The Zambian-born and Leeds based Alt-Soul singer harnesses expressive vocal arrangements and lush instrumentals to convey intricate stories.
August Charles is an Alt-Soul singer born in Ndola, Zambia and based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Influenced by the work of Frank Ocean and Amy Winehouse, his music combines elements of both retro-soul and alternative R&B. With a focus on expressive vocal arrangements, lush instrumentals and thought provoking lyricism, August’s ability to tell intricately woven stories has begun to turn heads.
August has shared stages with luminaries such as Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Emeli Sandé, Gotts Street Park, Bombay Bicycle Club and Adi Oasis. His live performances throughout summer 2022 saw him playing live at Tramlines Festival, Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival, A Stones Throw Festival, and Ealing Jazz Festival amongst others.
The release of his hit single ‘Blessed’ in 2021 saw industry-wide support from Earmilk, Dummy and Early Rising, plus Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6, John Osborne on Jazz FM, Gemma Bradley on BBC Radio 1, Emily Pilbeam on BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, and NikNak on Worldwide FM.
Liv East
Liv East is East London songstress bringing us a honeyed fusion of Neo-soul, house and r&b. She has just dropped her danciest number to date, ‘Love Frequency’, her second single from a series of works with South London producer Lokes LDN. The track also features some of London’s best jazz musicians - Luke Glazher on guitar, Ally McMahon on bass and Callum Connell (Secret Night Gang) on Saxophone. It follows previous single ‘So Badly’, which landed support from BBC Radio London, Rinse FM, The Independent, Dummy, Noctis, Vogue France and Earmilk. Off the back of ‘So Badly’, Liv East has been confirmed for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition longlist.
Liv’s musical career started off in 2019, working alongside Hackney's grassroots label Root 73 (also home to the Silhouettes project) with a collaborative hip -hop / neo-soul EP. Then later on that year came the soulful dance track 'You're My' on Defected's well known disco label Glitterbox - a balmy, summer day anthem that’s just soared past an impressive four million streams. Fast forward to the present day, where it continues to receive support from house music Dons such as Moodymann & Jayda G.
And then there’s ‘I Miss Having Someone To Talk To’ (2020), another dollop of buoyant grooves that’s elevated by Liv’s distinctly fluid delivery. Produced with Folamour and released on his FHUO label, the track currently sits at over seven million streams.
Since life has started to open back up again post pandemic, Liv released her first solo track 'Kitchen' which landed heavy support from BBC introducing. Followed by another epic dance collaboration 'I Need You' with hugely successful producer duo KOLIDESCOPES via Defected's latest imprint, The Remedy Project.
Liv’s journey so far has been an organic one, in which her tracks and collaborations have deftly defied categorisation. Her adaptability is testament to her dexterity as an artist — smooth, syrupy vocals are second nature; tunes that linger in a room like a thick curtain of smoke are guaranteed. Liv relishes in the freedom to hop between genres, preferring to craft tracks according to emotions and mood rather than following predefined formulas. The results are always charged with characteristic frisson, conveying momentary truths.
All the while Liv has been working consistently with producer Lokes LDN out of a shared Hackney studio. The pair met when Liv had another session a couple of rooms down at 117 Wallis Road and Lokes heard her singing while walking down the corridor. He approached Liv for a session, resulting in a treasure trove of material that’s set to drop throughout 2023.
TIMINGS
1900 Doors open
1930 Liv East
2030 August Charles
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