Limited lathe cut run 7" VinylsCut by Josh Llewellyn @ Downbeat Mastering. Established in late 2022 in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand) by Dylan Biscuit and Kenny Sterling, Mānuka Recordings was founded with the intention of supporting and collaborating with musicians within our immediate community, pushing artists’ boundaries, and searching for the magic within spontaneity and imperfection. A year on, we continue the mission with our third lathe cut/digital release, ‘Bring It Back / Without You’ by the Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) based singer-songwriter Romi Wrights.In recent years, Romi has become a name to watch for within Aotearoa’s ever-expanding modern jazz, soul, funk and boogie scenes. In late October, we unveiled her debut Mānuka Recordings single, ‘Bring It Back’, produced by our co-founder Kenny Sterling, and featuring some sensational playing from a cast of musicians, including Julien Dyne (drums), Olivia Wilding (cello), Corry Champion (vibraphone), Dublin’s Gareth Quinn Redmond (violin) and Romi’s cousins (backing vocals).Inspired by vintage orchestral soul, 1970s dub reggae and some analog drum machine experimentation, ‘Bring It Back’ sees Romi in scorching soul diva mode, singing about empty-hearted excuses, toxic relationship dynamics and the bittersweet afterglow of tainted love against a spellbinding instrumental. On the flip side, Romi and Kenny team up with Dublin’s Fiachra Kinder (drums), JY Lee (horns and flute) and Cory Champion (vibraphone). The result, ‘Without You’, is another slice of vintage reggae-influenced soul and funk-drenched in yearning, loss, love and polaroid-perfect optimism.Due for release on November 23rd in limited edition 7” lathe cut and digital formats, ‘Bring It Back / Without You’ points towards further releases from Romi and Kenny in 2024. Before then, however, they’ll be taking to the stage in Tāmaki Makaurau on Dec 10 to open for US modern soul legend Lee Fields at The Hollywood in Avondale. Credits:Produced & Composed by: Kenny SterlingVocals: Romi WrightsLyrics: Lisa Wright & Matt HunterMixed by: Kenny SterlingMastered by: Josh Llewellyn @ Downbeat MasteringCover Photo: Finn BowmanCover Design: Dylan Cook & Matt HunterWords: Martyn Pepperell
