So Happy

First Word Records are 'So Happy' to bring you brand new music from the illustrious Kaidi Tatham.

This is the first track from Kaidi's forthcoming album, 'Miles Away'; his sixth full-length solo project for the award-winning London-based independent label.

'So Happy' is an uplifting dose of forward-thinking soulful jazz, with a broken beat twist, put together in his inimitable fashion. Rhodes, bass, flute, guitar, percussion and harmonious vocals (all performed by the multi-instrumentalist himself) combine to glide over a septuple time signature, with a sonic arrangement almost akin to the jazzier side of artists like the late great Quincy Jones; though the finished piece falls very much into Kaidi's unique style and pattern.

For those that don't know, Belfast-based Kaidi Tatham was been an innovative powerhouse in the world of British black music for decades. From his early days as one of the pioneers of the broken beat movement, to his recent prominence as a key-player for DJ Jazzy Jeff's PLAYlist project, he has inspired an array of artists and tastemakers across the globe, from Madlib to Gilles Peterson.

The list of artists he's worked and collaborated with reads like a fever dream - Amy Winehouse, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Leroy Burgess, Nubya Garcia, Slum Village, Andrew Ashong, Marcos Valle and beyond. Additionally to a number of releases with 2000 Black's Dego and The Herbaliser, he's also dropped records for Theo Parrish's Sound Signature and Alex Nut's Eglo Records, taking in a number of aliases along the way, including Agent K, Shokazulu, Blakai, Da One Away and Likwid Biskit - the latter two projects alongside IG Culture (New Sector Movements / LCSM). He's also worked with fellow First Word label-mates like Children of Zeus, Allysha Joy, Darkhouse Family and Eric Lau.

'So Happy' is an instrumental piece exuding joy and positivity, much needed in these times, and is one of 10 brand new compositions to be released into the universe imminently.

Available on all DSPs worldwide, February 19th 2025, with the album 'Miles Away' set to follow in late March on vinyl & digital.