Randolph Matthews
London, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
“Voce Solo” Is an inspired synthesis of free vocal expression and contemporary digital technology ingeniously crafted and performed by talented world beat artist Randolph Matthews. The audience is held spell-bound, inspired and uplifted as real-time layers of sound, infectious harmonies and hypnotic rhythms are built layer upon layer to create alternative sonic dimensions that bombard the senses in wave after magical wave of overwhelming musical experience. Sometimes this master vocalist conjures his visions alone, at others, in inspired collaboration with other like-minded artists and instrumentalists. Solo Voce is a profound exploration of the power of the human voice, a harmonious communion between the artist, the technology and the audience that experiences it! - Randolph Matthews Press
“This man’s not just original, He’s out there!” - Blues and Soul Magazine.
“It’s beautifully unhurried, splendidly languorous and unashamedly spiritual” - Flux Magazine
Discography
2012
Randolph Matthews - Album - "Precious" released.
Randolph Matthews - "Precious" - album song tours as part of Young voices choir - national arena tour
Aardman film - The Pirates in an adventure with scientist- featuring Randolph Matthews voice over
2011
Randolph Matthews Album "Precious" recorded
Randolph Matthews launches Voce solo show decibel
Vocabdance dance tour - Track Canvas features live in dance peice Kwenda Kwenda and features randolph matthews on vocal.
2010
Word dance tour - Toured with Vocabdance live vocal percussion beat box ,acting and dance.
Randolph and Byron Johnston collaboration album" In the shadow of leaves"
2009
Adisa - 1968 tour - Toured with Adisa the verbalizer as Musical director and live singing,acting and percussion ,creating music
2008
Kaya Project – album “So It Goes” featuring randolph matthews co written songs
Jen Crestol recording at abbey road studios backing vocals and featured artist
Speeka Project – album “Bonfire” featured artist co -writting with Rob Macdonald
Soundtrack for Braun advert – released in Europe & Japan
2007
Low Budget Soul - album “Strangers To The Ordinary” co written album with producer trish "Old English" brown
Randolph Matthews – Album “I Love”, on the Documented record label with producer Tony Nwachuku
Season and Sygaire - co written House Project recording licensed to Giles Peterson(radio 1) In Da House compilation.
2006
Truba Project EP with Zena Edward – Spoken Word / Poetry / World Music
co- writting material and live performances playing cahon ,singing and guitar
2005
Gum Drop – “Hi-Flautin” album - co -written material with Rob Macdonald and tour throughout the Uk
2003
Ty – “Upwards” album - featuring Eska, Bembe Segue, Michelle Escoffery, Randolph matthews on track " Rain"
2001
Written vocals to Soundtrack of Twix Chocolate Campaign advert, released in Europe
2000
Highlander Project – “Highlander” - co writting house music album entitled "Diamonds"
1998
Crosswinds – “Rocky Spring”co written EP with Dave Austin and Danny Fisher
Photos
Bio
About Randolph Matthews
“This man’s not just original, he’s out there!” - Blues and Soul Magazine.
Born in Camden 1973 to West Indian parents, Randolph’s early music schooling involved 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 playing sessions for the likes of US soul / boogie legend Don Blackman, recording with Julie Dexter for her J-Life project and working with Arthur Baker on tracks for Brooklyn’s soul legend, Will Downing. Randolph also voiced a high profile ad for Twix chocolate –Twix ‘In The Mix’.
Forget the usual tags “singer-songwriter”, “folk-soul”, and “troubadour”. If you’ve caught Randolph live, either solo or collaborating, 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 soul, Marvin Gaye, Jon Lucien and Bobby McFerrin, Neo African rhythms and conscious words.
2006 saw Matthews signed to his first record contract and released “I Love” Documented. An aurally delicious blend of emotive words, chant 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. It gained a loyal following, which lead to his first choreographic dance collaboration with Vocab Dance Company performing his single Canvas in Kwenda Kwenda.
2007 brings Matthews to gracing an impressive series of forward-thinking projects with some of Europe’s leading soul, jazz and world music musicians and producers. These included two fruitful collaborations with Jazzanova producers Seasons and Sygaire (Sonar Kolletiv), which lead to the release of Open to Love for Giles Peterson double boogie compilation “In Da House”. His Heart Song also featured improvisation on numerous tracks for ambient electronica dub producer Seb Taylor and Natasha Chamberlain Kaya Project Album (Interchill Record).
Other partnerships in 2009 took Matthews into deeper, more, worldly musical territory opening up new angles on his roots of explorational performance. He played a key part within Conversations, with award winning story telling poet Zena Edwards, and Adisa the verbaliser touring extensively as Musical Director as part of the successful London fringe festival.
Recently in 2010 after running a colorful World music night Collab Randolph, instigated a collaboration with London based flamenco guitarist Byron Johnston. This intoxicating union spun a radical collaboration album In the Shadow of Leaves, recorded in 6 months. Confirming Matthews’s ability to transport to another level, this pushed boundaries in fusing raw guitar styles of the Mediterranean and disparate melodies of new African styles. That same year saw him supporting a pedigree of visiting artist’s from around the world such as Suen Kuti, Cheik Lo, Mulatu Estatke and Amp fiddler. Randolph says, “It’s got to be live, that’s where the genius happens!”
Having earned the plaudits through such works Matthews took a further step in 2011, his solo work with his one-man show Voce Solo. Matthews quotes “I want to reject the predictable boundaries of vocal expression and get to the heart of what we experience in the performance space and how one person can create the space for liberation for all”. And this is what happens in a world class interactive performance Matthews takes the audiences on an organically magical journey through haunting songs, edge of the seat improvisation and laughter whilst technology layers his voice. It’s like therapy in a room. A journal read aloud and set to music. This time Randolph takes all he has lea
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