Digging Mamas Gun

UK soul outfit Mamas Gun has dropped their sixth studio album: Dig! The sound of the album is truly authentic, organic, and deeply soulful. Recording took place by engineer/studio owner Neil Innes directly onto 16-track analog tape at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds, UK. Singer, composer Andy Platts (also known for his project Young Gun Silver Fox), keyboardist Dave Oliver, guitarist Terry Lewis, bassist Cameron Dawson and drummer Chris Boot: five musicians in one room recording the songs live. For the title track, the group collaborated with legendary American artist Brian Jackson, songwriting partner of Gil Scott Heron and collaborator with artists such as Roy Ayers and Earth Wind & Fire. The result of the collaboration can be heard on the title track.

The band, whose name derives from the title of Erykah Badu's second album, started their world tour promoting the new album. We spoke with drummer Chris Boot on his way from Berlin to the Netherlands and after their show in a packed Paradiso Amsterdam. Here the band created a mesmerizing atmosphere together with the thrilled audience. The band (with for this leg of the tour the Dutch Arto Boyadjian on bass) played a bunch of songs from Dig! together with songs from the previous albums like This Is The Day and Golden Days. In the encore they played Lady Day and John Coltrane from Gill Scot Heron which was co-written by their hero Brian Jackson.

TNF: What is the favorite music you listen to together on the road?

Chris: we all listen to various bits and pieces. Some heavy rotators are: Everly Brothers, The Peddlers, Donald Byrd, Henry Maccini, Scott Walker. 

TNF: Do you have tips of recent new funk & soul records that our readers should check out?

Chris: I am really enjoying Ella Thompson currently. I feel like Melbourne has so much good stuff at the moment like Frollen Music Library. The new album of NYC Olympians is great. The new Les Imprimes record is nice. Our pal MT Jones new album ‘Joy’ is great. And there's UK based Lucca Mae and the Greyhounds from Austin, Texas. Neil Innes, the engineer of our new record, runs the independent label ATA Records. So much good stuff comes out on that label, which we highly recommend checking out. 

TNF: What are the reason you stick to analogue tape recording?

Chris: It is largely to do with the rich, tape-compressed, saturated characteristics that come out of using tape and vintage equipment, which we enjoy performing to in the studio, but it also brings something different to the recording process as, tape is expensive, so we would play through a song once, listen back and if we liked it we would keep it and move on, if we didn’t like it we would record over the last take, which brings a great level of commitment and makes you bring your A-game, without just carelessly recording multiple takes and not committing in the moment. 

TNF: The lyrics of the title track are about getting to the essence, the truth and the core. I reckon that is also what you are trying to express with your music?

Chris: We do always strive for connection in our music. The song is about not taking everything at face value.  We live in the age of disinformation and fake news, this song is about penetrating all the noise and double speak, in an effort to get to the truth. If our music can inadvertently do that to a listener too, then we’re happy with that. 

TNF: What can the audience expect from the upcoming concerts in Europe, Asia and the US?

Chris: We’re always wanting to connect with audiences, expect energy, smiles and a fair few songs from the new album mixed into the set. 

TNF: Do you expect that there will be different favorites of your new songs in different parts of the world? 

Chris: It typically does happen that way. There is usually a universal highlight that seems to transcend geographical boundaries but it is always interesting to see insights into listeners preferences, that do vary somewhat around the world.

For tourdates, go to Mamas Gun's official website. Tracks of Dig! are added to The New Funky Spotify lists. Dig! is available at our record shop. in the limited edition of Blue and Yellow Splatter. Also the latest album of Young Gun Silver Fox is in store, as well as some of the above recommended new albums.