Jean Jacques Smoothie - Sleeping in the Flowerbeds

Following the 2025 release of a brand new 'Dubwise' version of his hit single '2People', Jean Jacques Smoothie presents his debut album 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' on Colour and Pitch.

"Back in COVID times I made a promise to myself that I would finish the debut album I began in 2000 by the time I was 50" says Smoothie.  "I set to work resurrecting old projects from the hard drive and updating songs I'd already released through various means.  Like so many musicians in lockdown I used the time to hone my skills and find my sound for who I am now. I kept that promise to myself (more or less) and it has taken me another couple of years to find the right home for it and make sure it's really ready.  This year is 25 years since that journey began!"

25 years since he burst onto the global scene with the original, Minnie Riperton-sampling 2001 club smash '2People', Jean Jacques Smoothie (aka Steve Robson) has steadily continued to produce, remix and DJ from his base in Cardiff, Wales. He first connected with tiny UK imprint in 2016 with a remix of Tim Tonal's 'Light My Way', following up with a remix of label founder Sumsuch & Will Brock's 'There Comes A Time' in 2022. It was exciting to hear Smoothie was sitting on an unreleased album after all these years, and 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' does not disappoint.

Opening with the Dubwise mix of '2People', the track that started it all, the album quickly moves into slinky Deep House territory with the pristine club warm-up 'Alpine Morning'. Title track 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' is a delightfully quirky downtempo acid workout with subtle arcade game feels, while 'Deep Down' moves onto the dancefloor with a stabby, chord-led groove. Featuring a bluesey guitar and vocal performance from long time collaborator Rohan Tarry, 'Heavy Lifting' weaves together familiar, seemingly disparate, musical threads into something quite new. Reuniting with the voice of '2People', Tara Busch, 'Over The Edge' brings uplifting piano and bass grooves together with a soaring vocal performance, dubbed out to perfection. Also featuring Rohan Tarry, 'Cowgirl' takes a fun ride through the sparkly, wide open plains of psychedelic electronic Country, while 'Night Jet' takes us soaring through clear, starlit skies (but will sound just as good if we're only driving home from the office). Closing out the album, 'Success For Dummies' cheekily hands down a little self-help advice we can all enjoy while shaking a leg.

'Sleeping in the Flowerbeds' is out on June 5th. Pre-order or pre-save it HERE.

Jean Jacques Smoothie - Success for Dummies

 Jean Jacques Smoothie presents 'Success For Dummies', the second single from upcoming album 'Sleeping in the Flowerbeds' (out June 5th 2026), complete with a stunning pair of remixes from PJ Principle.

A quirky, mid-tempo House cut, 'Success for Dummies', definitely puts the emphasis on fun(k), offering up some great life advice over a tight synth and live bass-fuelled groove. Perhaps best known for his work on iconic UK dance label DiY Discs under the alias Peej, Nottingham producer PJ Principle turns in a silky smooth Disco mix, plus a lovely, airy House version to boot.

"'Success for Dummies' has been in the Jean Jacques Smoothie repertoire in various guises over the years" says Smoothie.  "Inspired by self help books from the 80s, the simple message really summed up my philosophy for a happy life.  Try to enjoy yourself and try not to be a jerk!  When thinking about the album mix, I wanted to move away from previous versions with obvious samples.  I worked with a couple of amazing, remote session musicians to keep the funk alive with some live bass and bad-ass synth solo. I was so chuffed when PJ Principle agree to a remix. His extended disco mix is so smooth, and keeps the OG vibe while adding some fantastic new grooves."

"When Steve sent me the demos for the album," says Peej "I immediately picked out "Success For Dummies" as a favourite; it's a catchy track with great musicianship and a cool "self help" voiceover that reminded me of Will Powers' "Adventures in Success". Working with such good elements made coming up with remix ideas a fairly simple task. I hope that the results have been a 'success'!"

'Success For Dummies' lands April 23rd on Colour and Pitch.

Pre-order or pre-save here.

Kerrier Collective - Somatic Tick (ft. Polly Meyrick)

Featuring vocals and horns from long-time collaborator Polly Meyrick, Cornish production duo Kerrier Collective return to Colour and Pitch with atmospheric deep house single 'Somatic Tick', featuring a silky smooth remix from BiG AL.

With their previous output receiving support on BBC 6 Music, NTS and Jazz FM here in the UK, Kerrier Collective (DJ/producer Ben Tidy and multi-instrumentalist Alfie Gidley) have a series of stunning releases ready to unleash over the next few months, as well as a live set ready to hit the road soon.

Earning his stripes on the U.S. East Coast and Montreal, Canada in the late 80's and a fine ambassador for his native Levant region across the globe ever since, DJ and producer BiG AL turns in a typically rolling and hypnotic reworking of 'Somatic Tick', showing love for the original while adding subtle flourishes all his own.

An overcast day, a beat and a chopped up sample were the starting point for 'Somatic Tick'. It began in Ben Tidy's off grid cabin in the corner of a field in Cornwall. "It forces you to work fast when you're relying on the power of the sun in the UK" says Ben. "When you don't think about it, all of your influences can come out to play; 90s New York house, Jungle, Hardcore and later disco when adding handclaps and the Rhodes. 3 hours after starting this track there was an arrangement. Flow state had done all the work and at the end of this short session it was like someone else had written the track. Just vibin'."

Alfie Gidley, returning from a tour, soon pitched in. "I felt the vocals asked for a harmonic lift in the chorus sections so I sat down with my bass guitar to try and pull out the chord change required" he explains. "Ben's original track (which became the DJ version) has a constant pedal note which isn't the root of the key, so it sort of flies above the ground, never landing. With the studio version I experimented with grounding the track so that it could lift off for the chorus. We liked the two different effects so much that two distinct versions have made it onto the final release."

"When I listened to the track I immediately had a clear idea for the vocals" Polly Meyrick adds, "and most of the vocal ideas came out there and then in one session. I enjoyed picking percussive and satisfying words for the lyrics and writing the horns with a kind of sleazy disco feel. The track talks about a feeling of overwhelm with the pace of life and internet culture. It's an expression of frustration with smartphones and how these devices have created a new culture around dating and social interactions."

Release Date: December 19th 2025

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Jean Jacques Smoothie - 2People Remixes

Heralding his forthcoming debut album, 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds', which is to be released on Colour and Pitch toward the end of 2025, Jean Jacques Smoothie presents brand new remixes of his timeless hit '2People' featuring Richard Earnshaw, The NRG, and Smoothie himself.

The package opens with Jean Jacques Smoothie's own delightfully downtempo, 'Dubwise' version of '2People', featuring melodica by Rochenko and a sultry new vocal from Tara Busch. UK soulful hero Richard Earnshaw dons his Inner Spirit guise to deliver a selection of super-deep, jazz-tinged house mixes, perfect for late summer terraces and beach clubs. Finally, mythical kings of ambient, The NRG, turn in a stunning ambient rework, perfect for those spiritual, reflective moments.

"I knew that I couldn't release a debut Jean Jacques Smoothie album without the song that made it all happen" says Jean Jacques Smoothie. "You can't be a One Hit Wonder and not celebrate your one hit! So I went somewhere new and combined my love of dub with a new vocal recording by my good friend Tara Busch. I took lots of elements from the original and inspiration from the Mirwais Radio edit to create something brand new.

I was so happy when Colour & Pitch hooked me up with Richard Earnshaw. I've been a huge fan of his music for a long time, and I knew that a deep, jazzy Inner Spirit remix was the house mix that we needed. Added to this is a sublime ambient workout from my old friends the Stadium Ambient band that never was, The NRG. Next year will be the 25 year anniversary of '2People' and I'm so proud that the original is still getting played on BBC Radio 1 after all this time. I hope that a new generation of listeners will enjoy these mixes which I think have brought the song up to date while still maintaining a link to my musical history.

Of course, Minnie Ripperton's unbelievable voice and original song Inside My Love is the real inspiration. I hope that people will seek out more of her music and appreciate the foundations of everything we do."

Check out the music HERE

Release Date: October 3rd 2025

Kerrier Collective & wolf peaches - Rotten Fingers EP

Created in partnership with Sheffield songwriter wolf peaches, Cornwall’s Kerrier Collective return to Colour and Pitch with two brand new tracks: ‘Rotten Fingers’ and ‘Fake Silence’.

Lush instrumental ‘Life Wants To Live’, Kerrier Collective’s first single on the Colour and Pitch garnered play on BBC 6 Music, NTS and Jazz FM here in the UK, so we’re delighted to have them back on the label, this time with added vocals.

Slo-mo Deep House cut ‘Rotten Fingers’ was originally released by wolf peaches and producer Robin Grey as a downtempo song (it’s well worth seeking out). As Ben Tidy puts it: “A real Sunday morning jam with great production from Robin.” After a chance meeting with Robin, Kerrier Collective got to work on the song bringing in regular collaborator Polly Meyrick on horns. “We wanted to make the Saturday night version of this Sunday morning Jam, so sped it up to a slow house tempo and got groovin’ with the drums. We were listening to a lot of Omar S’s slow crunky techno with 909 basslines and Nils Frahm’s subtle drops, and it seems we have paid homage to both of them in this track. This last section is really where Kerrier Collective and wolf peaches merge into one with Alfie’s strings, Polly’s horns and Ben’s synths sitting atop the vocals and chords. This was a real joy to work on. I hope you can feel how much we got into the track.”

Second track ‘Fake Silence’ takes a more delicate and minimal path, with lo-fi drums, heavy sub bass and ice-cold piano chords giving way to dizzying vocals and entrancing plucked violin and concertina flourishes. “When we received the vocals back from wolf peaches for what would become ‘Fake Silence,’ there were three long takes of ideas” says Ben. “So many good ideas, and lots of them. We treated the takes like you would sample material, taking a bit from here and a bit from there, editing together a new chorus and some ideas for a verse. Little did I know that I was whittling together a chorus subconsciously which was describing exactly what was going on in one of my relationships at the time.” “The yearning for authentic expression and mindful presence in wolf peaches’ vocals are themes which resonate strongly with all three of us” says Alfie. “So here we are, exploring the shortfall between language and emotions, as we probably all will, if we stop and listen.”

About Kerrier Collective:
Drawing Jazz, Afrobeat and Deep House sensibilities into their warm, subtle and carefully considered compositions, Kerrier Collective (Ben Tidy and Alfie Gidley) have been releasing music since early 2021. The duo adroitly blend Ben's experience as part of London house production team Souled and staffer at UK dance music institution Black Market Records, with Alfie's formidable talent as a multi-instrumentalist, built through more than 15 years performing as a live artist.

About wolf peaches:
wolf peaches is the solo project of Hazel Thompson, Sheffield based songwriter, harmony fanatic and multi-instrumentalist. They were awarded Youth Music's Next Gen fund for the debut EP Dwelling, wolf peaches sets evocative melodies within a swoony harmonic landscape; fusing pop and folk sounds with a glint of soul. Raw emotion resonates through an earthy and effortless vocal, woven with finger- plucked guitar, piano melodies and an undercurrent of electronic pop groove. Each track of this eclectic and playful collection draws the listener into its own world, with introspective lyrics threading aspects of the neurodiverse experience through dreamy imagined landscapes, and stylistic twists evoking artists from Aldous Harding to Fleetwood Mac. Dwelling is a series of different homes created in the alchemy of co-production between Robin Grey and Hazel. Since the EP Hazel has been busy with radical folk duo Lucy & Hazel, and part of the Emergence Collective's latest release 'Chapel'.

Release Date: March 28th 2025

Preview / Pre-Order HERE.

Andrew Emil, Glass Slipper, Claude Young - Incidental Introspection

Andrew Emil and Glass Slipper join forces with Claude Young for timeless and soulful EP ‘Incidental Introspection', issued on Colour and Pitch.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Colour and Pitch is delighted to welcome back to the label Austin duo Glass Slipper (Lisa Cork-Twiss and Brad Eller) and Chicago producer Andrew Emil, alongside a label debut from an all-time musical hero of ours, Detroit’s own Claude Young Jr.

Ranging from 80’s-tinged boogie to House, ‘Incidental Introspection’ cooks up a truly singular, timeless fusion for 2024 and beyond. Slinky mid-tempo opener ‘Fade Out’ summons up retro Miami beach feels, while Lisa’s stunning vocal deals with the very modern issue of social media burnout.

‘Dancefloor Paramour’ keeps the grooves languid, while Lisa’s layered and reverb-drenched vocal summons up a dream-like and fleeting late-night encounter. Instrumental House cut ‘Unclaimed Restraint’ rolls effortlessly with a fat bass-line and dreamy classic chords.

Crushed, off-kilter drums and sparse chords introduce ‘God Only Knows’, before Lisa’s voice expresses both personal and universal existential questions like a mournful gospel confessional. Finally, Brad re-imagines ‘Dancefloor Paramour’ as a slick Disco House number, somewhat reminiscent of classic early Crazy P or Ray Mang productions.

“This EP was finished right before Covid hit in 2020 but feels timeless and I’m so excited to have it finally see the light of day” says Lisa Cork-Twiss. Andrew Emil continues: "Claude and I had been friends for some years through our work together creating sample packs, content, videos and editorial during my days directing the digital category at Reverb. We wrote all the track skeletons during a weekend in 2019 when Claude was staying with me in Chicago, and I finished up the tracks before I sent them off to Brad and Lisa of Glass Slipper to check out. They really loved three of them, and right away recorded their contributions and sent them back. I mixed them down and they added their remix, and there this project was.” Brad concludes: “The base tracks Andrew and Claude created were very inspiring, and Lisa never ceases to amaze me with her songwriting. I feel very lucky to be a part of this talented cohort.”

STREAM OR DOWNLOAD THE EP

Release Date: April 5th 2024.

Sumsuch, Will Brock - Free Born Man

Written during a summer visit to the English seaside, transatlantic duo Will Brock and Sumsuch present languid, soulful gem 'Free Born Man', presented with a spine-tingling remix from Deep House hero, Vincenzo.

Warm analogue synth bass and lush keys introduce 'Free Born Man', the perfect foil for Brock's vulnerable and raw vocal performance. Detailing personal struggles with mental health and reminding us that we have choices even in the midst of the fog, this track represents a new level of maturity in the pair's musical journey.

To celebrate Colour and Pitch's 10th anniversary, we treated ourselves to a remix by an all-time production hero, the incomparable Vincenzo. His version reimagines 'Free Born Man' as a timeless Balearic cut, with a hypnotic guitar riff which brilliantly reflects that perfect seaside sunset.

Philadelphia soul artist Will Brock and UK producer Sumsuch have been making music together since 2014, releasing two successful albums on iconic UK label BBE Music under their alias 'Mega Jawns’.

Release Date: March 1st 2024

Cover image by Zoe Childerly. 

Pre-order / Pre-save: https://li.sten.to/freebornman

Will Brock, Sumsuch - LoA (Land of America)

Philly soul maestro Will Brock reconnects with UK producer Sumsuch for 'LoA (Land of America)', a deep house cut featuring spoken-word vocals detailing a confusing, gaslit experience that'll sound sadly all-too familiar to the Black community in the US of A and beyond. 

 'LoA' is a dream-like Afro-inspired cut with a sugary sweet harmonic vocal hook, reflecting the seductive charm of the American Dream, so deftly laid bare by Will Brock's freestyle spoken word. We're delighted to welcome talented Australian producer Dave Leck to Colour and Pitch for the first time to remix 'LoA'. Having impressed us for some time with his melodic compositions and flawless sonics, Leck's version lays out a warm and smooth soundscape with sparse and wide horizons, amping up the emotions and gently teasing the hook. 

Previously recording two albums for BBE Music as Mega Jawns, the transatlantic duo of Will Brock and Sumsuch have been musical partners and the best of friends for a decade now. ‘LoA' is the latest track to be released from a series of studio sessions which took place in West Philly during May 2022, after the pair had been separated for a couple of years. 

Picking up right where they left off with deep music and even deeper conversations, this song shines a light on the constant, subtle gaslighting America seems to inflict on its most vulnerable citizens. Are you truly equal? Is this country your home? As a 'minority' in the USA, the answers to those questions seem to change almost daily. 

 

Release Date: December 15th 2023

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Sara De Sanctis - Astray

Italian-born, London-based classically trained pianist and vocalist Sara De Sanctis releases her fourth single ‘Astray’, presented with an uptempo remix by David Marston.

Produced by Jacob Bright and mastered by Shawn Joseph (New Order, PJ Harvey, Portishead), 'Astray' is a downtempo, borderline trip hop gem exploring themes of love and loss with a refreshing vulnerability. “'Astray' was written together with 'Have I been Dreaming' and 'Fading' and they talk about the feeling of obsession, loss and disorientation” says Sara.

Previously releasing on  Soul Clap Records and Wolf + Lamb as well as his own Kindness Of Bearer imprint, David Marston has built an enviable reputation thanks to his strong sense of musicality and crisp, lean productions. His rework of 'Astray' is heavily influenced by golden era 2-step and garage, with chopped vocals, bouncy drums and rumbling sub bass.

Sara started playing the piano at five years old and became passionate about songwriting and composition during her teenage years. Her interest in composition led her to the UK and the USA, where she also studied film scoring and conducting after influences such as Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone. In 2021, she decided to pursue a career in songwriting and released her debut single ‘Serendipity’, followed by ‘15 Again’, both featuring on BBC Radio with the latter also winning the Press Prize at Italian national music competition ‘Il Cantagiro'. Her third release, 'Fading', was remixed by UK House music hero Richard Earnshaw and was featured on radio stations all around the world, including KCRW in the US and Mi Soul in the UK. “Even though I chose another path, classical music helped me develop musical thinking and composition methods that I can now use in my own works. In ‘Astray’, the sense of sweet and sadistic surrender to a relentless and deteriorating love is conveyed through the use of 'laid back' vocals” says Sara.

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Release Date: 21/7/2023

Gavin Holligan - When Boys Become Men (Richard Earnshaw Remix)

In this vibrant earworm, Gavin Holligan paints a stark picture of his experiences of being the underdog. Gavin is no stranger to thought provoking lyrics, with previous releases like "More Than One", and more recently, "This Hotel Is Closed" and "Same Old Story"- which were both playlisted by Jazz FM and other key tastemaker stations.

This single has been given the remix treatment from soulful house producer Richard Earnshaw (Defected, Reel People, Jocelyn Brown, Roy Ayers), whose stylish production pairs well with Gavin's powerful vocal.

Masterfully blending soulful vocals, jazz coloured instrumentation, and compelling storytelling, this track is sure to add further legitimacy to Gavin's growing reputation as a credible UK talent. The song cleverly nods to his notable history as a former pro footballer, whilst the lyrics tell a poignant tale of defiance and outward bravado. "This track has always been a firm favourite to perform live - audiences absolutely love it! " says Gavin Holligan about his boisterous uptempo piece.

Born and raised in South London, Gavin Holligan's music could easily be described as an ‘authentic mix of soul, jazz and folk', quality music that is sure to stand the test of time. Gavin Holligan is driven to continue captivating audiences with his unique musical prowess. The dynamic singer songwriter is known for bringing sensory, raw, and honest narratives to music, delivering performances that reach every listener, and this track is definitely that in abundance.

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Release Date: 7/7/2023