drjpresents: Recent Episodes
drjpresents
Producing since '02, DJing since '05, a champion of soul music in all shapes and sizes. Founder of gottahavesoul Recordings (UK).
https://drjpresents.bandcamp.com/album/christmastimeImmanuel is a Christmas anthem forged in jazz-funk and cinematic soul, augmented with a beautiful, multi-national choir and diamond-tipped with sleigh bells and hybrid percussion! It features on my new Christmas EP, 'Christmastime' which is exclusively available on Bandcamp (link above)!This track captures the Christmas story simply and as the bible tells it in Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us'). This is the essence of the message - God lives among us, here and now through Jesus and continues to be today! Written, arranged and produced by J. PiperAdditional writing by P. KeidelChoir:Justin LauMirjam PiperAnnina Ah ChuenJonathan Ah ChuenPaulina KeidelNatalie HerreraAnna TyrrellFrancesca BorghiOmega DruifSofia LuvuetamunadioJ. PiperVocal Improvisations: Pauline Keidel
Last month I came upon a beautiful single by The Real Runna through the platform and reached out to offer a remix. To my delight she was happy for me to have a crack at it and the result is on her Bandcamp today!I’ve taken the multi-layered, brooding and rich elements of the original and flipped some of the melodic and rhythmic elements into a liquid d&b roller - augmented with some of my own orchestral elements woven into the tapestry of the original’s lush incidentals! Influences on my take include the likes of Etherwood, Keeno, London Elektricity and Nu:Logic, so if you enjoy deeply melodic, fast soul music, then you might enjoy this!This is the radio edit. The full version is available on her Bandcamp here: https://therealrunna.bandcamp.com/track/the-wind-will-sing-your-name-dr-j-remix
Following on from the nu-disco deep house of 'Forever' and the rich cinematic hip-hop of 'Belong' comes the 3rd and final single ahead of his album due in early 2020.
'For Me' is a deep and powerful song telling the story of people who have been forced to leave home for their own safety, and juxtaposes this narrative with the words of the prophet Amos and the Lord Jesus' stark challenge to anyone claiming to know him but remaining unmoved by the plight of the poor, widow, orphan and foreigner.
Based on a field recording taken back on Engstligenalp of a river cutting through the snow, 'For Me' wraps delicate strings, haunting synths and delicate prepared piano around an enormous bassline and 2-step rhythms to tell a story of stolen childhood, loss of life and Scripture's immortal challenge to all of us that can do something, but don't.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2LGVN2kSoBipYxh4eInVpy Bandcamp: https://drjpresents.bandcamp.com/album/for-me Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/for-me/1492921251?i=1492921253 YouTube: https://youtu.be/5i_M0s1CqSs
Belong is the 2nd single ahead of Dr. J's 3rd album, Journey.
Folloing on from the nu-disco/soulful deep house of 'Forever', Belong features some more familiar production from Dr. J, blending a bass-heavy hip-hop sound with his new found love for filmscore and field recording. Expect deep soul, that makes your head nod and your heart sing.
Written orignally as a short demo for a different project, Belong was birthed in London as an attempt to fuse that 90's hip-hop sound with string orchestration. It took shape via ruminations on the themes of homecoming, heaven and racism while talking to a friend about where it could go. In the wake of the UK'S 2016 referendum, things that seemed like 'a given' suddenly became less certain and something that seemed to be very much part of Britain's past has become evidently front-and-centre in recent months and years.
Belong, charts a journey involving personal wrestles with racist abuse in light of faith in Jesus and how the hope of heaven shapes his response to it all.
This is the first single from my upcoming album, "Journey". Written in both North London and Central Switzerland, it's a reflection on the immortal words of Lesslie Newbigin in light of the tumultous times we live in in the UK. "I am neither an optimist, nor a pessimist - Jesus Christ is risen from the dead."
Opening with the shared footsteps of my wife and me through the crunchy snow of Engstligenalp, near Interlaken, Forever winds its way through warm nu-disco melodies and an enrapturing bassline to tell a story of hope in the face of uncertainty as I wrestle with a world that feels less certain underfoot. Ultimately, 'Forever' takes solace in the immovable truth of Jesus' resurrection, which sets each of our futures in Christ in ultimate security, no matter what we face in today's volatile climate.
It represents the first of a series of singles through which I look at my own personal wrestles with faith over the past 4-5 years and I hope you enjoy the trip.
The single drops on Bandcamp on Friday 20th September, followed by Spotify, Apple Music and all other major platforms on Friday 27th September.
2nd preview taken from the Original Soundtrack to Artless Theatre's To War With God, which premieres at Brentwood Theatre on the 31st October 2018.
Following the true story of Monty Guilford, chaplain to the British Army during the First World War, To War With God charts his journey through battles without and within.
This piece, also written in South Switzerland captures some of the sense of turmoil Monty, the lead character in To War With God faces throughout his journey to France as he faces the horrors of the Somme, as well as the reality of life and death whilst at war.
To War With God opens on 31st October 2018, with tickets available on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/premiere-of-the-new-artless-production-to-war-with-god-tickets-50075924438
1st preview of music from the Original Soundtrack to Artless Theatre Company's 2018 production "To War With God".
Following the true story of Monty Guilford, chaplain to the British Army during the First World War, To War With God charts his journey through battles without and within.
Having been approached by Artless to produce the entire soundtrack, here is the first sample of the score. Steps To The Son was written in Moscia, South Switzerland, while ruminating on the journey back for a man lost and taking those tentative steps home.
To War With God opens on 31st October 2018, with tickets available on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/premiere-of-the-new-artless-production-to-war-with-god-tickets-50075924438
3rd and final preview taken from the Original Soundtrack to Artless Theatre's To War With God, which premieres at Brentwood Theatre on the 31st October 2018.
Following the true story of Monty Guilford, chaplain to the British Army during the First World War, To War With God charts his journey through battles without and within.
A wistful piece to capture more of the emotions faced by characters within the play. Full version will be available through Bandcamp
To War With God opens on 31st October 2018, with tickets available on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/premiere-of-the-new-artless-production-to-war-with-god-tickets-50075924438