Can You See Me Now?

First Word Records is very proud to bring you a brand new EP from Amanda Whiting, entitled 'Can You See Me Now?'

Amanda Whiting is a highly-acclaimed Welsh harpist & composer. A virtuoso in her field, this classically trained musician has established herself in recent years as an essential player in the UK jazz scene.

Over the past few years, she's had the support of radio stations & tastemakers such as BBC Radio 2 (Jamie Cullum), BBC 6 Music (Cerys Matthews). BBC Radio 3 (Soweto Kinch), Selector Radio (Sian Eleri), NTS Radio (Patrick Forge), FiP (Laurent Garnier), Soho Radio (Tina Edwards) and across Jazz FM, who also nominated her for 'Instrumentalist of the Year'.

Amanda joined the roster of Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label First Word Records in late 2023, initially via a collaborative project with Don Leisure on 'Beyond The Midnight Sun', as well as a feature on his Welsh Music Prize nominated project 'Shaboo Strikes Back'.

She followed the 'Liminality of Her' record late last year with a divine album of seasonal favourites, from Bill Evans to Vince Guaraldi, on 'A Christmas Cwtch'.

Amanda's 2024 album 'The Liminality of Her' featured in Spotify's 'Best UK Jazz of 2024' and received glowing reviews in Jazzwise, Somewhere Soul, Bandcamp, Clash, AllMusic, Harp Column, Apple Music and HHV, to name a few, along with numerous 'Album of the Year' nods and various other accolades, garnering praise critically and publicly.

Mojo Magazine cites Amanda's compositions as "cinematic, lyrical and lissom by turns".

Amanda has previously performed, toured and collaborated with a wildly eclectic set of artists, including Matthew Halsall, Rebecca Vasmant, DJ Yoda, Gizmo Varillas and Chip Wickham, whilst previously releasing three solo albums on Jazzman Records, and a remix project for the Albert's Favourites imprint.

She's performed with her own trio at numerous festivals across Europe, including We Out Here, and had headline shows at The Jazz Cafe and Hootananny in London, with an upcoming show at the legendary Ronnie Scott's in June 2025.

'Can You See Me Now?' is another triumphant opus from Whiting; laidback, deliciously jazzy and thematically inquisitive, featuring some exceptional production and accompaniment from Adam Scrimshire (Albert's Favourite). The EP begins with the crackling 'Old Ways' intro (inspired by 'Naderman No.6 for Harp') leading into opening track 'Contented'; an epic ethereal piece of tranquil spiritual jazz, complete with the gloriously powerful vocal harmonies of Faye Houston. This sets the mood perfectly for this project, as we head into a short solo for Whiting on 'Still' which appears as it says on the tin. A moment of calm. Lead single 'What Is It We Need?' commences with dusty upright bass from Whiting Trio member Aidan Thorne, ahead of a beautiful goosebump-enducing lead-vocal from the national treasure that is Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts); an absolute powerhouse in her own right. 'Intent' picks up the pace a touch with some delightfully skippy jungle-esque drums from Jon Reynolds. 'It Could Be' follows; a soulful string-laden stepper, again featuring Faye Houston, and hits like the delicate breath of a Summer breeze. We close the set with the appropriately-named 'Moving On', which takes us out with a slightly-warped phasing dreamlike ambience.

The vinyl version of the EP also features two bonus tracks; an instrumental of 'What Is It We Need?' and the wonderful upbeat bop 'Mary Over There', which featured on the recent digital-only deluxe version of 'The Liminality of Her'.

In Amanda's words "thematically, the EP is about the journey as a woman and the stages of life. Standing up and being seen. An important and profound message in the world today!"

"We must stand tall, don't self abase or dim your light

The past has gone. Now step up, be intent, move forward, move on

Don't be silenced. Feminine energy is our might.

Lift your veil, show your worth. We are women, we are strong.

Can you see me now?

Can you hear my dreams?

Can you feel my intentions?

I'm here to be seen."

'Can You See Me Now?' is due for release on vinyl & digital, June 6th 2025.