new single – Record Kicks

Tanika Charles announces new album & drops new single!

Pre-order the new album “Reasons To Stay” and listen to the new single “Don’t Like You Anymore” here: https://recordkicks.lnk.to/TanikaCharles

Toronto soul star Tanika Charles announces the new album “Reasons To Stay” and drops the first single “Don’t Like You Anymore”, out now on digital platforms. Album pre-orders available starting from today.

Two-time Juno awards nominated and three-time Polaris Prize listed, Canadian soul star Tanika Charles announces the new album“Reasons To Stay,” set to drop on May 16th, 2025 via independent soul specialist label Record Kicks. Album pre-orders are available starting from today at the following link: https://recordkicks.lnk.to/TanikaCharles The album is anticipated by lead single “Don’t Like You Anymore,” out today, February 5th, on all digital platforms and on March 21st on limited edition clear 45 vinyl. With her fourth studio album, “Reasons To Stay,” Tanika Charles writes a series of intimate letters to members of her family, to herself and to the listener.

Produced by Scott McCannell and mixed by Monophonics’ frontman Kelly Finnigan, in the first single “Don’t Like You Anymore,” Tanika reflects on her relationship with her mother. “I know this will come across harsh to some, but this is an honest reflection of my relationship with my mother. She was unavailable emotionally for me my entire upbringing, and eventually unavailable physically too. I’ve tried to understand. I’ve tried to make amends. I’ve tried to assist where I can. But the emotional labour is too heavy, and the reciprocation is too faint to justify trying anymore. I love you, but…”

The result is a fiery and heartfelt mid-tempo gospel-funk stormer, with boom-bap-smacked drums and chunky basslines that create an infectious groove that is sure to grab attention—not only from fans of soul but also from hip-hop and rap artists who will see its sample-ready potential.

Two-time Juno Awards R&B/Soul Recording of the Year nominee and three-time Polaris Music Prize long-list nominee Tanika Charles in synonymous with Canadian Soul music. She has embraced the sound and aesthetic of the genre without gimmick, whilst pushing the boundaries of what audiences can expect. Her music revels in honesty and attitude, her live show is high energy and endearing, and she continues to organically win audiences over one album, one stream, and one encore at a time. Her previous studio albums – “Soul Run” (2017), “The Gumption” (2019), and “Papillon De Nuit” (2022) – have propelled her to international acclaim. Extensive touring across North America and Europe has further solidified her reputation, with standout performances at festivals such as Trans Musicales in France, Fusion Festival in Germany, Mostly Funk & Soul Festival and Jazz Festival in the UK, Holy Groove Festival in Switzerland, and Canarias Jazz Festival in Spain. She has also shared the stage Estelle, Mayer Hawthorne, Haitus Kayote, Lauryn Hill, Bedouin Soundclash and Macy Gray. Tanika’s meteoric rise and undeniable artistry have been widely championed by outlets such as KCRW, KEXP, BBC6 Music, Exclaim!, CBC Music, Uncut Mag, PopMatters and Albumism further solidifying her position as a global soul sensation.

Gaudi & Don Letts Remix of Seun Kuti’s ‘Dey’ feat. Damian Marley Out Now!

Music collaboration of the year, Seun Kuti feat. Damian Marley’s single ‘Dey’ gets a dub remix by Gaudi & Don Letts. Listen here: https://recordkicks.lnk.to/DeyRemix

In June 2024 the release of ‘Dey’ feat. Damian Marley, the first single taken from Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s new album ‘Heavier Yet’ (Lays The Crownless Head)’, marked an historic moment for African unity and art: the Kuti and Marley families collaborating for the first time ever on a record. The highly anticipated cooperation created a bridge between Nigeria and Jamaica and captivated audiences worldwide. Now Record Kicks unleashes ‘Dey (Gaudi & Don Letts remix)’, an infectious “dub remake” of the track courtesy of production duo Gaudi & Don Letts that is now available on all digital platforms.

Grammy nominated dub producer and solo artist Gaudi, whose distinctive work for artists including Steel Pulse, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Orb, Horace Andy, Groove Armada, Tricky to name but a few, has topped charts around the world. Iconic Grammy Award winning film director, musician and radio broadcaster Don Letts‘ career includes work with The Clash, founding Big Audio Dynamite, introducing reggae to the punk generation and directing countless award-winning videos. Gaudi & Don Letts started work as a production duo shortly after they came together to create ‘Outta Sync’, Don’s first solo album produced by Gaudi. The pair were musically bonded by the project and in its wake have gone on to produce/remix for UB40, Caravan Palace, EMF, Dub Pistols, Johnny Clarke, Kid Loco, Inner Circle, Terry Hall, Meatraffle and now, in a seemingly unexpected but inspired move, Seun Kuti feat. Damian Marley.

Sometimes two plus two makes more than four, Gaudi & Don Letts deliver a killer beat n’ bass heavy floor-filler!

GAUDI and SAVANA FUNK join forces for new EP: Listen to the 1st Single

Pre-order the ltd edition clear 7″ vinyl HERE. Listen to the new single “Raha” HERE.

Grammy nominated producer Gaudi (Steel Pulse, The Orb, Tricky, Lee Scratch Perry) joins forces with Italian Afro-funk band Savana Funk to revive the sound of “Cosmic-Disco” of the late 70s with the new EP “Raha”.

The terms “Cosmic-Disco / Afro” are used to describe various forms of African-influenced and Synth-based dance music with a particular method of DJing originally developed and promoted by a small number of DJs in Italy from the late 70s through the mid-80s, a freeform music-journey created with vinyl records, mixing and beat-matching a very diverse range of musical styles, from electro-funk to Brazilian-jazz, incorporating live percussion and effects. Pioneers such as DJ Mozart, Daniele Baldelli, Loda, Pery, Spranga, L’ebreo, Tosi Brandi, Lelli and venues such as Cosmic, Baia Degli Angeli, Typhoon, La Mecca, Chicago, Arlecchino to name but a few, had truly expanded and helped the development of the club-culture in Italy and subsequently in Europe. In his youth, producer and musician Gaudi was one of the punters who regularly attended these venues and followed the whole “Afro” scene, experiencing from the dancefloor that 90-110BPM hypnotic sound and subconsciously absorbing the essence of it. In fact, it is no coincidence that many of the productions he has released in his 35-year career have a strong Afro-influenced imprinting, the last of which is “Raha”, the new collaborative EP to be released on May 8th on Milan-based label Record Kicks as a combo with Savana Funk. A vibrant tribute to what is considered one of the most exciting and original movements in the club scene.

The first single carries the same name “Raha” and it is available from today on all the digital platforms and on April 26th on a beautiful limited edition 7” vinyl. Driven by a solid groove of “Afro-Cosmic”, this tribal number is infused with an eclectic krautrock sound, very distinct and very psychedelic at the same time: a texture generated by analogue synthesizers and “space-funk” riffs from guitar and bass. “Raha” means “peace of mind” in Arabic, the native language of the Italian-Moroccan drummer Youssef, who also appears as a vocalist on this track. Produced by Gaudi, written and performed by Savana Funk & Gaudi.

Active since 2015, Savana Funk are one of the most sought-after “afro-funk” bands in Italy, with hundreds of successful live shows nationwide including performances with Kokoroko, Seun Kuti and Nu Guinea, they have released 5 albums so far: ‘Musica Analoga’, ‘Savana Funk’, ‘Bring in the New’, ‘Tindouf’ and the latest ‘Ghibli’.

London based music producer Gaudi has contributed to a number of albums nominated for awards and prizes such as: Grammy Awards 2019, with the album ‘Mass Manipulation’ by Steel Pulse, BBC’s World Music Award, with the album ‘Dub Qawwali’ by Gaudi & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His work and music contributions have topped international charts such as: Billboard Reggae Chart no.1 with the albums ‘Heavy Rain’ by Lee “Scratch” Perry, no.1 with ‘Mass Manipulation’ by Steel Pulse and again no.1 with ‘Vessel of Love’ by Hollie Cook. Studio works include name acts such as: Groove Armada, Simple Minds, African Head Charge, Lamb, Horace Andy, Brian Ferry, Don Letts, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Professor, The Beat and more.