Celebrating 20 Years of First Word Records: An Exclusive Interview with Aly Gillani
We are thrilled to feature an exclusive interview with Aly Gillani, the visionary founder of First Word Records. As the label celebrates its 20th anniversary, Aly has unveiled 'Love & Purpose', a meticulously curated compilation album that pays tribute to the rich history of British soul music. This album, a labor of love crafted by Aly himself, spans four decades and includes genres such as street soul, alternative R&B, neo-soul, and lovers rock. Join us as we delve into Aly's inspirations, the creation of 'Love & Purpose', and his thoughts on the future of British soul music.
1. "Love & Purpose" spans four decades of British soul music. How did you approach curating such a diverse collection, and what criteria did you use to select the tracks and artists for both discs?
It was definitely a challenge to cut down 40 years of music into 12 tracks. The point where it clicked for me was when I stopped worrying about it being a definitive historical document and remembered that it’s just my personal take - nothing more and nothing less. That freed me up and allowed me to just focus on creating something that I’d want to listen to myself. That said I was keen to make sure that key British styles like Street Soul and Lovers Rock were represented.
2. The compilation is split into two distinct halves: 'Love' and 'Purpose.' How did you decide on this structure, and what do you hope listeners take away from experiencing these contrasting yet complementary sections?
As a culture I think we’re sometimes guilty of wallowing in nostalgia - whether it’s complaining about how things were better in the past, or getting consumed with the rarest, most obscure record from way back when. I wanted to celebrate our history, but also highlight the future too. By tracing the lines between those generations we can learn about our past but also look forward to the future with positivity. That’s where the idea of the two sides comes from; showing love to our past and being purposeful about our future.
3. As a DJ and founder of First Word Records, how have your early influences shaped the way you put together compilations like "Love & Purpose," and what role do you think vinyl has played in preserving and celebrating this genre?
Great question! I realised while putting together the record together that it combined two concepts that really define my life as a music fan and DJ. Our inspiration in starting First Word was to highlight and share music from our community to the world. 'Love & Purpose’ is the same - it’s born of a desire to celebrate the amazing soul music that we’ve produced in this country. The other aspect of this that links back to my early influences and to vinyl as a medium is the classic vinyl compilations that shaped me as a DJ. Series like ‘Mastercuts’, ’Streetsounds’, ’Strange Games & Funky Things’ were foundational for me - opening up doors to worlds of music that I’d otherwise never find.
4. The album features a mix of legendary artists like Omar and emerging talents such as Children Of Zeus. How did you balance showcasing established icons with newer voices in the British soul scene, and what do you see as the future of this genre?
It was a really central part of putting the record together - I firmly believe that you don’t get one without the other - there’s no Lynda Dawn without Sade, no Children Of Zeus without Loose Ends. Making those links just felt really logical to me. In terms of who is the future - well there’s so many great artists right now. I love Zeus and Yazmin Lacey of course, but also Georgie Sweet, Bel Cobain, Victoria Port….the list goes on. It’s also great to see originators like Omar and Loose Ends still making great music, and getting their dues from a whole new generation.
5. "Love & Purpose" celebrates both past and present British soul music. How do you think the genre has evolved over the years, and what do you believe are the key factors that have influenced its development from the 1980s to today?
The oldest track on the record is from 1985, but I could have gone back even further to the likes of The Real Thing and even Cymande. As with any genre there are ebbs and flows and changes that are natural as the years go by. Looking back I think the Street Soul sound has had a huge influence on all kinds of music in the UK and beyond, and some of those late 80s records could be released today and fit right in. What makes all of these sub-genres special is the particular fusion of sounds that is unique to this country. This comes from a place of pain and sadness; our colonial past is one that we’re still reckoning with today, but it’s that mix of people living in cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol that has shaped pretty much all music made in this country from the 1950s through to today.
Release Date: Vinyl release date 16th August 2024
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