GRAMMY-AWARD winning saxophonist and producer Venna releases first single in two years

South London’s Grammy-Award winning saxophonist and producer Venna has returned to the music scene and released his first offering in two years, h the self-produced single ‘Prophet’ - born from the musings of where the saxophonist believes his art can travel to. 

Alongside Venna, the track's credits also include frequent and talented collaborators such as fellow British Jazz musician Yussef Dayes, (BRIT nominee), his percussionist Alexander Bourt, Marco Bernardis, Rocco Palladino, and AoD (credits - Ayra Starr, FKA Twigs, Stormzy, and J Hus).

Speaking on ‘Prophet’, Venna says that it was “the first record that was received during the creation of the next body of work,” It’s a record that displays a lot of the artists “Feelings and reflections” at the time of creation”

Proving to Venna that there are no limits as to where he could take his upcoming album, the track, which clocks in at almost five minutes, is a sonical and emotional journey. Alongside his trusted collaborators, endless flows and a steady beat fuse with a jazz-infused background, as we follow the instrument's various progressions, led by Venna and his saxophone. Each instrument responds to the call of another, making ‘Prophet’ a short, yet extended feeling that incorporates pockets of improvised instrumentation. 

The visual accompanying the single was shot in the French Alps, including textured close-ups and montages of hazy scenery that change colour with each horizon, a blur and collage of colour displaying itself across the sky captured with purpose.

Director Aymane Alhamid elaborates on the process behind shooting the video - “We wanted to create a visual piece that felt timeless - inspired by classic cinema, and designed to age gracefully” 

“The mountain wasn’t meant to be the central subject but simply a backdrop”, says Alhamid, “Our goal was to stand out by taking a different approach - we believed if someone else had access to the same tools, they wouldn’t make the same film”  By imagining how a child might perceive a journey to the mountains alone, without the distractions of toys or electronic devices, Alhamid captures the visual representations of thoughts that cross the mind when deeply buried and satisfied in solitude. 

Boasting over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Venna’s last release being two years ago has not held him back. Building his own sonical world, he has attracted a dedicated number of listeners, many of whom attended his first  EU/UK headline show last year.  Learning to play the piano at the age of six, Venna moved onto the alto saxophone at the age of twelve, and has not stopped since. In 2020, he won a Grammy Award for his work on Burna Boy’s Twice As Tall album, where he worked on ‘Alarm Clock’ with fellow producer P2J. This April, he will return to the stage to support Kamasi Washington at the O2 Academy Brixton.  It’s with his latest offering that  the splendor and complexity of Venna's musical talent has been reinforced,  leaving listeners anticipating another full-length body of work to arrive before too long. 

listen to 'Prophet', out on all platforms now :