Werkha – Paisley Rd Yes (Track Premiere)
Listen to the new track from Glasgow-based Mancunian producer, Werkha
From his first DIY release, which was picked up by Gilles Peterson for the Brownswood Bubblers Ten compilation, to the skyward trajectory of his further outings, Glasgow-based Mancunian Tom A. Leah – aka Werkha – has become internationally recognised as one of electronic music’s most promising talents. With remixes of Paper Tiger, Dutch Uncles and Quantic already under his belt, he’s also had his own tracks reworked by the likes of Scratcha DVA, Henry Wu and Contours.
Following a string of releases since Werkha’s 2012 inception (five EPs and an album), 2017 isn’t slowing up anytime soon for Leah, with a flurry of festival dates over the summer and two EPs due out this year, the first being We Communicate which is out on 21 Jul via Tru Thoughts. With a dedication and a philosophical outlook that flows through his unique style, his experience and understanding of life are refracted through his art, and We Communicate is no different.
The Skinny are delighted to be premiering Paisley Rd Yes, one of the new tracks from his latest EP, which you can listen to in the player below. Of the track Leah tells us: “The title was inspired by my flatmate at the time, Helen. I say 'inspired by', I mean 'nicked from'. But it is relevant. I’ve been soaking up the stories, meeting the characters and becoming a regular figure myself along this road – Paisley Rd West – for the last year and half now. And I fucking love it.
“Alongside my own experiences of Cessnock, this track tries to capture some of the influences I’ve been subject to while living here – it’s not all west-end, techno, Sub Club and the Art School.” Leah continues: “Jamming with Chief Amu round the corner at The African Arts Centre… Nights like Melting Pot & Hot Mess bringing their love for disco to the city… Late night, smoke-filled jams in a warehouse with the Paisley guys… Tuning into the growing appetite for broken-beat up here with some of the Handpicked crew (Kayak to be precise).
“I think you’ve got to try to catch a moment through the sounds you use in music. So for me that’s what this tune is about. For you? I hope these words give you at least a tiny insight into a Glasgow you might not be so familiar with. Or my Glasgow anyway," he concludes before adding a final thought. "Lastly, shouts to PRW & my fitbaw 5’s."
We Communicate is released on 21 Jul via Tru Thoughts and available to pre-order here.