Twenty Years Deep
Brownswood Recordings launches with the release of Ben Westbeech’s So Good Today, alongside the debut album from Heritage Orchestra, the 40-piece ensemble directed by Jules Buckley. SOIL & “PIMP” SESSIONS also release music through the label during its first year.
Brownswood presents the Brownswood Loves Jazz tour, featuring José James, SOIL & “PIMP” SESSIONS and Elan Mehler. The Brownswood Bubblers compilation series is launched, alongside the first edition of the Worldwide Festival.
José James releases The Dreamer, with a Chris Ofili print included in the album packaging.
Brownswood begins its long-running partnership with Havana Cultura, creating a platform for contemporary Cuban music. Gilles Peterson travels to Cuba to produce and curate the first Havana Cultura sessions.
Owiny Sigoma Band release their first music through Brownswood, beginning a relationship that would span several albums and international tours. The label also launches the short-lived Brownswood Electric compilation series.
Ghostpoet releases Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam, earning Brownswood its first Mercury Prize nomination. The label signs Zara McFarlane and releases her debut album. Joseph Nyamungo and Charles Owoko of Owiny Sigoma Band travel from Kenya to the UK to tour with the group.
Brownswood releases Mala’s landmark Mala in Cuba, bringing together his electronic production with musicians recorded in Havana.
Brownswood marks its 100th release with a compilation celebrating remixes from across the catalogue. The label partners with Boiler Room for a series of broadcasts and performances from its London basement. Owiny Sigoma Band support Atoms for Peace on a major European tour, while both Owiny Sigoma Band and Troumaca receive BBC Radio 6 Music playlist support.
Zara McFarlane wins Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards. Swindle signs his Walter’s Call EP to Brownswood in partnership with Deep Medi.
Daymé Arocena records her debut album Nueva Era in London, with the album artwork photographed in the hallway outside the studio. The label also releases LV’s Ancient Mechanisms, featuring Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan.
Brownswood and Havana Cultura release a series of films exploring Cuban rumba, accompanied by screenings in partnership with the ICA. The label releases Shabaka and the Ancestors’ Wisdom of Elders and, in November, Yussef Kamaal’s Black Focus. Daymé Arocena becomes the first Brownswood artist to perform an NPR Tiny Desk concert.
Shabaka and the Ancestors support Pharoah Sanders in New York. Yussef Kamaal win Breakthrough Act at the Jazz FM Awards before announcing their split on the day of their headline show at KOKO. Worldwide FM begins test transmissions from the Brownswood basement. We Out Here is recorded over three days in August. The label also releases Tom Skinner’s Hello Skinny project and the final instalment of the Brownswood Bubblers series, Volume 12 Part 2. Brownswood marks its first decade with a celebratory event and the covers compilation Versions.
We Out Here is released, documenting a new generation of London jazz artists and featuring Kokoroko’s “Abusey Junction”. Brownswood joins a delegation including Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, Yazz Ahmed and The Comet Is Coming at Winter Jazzfest in New York. By the end of the year, “Abusey Junction” has been streamed more than 25 million times. The label also releases Maisha’s There Is a Place. Brownswood is nominated for Independent Label of the Year at the AIM Awards.
Brownswood releases Swindle’s No More Normal, with music from the project subsequently licensed for a major Apple advertising campaign. Swindle performs a televised set from Glastonbury. Joe Armon-Jones releases his second album, Turn to Clear View, while Kokoroko release their self-titled debut EP. Skinny Pelembe becomes the first Brownswood artist to perform for COLORS. Brownswood is again nominated for Independent Label of the Year at the AIM Awards, while Gilles Peterson receives the MPG Award for A&R.
Kassa Overall’s I THINK I’M GOOD is released shortly before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kokoroko win Best Group at the Urban Music Awards. Gilles Peterson and Bluey create STR4TA’s debut album Aspects. Brownswood also curates and records Indaba Is, working remotely with Thandi Ntuli, Siyabonga Mthembu and a new generation of Johannesburg musicians. The label receives another AIM nomination for Independent Label of the Year.
Indaba Is is released and featured on the cover of The Wire. Brownswood enters into a new joint venture with Warner Music Group and signs Yussef Dayes.
Kokoroko’s debut album Could We Be More becomes Brownswood’s first UK Top 40 album. The label also partners with International Anthem on the release of Tom Skinner’s Voices of Bishara.
Brownswood achieves a second UK Top 40 album with Yussef Dayes’ Black Classical Music. The label also releases the debut EP from muva of Earth.
Yussef Dayes wins Best Album at The Ivors for Black Classical Music. Daymé Arocena receives a Latin Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Brownswood releases Galliano’s first studio album in 27 years and introduces oreglo with their debut music.
Brownswood releases Emma-Jean Thackray’s Weirdo in partnership with Parlophone Records, with the album subsequently shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Kokoroko release their second album, Tuff Times Never Last, and perform an NPR Tiny Desk concert. Gilles Peterson receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the AIM Independent Music Awards.
Brownswood is nominated for Best Small Label at the Libera Awards and marks two decades of the label with the 20 Years Deep Record Store Day release. The year also sees new releases from ZENA, Bel Cobain, IZCO, Isaiah Collier and Gary Bartz with Your Brother’s Keeper, continuing the label’s focus on connecting emerging artists with established and influential musical voices.
