I Won't Wait

First Word Records are proud to present 'I Won't Wait'; the second single taken from the sophomore solo EP by Victoria Port.

Forming part of a forthcoming 5-track set merging retro soul with contemporary sounds, this was put together from sessions recorded at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London, and Victoria's home studio Candle Shop. This project exemplifies Victoria's talents as a singer-songwriter, developing upon the building blocks of her debut EP 'Did it Again' and Victoria's work as one half of electronic-soul duo, Anushka (BBE / Tru Thoughts / Brownswood).

'I Won't Wait' comes from the Abbey Road sessions and is a future soul classic, leaning into a timeless sound palette with rich instrumentation and gloriously epic harmonies. Victoria is accompanied on this track by frequent collaborators Hemai, JNR Williams and Ross Lanning, whilst the band includes highly-acclaimed drummer Moses Boyd, and vocalists such as Lea Lea.

The sonic tapestry stitched together on this EP epitomises the quality of British soul music of modern times; a vintage symphonic approach with modern-day production techniques, encompassing the Ronson-era of the late great Amy Winehouse, to the pack leaders of nowadays such as SAULT and Jungle. It's a logical progression considering Victoria's lifelong influences of US luminaries like Minnie Riperton, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone and Dionne Warwick, and the contemporary output of labels like Daptone and Big Crown.

Her fanbase includes Gilles Peterson who recently featured her live on air on his Saturday afternoon BBC 6 Music show, and has tipped her as "an exciting emerging new artist whose sound fits alongside current successful acts like Cleo Sol, Lynda Dawn and Yazmin Lacey."

Victoria's previous EP had support from a wide range of tastemakers, including Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Somewhere Soul, Mo Ayoub (Selector Radio), Ronnie Herel (Mi-Soul Radio's "One to Watch"), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM) and across platforms like Rinse FM, NTS, Soho Radio and Global Soul, whilst her work with Anushka also received airplay from Annie Mac, Jamz Supernova, Huw Stephens and BBC Radio 1.

Victoria says "The song is about knowing what you want from life and from love. If it doesn't feel like 2000's R&B, I don't want it!

It's about not being someone's option, but a priority and not waiting for 'the one' to feel complete or content.

Sonically, it's heavily influenced by the music I heard growing up, Motown and soul from the 60s, but with future soul energy, especially in the outro."

Already a seasoned live performer with various live solo appearances including We Out Here, Jazz Cafe and Koko, she has a forthcoming headline show as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, taking place at The Lower Third on November 23rd.

Victoria Port is all set to become one of the leading lights in the world of British soul music.

'I Won't Wait' is released on digital platforms October 16th, with the EP 'Barefoot In The Garden' due to follow in early November on vinyl & digital.