What happens if you cross Bobby Mcferrin, Richie Havens and Seal

What happens if you cross Bobby Mcferrin, Richie
Havens and Seal with an Ethnic Beatboxer? Meet
vocal voyager Randolph Matthews
If you’ve caught Randolph live, or his music you’ll
understand Randolph Matthews operates in his own parallel
world, well away from traditional mainstream record label
marketing formulae. His music is an evolving journey,
rooted in purity and unshackled expression, drawing from
the greats of Richie Havens, Seal and Bobby McFerrin
Randolph reflects on when it started “I fell in love with music
when I was seven years old, with two tape recorders in
my bedroom. My mum loved singing while cooking down
stairs, so I learnt to layer up voices and beats upstairs
which, over time, got a bit lost during my teens. At 21, I left
work as a telecommunication engineer to follow my heart
and passion and pursue music as a career, re-kindling the
layering voices I had learnt as a kid”
This early music schooling evolved in to Randolph soaking
up London’s burgeoning late-‘80s soul-jazz scene, including
regular trips to Norman Jay’s feted sessions at Hoxton’s Bass
Clef. A career in music soon followed. He started out as a
percussionist before finding his true vocation as a talented
live vocalist, performer and lyricist. By the 1990s he was
performing and leading backing vocals for the likes of US
soul / boogie legend Don Blackman, recording with Arthur
Baker on tracks for Brooklyn ’s soul legend, Will Downing.
After and extensive period of collaboration Randolph
went solo in 2006 to exercise the sounds he was still hearing
he need to get out and it wasn’t long before the year
saw Matthews sign his first record contract and release
his debut “I Love” with Documented. An aurally delicious
blend of emotive words, chants inspired by progressive
beats, produced by Tony Nwachuku (CDR/NEPA) and raw
melodies, it was a promising experiment, for turning vocal
emotions into something tangible. “ I felt so vulnerable
creating this, but it was the right type of pain that comes
with singing out what you feel is real to you “It gained a
loyal following, being picked up by Vocab Dance Company
performing his single Canvas in there sold out Kwenda
Kwenda tour and collaborations with German producers
Seasons and Sygaire (Sonar Kolletiv), and release of track
Open to Love by Radio 1 tastemaker Giles Peterson’s for his
double boogie compilation “In Da House”
Randolph took his time to listen to inspirational soloist such
Keith Jarrett, Pat Methney and Bobby Mcferrin before his
next release in 2011 of co produced world beat album
Precious. Tracks reflect intimate and expansive delivery that
oozes through the songs layers with unique twists and turns
of ethnic beat box. Combinations of unusual arrangements
in 3 Peckham Lane, hypnotic hang drum playing in Rise and
sensitive production touches throughout come courtesy
of dub /electronica producer Seb Taylor (Kaya project
interchill records).
Randolph’s unique blend of Jazz, soul and ethnic beatbox
has him following his love for interactive performance
around the globe with a string of established artist in the last
few years such as Plan B, Grace Jones, Shlomo (Edinburgh
fringe tour) and world music artist Seun Kuti plus regular
performance for the London Jazz festival and Ronnie Scotts
Jazz audiences. His recent collaboration with Young voices
choir took Randolph with 6,000 children up and down
England from Manchester arena to the Royal Albert Hall
performing to more than 500,000 people over two years
alongside Alexandra burke, Beverley Knight and Irish folk
singers The High Kings.” I love performing and use it as an
opportunity to reject the predictable boundaries of vocal
expression and get to the heart of what moves us in a
performance space its just mind-blowing!”
Randolph is now getting ready for his ‘Voce Solo’ tour, which
has London, UK and European Dates. The London show will
be on November the 1st 2013 at Stratford Circus.
Randolph takes the audiences on an organically magical
journey through his new album material, edge of the seat
improvisation and witty stories whilst technology layers his
voice. Special guest are expected on the tour. As though
sound is erupting from within him, a musical volcano of
clicks and glottal stops, Jazz percussive melodies and songs
composed out of audience members names. You cannot
simply watch him perform; you and Randolph become
the performance together. Matthews says “When I am
introduced on stage, the wording is always ‘ Randolph does
his thing… so without further ado, here is his thing…’ What
that ‘thing’ is depends on the day and the audience.” One
thing’s for sure you will most definitely have a unique and
powerful experience.
PRESS
Great dexterity and skill in finding vocalese directions
uncannily like Bobby McFerrin with his Bona-like effects Jazz wise magazine
“It’s beautiful unhurried splendidly languorous and
unashamedly spiritual” – Flux magazine
“This man not just original he’s out there!” Blues and Soul
“Soulful percussiveness” New Statesmen (Edinburgh fringe
festival)
“If you get a chance to see him, grab it with both hands.
You will come away with a huge grin, inspired & uplifted” Jumoké Fashola BBC London 94.9fm
“Beautiful“ Dave Stewart (eurhythmics)
Uk Booking Agent
Oluwatoyin Odunsi
Vintage Misfits
oluwatoyin@vintagemisfits.co.uk