Pieces of a Man (band)
Pieces of a Man | |
|---|---|
| File:POAM x Funk Apostles at BOTW 2015.jpeg Pieces of a Man performing at Band On The Wall in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | POAM |
| Origin | Manchester, UK |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Tru Thoughts |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | piecesofaman |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
Pieces of a Man are a musical group from Manchester, UK. The band's music is a blend of future soul, funk, hip hop, jazz, formed from a mix of live organic elements, loops and samples.[1][2] They are signed to the Tru Thoughts record label and have released one studio album and one extended play recording since their signing in 2018.
History[edit]
Pieces of a Man (POAM) was formed in early 2013 by musical director and producer lllya "Pils" Gosling, together with DJ and visual artist David "DK" Klein, together with a keyboardist and four female singers. Pils coined the band name having been reminded of the Chicago jazz poet and "bluesologist" Gil Scott-Heron's death, and the band's musicality has paid homage to him throughout their career .
“And, it just so happened that Gil Scott-heron is massively influential to each one of us. That whole album, every single track speaks volumes on life now, even though it was released a while back. It even has a very similar metaphor and allegory of what we’re about in terms of breaking things like relations, experiences and identity down on that atomic level, and finding out what makes us.”[3]
Tolu "To!u" Ajayi initially replaced one of the four singers, later becoming frontman on departure of the other three vocalists in summer 2013. Tim Curry & Mark Parkinson joined the band via advertising and witnessing live performances respectively. After the release of their debut mixtape the band were soon noticed and supported by several promoters including BBC Introducing, Mike Chadwick (Snarky Puppy) and Lubi Jovanovic (Soul Rebels). That same year POAM opened for internationally renowned neo-soul artists Bilal & Omar Lye-Fook, cementing their place in the UK live soul circuit.[3][4][5]
Following several line up changes, the addition of Aden Peets and a second mixtape release in 2014, the core group of six members has remained together to the present day. POAM have continued to open for and collaborate with several notable internationally renowned artists, including Jarrod Lawson and Cory Henry and Amp Fiddler.
In 2016, following the success of their appearances on The Funk Apostles UK tour, POAM started to write and record demos for what unbeknownst to them would become their breakthrough debut album. A chance meeting between DK and critically acclaimed producer Zed Bias in 2017 eventually lead to Zed collaborating with the band to produce the record, ultimately leading to Tru Thoughts signing the band in 2018.
Zed Bias first met David aka DK from Pieces of a Man, while using his photography studio... As it turned out, David was familiar with Zed Bias’s work as Maddslinky, having DJ’d his songs across Manchester... DK showed Zed Bias footage of Pieces of a Man performing. Loving what he heard, Zed Bias invited DK to come to his new studio in Salford with the full band. "Once I heard the recordings, I was fully on board. I then spent the best part of a year getting the album recorded and produced. A real labour of love.” Zed Bias explains[6]
In 2019, Pieces of a Man released Made In Pieces, and in 2020 the follow up release Reframed EP, both records and associated singles signed to and distributed by Tru Thoughts.[7][8][9]
Thematically, POAM's releases have centred around themes of relationship and identity; personal, political and intersectional. Pils is the principal song writer for the band, with all six members listed with writing credits. To!u is an outspoken advocate for platforming LGBT+ people of colour, his contributions and lyricism often stem from his activism.[10]
Members[edit]
The group was founded by Pils Gosling on keyboards, flute and saxophone. Pils has also produced the majority of POAM's discography. Tim Curry on bass guitar, Mark Parkinson on electric guitar and Aden Peets on drums provide the more organic backline of the group. DK manipulates live samples, sounds and effects in real time, and To!u fronts the band on lead vocals, talkbox and synthesiser using vocal loops. Most of the core members of the band are multi-instrumentalists, contributing to studio recordings in multiple disciplines.
Other active contributors to live performances include Chris Jam with spoken word (also featured on Reframed EP), Lauren Wright, Dija Bhlue and Jude the Obscure on background vocals, and Ali Mac on percussion. Alec Stockton played bass for the band for all live performances between 2014 and 2015 whilst Tim Curry recovered from long-term wrist injuries. Manchester soul singer Kike features as lead vocalist on the band's lead track of Reframed EP.
Previous band members include Pete Robinson on Keyboards, who now plays Sousaphone for Riot Jazz, Julie E Gordon, Lily-Jo (LZ7), Su Durant, Caroline Gosling on vocals. Additionally, Terry King on keyboards, Kelani Koyejo (Rivers & Robots) on drums have previously worked with the band for live shows.
Notable collaborations[edit]
- Amp Fiddler
- Misha B
- Tyley Daley (Children of Zeus)
- HarleighBlu
- Kobi Onyame
- Kike
Discography[edit]
Studio Albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Made In Pieces |
|
Extended Plays[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Reframed EP |
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Singles[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| "Grits/Climb Down (POAM Remix)" |
|
| "Listen" |
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| "Nothing To Lose" |
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| "Rising Tide (feat. Kobi Onyame)" |
|
| "Paych£ck" |
|
Mixtapes[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Mixtape Vol.1 |
|
| Mixtape Vol. 2 |
|
Music videos[edit]
| Song | Year |
|---|---|
| "Brother" | 2013 |
| "Nothing To Lose"[14] | 2019 |
| "Listen"[15] | |
| "Grits"[16] |
External links[edit]
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References[edit]
- ↑ "Pieces of a Man – Nothing To Lose – Global Soul Radio". Global Soul. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man". Sofar Sounds | Pieces of a Man. 21 September 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 AJ, Ray (15 May 2019). "Pieces of a Man interview – not a typical soul band". BN1 Magazine. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Interview – "Pieces Of A Man"". Artistic Echoes. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Minvielle, Tony (30 November 2020). "Pieces of a Man Live In Session". Folded Space on Jazz FM. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "A Labour of Love: How Zed Bias met Pieces of a Man". Tru-Thoughts. 2019-05-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Wilhelm, Rich (24 July 2019). "Pieces of a Man: Made In Pieces album review". Pop Matters. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "【今週のマストチューン】クルアンビン、ファンシー、ピーシズ・オブ・ア・マン〜7月第2週〜". [Mast Tune of the Week] Khruangbin, Fancy, Pieces of a Man ~ Week 2 of July ~ (in 日本語). 12 July 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man - Reframed - EP". Traxsource. 8 August 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces Of A Man Share New Single 'Listen'". Broadway World. 29 May 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Made In Pieces Pieces of a Man". Tru-Thoughts. 12 July 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Reframed EP Pieces of a Man". Tru Thoughts. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man". Band on the Wall. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man - Nothing To Lose - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 17 April 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man - LISTEN (Live Session) /// Tru Thoughts (4K) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 20 June 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pieces of a Man - GRITS (Live Session) /// Tru Thoughts - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 21 August 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
Pieces of a Man
Pieces of a Man
Pieces of a Man
Pieces of a Man
Category:Neo soul albums
Category:Tru Thoughts artists
Category:Soul musicians
Category:Manchester-related lists
Category:English soul musicians
Category:Musical groups from Manchester
Category:Queer musicians
Category:LGBT musicians from England
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