Venna Charts Movement With Leon Thomas On 'Twisting'

(Credit: Elliott Hensford & TJ Saw)

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and producer Venna collaborates with Leon Thomas on his latest offering new single ‘Twisting’, which is the fourth single from the South Londoner's upcoming debut album MALIK.

Artfully delivered, ‘Twisting’ is a timeless offering that evokes intense and strong emotion. Paired with Leon Thomas’ languid vocals, which add a soulful R&B feel to the production as he flows over it – he provides a thoughtful commentary on the up and down nature of love and relationships.

He does this against the gorgeous backdrop of, think warm lazy evenings walking through a new city, underneath sharp and erratic percussion keeping you centred as the layered instruments, including tenor sax, bass, guitar, are allowed the freedom to wander and roam, expressing their curiosity at what they may find.

Venna explains the thought behind the single: “Twisting is a special record to me. A record that reflects my travels and the places I’ve been. One of those places being Brazil. Whilst making the album - I really wanted to push myself and the listener to sonics and textures that I haven’t made & that the listener may have no come across. I also wanted to make a record with some movement to it & that’s how Twisting came about.

Originally made with myself, Yussef Dayes,Marco Bernardis & Alex Bourt and then the legend Leon Thomas blessed the record for us. I’ve been listening to Leon since I was 16 from his first EP & it’s beautiful to see the growth in his artistry and it’s an honor to have him on the album.

This is one of my favourite joints off the album - a record with life, meaning and movement.“

Venna’s upcoming project MALIK, promises to take you away into an authentic and breathable sonic world, which will allow Venna to explore his personal experiences and a testament to his hard work over the years.

Venna speaks on the reason behind the album title: “The album MALIK was named by my mother 26 years before the album was made. A strong name that means King or leader in Arabic. A name that I’ve lived with all my life. A name that my nearest and dearest have called me & a name that I learnt to become.

"Throughout the whole process of the album - I’ve had another name that I loved but I felt like I wasn’t living in my undeniable truth & what better way to live in one’s truth than naming their debut album the name that their mother named them. I present my debut album MALIK.”

He is also set for a headline UK & European tour that starts in Dublin at the Academy Green Room on Friday 21 November and finishes in Berlin at the Frannz Club on Monday 8^th December.

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