well as festival appearances at Latitude, WOMAD, Secret Garden Party and Greenman
Stand Strong (Single #1)

Press 
WordPlay - News
Backseat Mafia - News + Socials
Fusicology - Mailout + Playlist
Somewhere Soul - Playlist + Socials
Stretch - Playlist
Local Sound Focus - Single Review

Radio
28/03 - BBC Radio 6 - New Music Fix (42m15s)
03/04 - Totally Wired Radio - Kev Beadle
03/04 - Soho Radio - DJ Kobayashi
04/04 - BBC Radio Leeds - BBC Introducing ‘Track of the Week’
06/04 - BBC Radio Leeds - BBC Introducing
11/04 - BBC Radio 3 - Round Midnight (36m26s)
11/04 - Worldwide FM - Gilles Peterson (3hr36m48s)
14/04 - Jazz FM - John Osborne (35m)
18/04 - BBC Radio 6 - Craig Charles (2hr43m33s)
19/04 - BBC Radio Sheffield - Sile Sibanda
19/04 - Selector Radio (25m06s)

Track-list: 
Side A
1. Stand Strong
2. Blessed (ft. Aziza Jaye)
3. We Have Each Other

Side B
4. Here, Now
5. Wile Out (ft. SANITY)