Ngaio Music

Singer. Lyricist. DJ

Music

We Fly – The Remixes

Music

Out Now on Durkle Disco

As soon as I knew what We Fly was going to be, I knew which producers I wanted to work with. LR Groove I ‘met’ on a Uk Funky forum and was one of the first people to hear the vocals for Blackbird, KG played the percussion for the original Objectify, Hagan‘s tunes I  was introduced to by Durkle Disco head man Koast (the label behind the We Fly Remixes) and Boa Kusasa‘s tracks had been staples in my sets for a hot minute.

I remember sitting down with at the very first step to the beginning of We Fly and discussing with Laura from Saffron Records who I was or wanted to be as an artist. It had been a while since I’d released anything as a vocalist due to damaging my voice and in that time my DJing had taken off and people were getting to know me more as that but singing and writing was where I started; I felt torn and decided now was not the time to ‘choose’ now was simply the time to ‘do’.

The first writing day, surrounded by pieces of A3 paper, I’d identified who the record was for and what I wanted it to represent – my blackness, feminism, politics, sexuality – and the questions that had come up for me at different times in my life since childhood. The songs that came out of that developed with my band were more than I could have hoped for as a musician. I love to sing them, I love to play them and I loved sitting in Coach House Studios co-producing them. However, if We Fly was really going to represent me wholly it had to encapsulate my ‘other’ side – the raver, the DJ, the afrobeat obsessive which is where the We Fly Remixes began.

We Fly Remixes

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

I’m going to do a post on each of them in the coming month because they are incredible and as I’m now trying to learn production I want to dig into how they started, how they do what they do and where their inspiration comes from. Every track has been so utterly elevated and I am honestly so looking forward to talking to them all about it so if there are any questions you have for them let me know – I’ll be recording each one as a podcast episode.

Til then, listen and let me know which ones are your faves and why! I honestly cannot say how proud it makes me to see these projects sitting together; a total representation of my multi-faceted musical personality. This record is everything I had hoped it would be and more, feeling very blessed to have something like this to celebrate during these strange times. I’ve been up since 5am with a smile on my face – I hope this puts one on yours too! 

View this post on Instagram

**SOUND ON** A 3 minute mini mix of all the We Fly Remixes, out April 17th on Durkle Disco featuring @karennyamekg – Objectify Remix / @hagan_uk – Green Eyed Queen Remix / @boakusasa – Hail Mary Remix / @lrgroove – Blackbird Remix I am so proud of these songs and to have them remixed by producers I take such inspiration from as an artist is honestly mindblowing. I wanted We Fly to embody me completely so it needed to have an electronic life to also reflect the DJing part of my musical personality that brings me so much joy. I absolutely cannot wait to hear these on a big rig but til then I'll be playing them in the mix from Thursday and pretty much in every mix after that cause I bloody love em! Artwork : @sophiebass_illustration

A post shared by NGAIO (@ngaioamusic) on

Developing My Creative Practice

Journal, Music

I have been screaming for about an hour. Like a niggling memory I’ve been desperately not thinking about an application I wrote in November. After putting together a seemingly unattainable 6 months of self development laid out in a spreadsheet which looked too good to be true it was pushed to the back of my mind for the fear of wanting it too much.

Even so since this time last week I’ve been refreshing my emails, checking the date me and hundreds of other applicants would be told if we’d been picked. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for the ‘unfortunately’ beginning of the letter and putting together Plan B’s for all the mini dreams that had been brought to the forefront of my mind. But none of that’s necessary now….because I GOT THE FUNDING!!!!!

THANK YOU to the Arts Council for funding me to Develop My Creative Practice! There’s so much I want to share about it but until everything is utterly locked down and in place, I’ll keep shtum! Just know that this funding is going to utterly change my course as a musician, songwriter, DJ, and performer. It’s going to take me on adventures with music at the forefront and it’s going to provide me with space and time I’ve desperately craved to focus on my development as an artist – technically, creatively and spiritually.

I am so utterly overjoyed. Thank you so much to everyone who’s ever come to a show, listened to my songs and danced at my sets – I wouldn’t be here without all of you encouraging me to follow this dream. Together, We Fly!!!!

A Special Xmas Present!

Booty Bass, Community, Music

If you’re looking for a last minute Xmas Present for a loved one or want to learn a new skill yourself, I’ve got some Gift Certificates ready!


Until they’re filled there are 6 spaces free for block bookings. £180 for 5 sessions and a 6th gifted session for free! 🥳
Singing Lessons  
DJing Lessons

Please note lessons will be starting from January 6th so please don’t book anything before then because I won’t be there 😉  

I’ve finally managed to carve out some time in my diary for 2020 and getting a booking system in place to make the process as seamless as possible!  

Once you’ve booked in we’ll have an introductory call to talk about what’s wanted from your sessions. If there’s anyone you think would also be interested in getting some lessons, feel free to pass on my details.  Happy Holidays!! 🎄🥂

We Fly – Launch Party

Music

Wow. Just wow.  I am so utterly blown away by the amount of people who came and supported the release of We Fly.  150+ of you singing Blackbird back to me was what the dreams of 9 year old me were made of.

I am so happy to have the fantastic Vanessa Maria interviewing me about the EP (soon to be heard as a podcast – watch this space!) I knew she would bring thoughts to the table that I hadn’t even considered before about myself and my music and it was a truly wonderful way to start the evening.

The band… Oh wow. I am so so lucky to have such wonderful people on this journey with me. They were SO tight and it was a true honour to play with each of them. There’s so much to say and to be honest I’m still processing everything. It was the best night I can remember, such an emotional evening for so many reasons. I’ve been mentally preparing for getting up on stage and talk about this identity journey all year and it’s been really scary but hearing things like the below is why I do it – because we are all in this together.

Thank you for your words Samantha Lindo 🖤

To EVERY SINGLE PERSON who came to support and surrounded me with such love and acceptance – and all those who were there in spirit….Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 🧡🧡🧡

Now, let’s get this chick heard! Share her everywhere 😜

http://smarturl.it/ngaiowefly
Listen/download here: http://smarturl.it/ngaiowefly

Meet the Band!

Music

It’s rare that you put a group of people together that have never met before and they gel as beautifully as this one has. Each member of the band is absolutely fantastic within their own right and I’ve met them all in totally different circumstances.
 
Tom Hackwell multi instrumentalist and mixing/mastering/sound engineering wonderman at Coach House Studio I met 8 years ago at an open mic night. Fellow Saggitarius, our birthdays are a day apart and he is the best partner in musical crime with an ability to hop on board my mentally optimistic train, stay calm and carry on. A huge part of the sound of We Fly has been developed with him through hours in the studio – total legend.
Laura Noir another multi layered musical vixen, I met her online as Tasty Lopez when listening to her being interviewed by our mutual buddy Murder He Wrote. Over the airwaves I fell in love, jumped on Twitter to fan girl and became online buddies. Skip forward a couple of months and she’s staying at my house whilst djing in Brizzle. The click was immediate. I find out she has the most beautiful voice AND plays the bass – incredible human.
 
 
 

Desmond Rogers I met way back when I was singing with Laid Blak and when I was sitting at The Old Market Assembly doing some sort of work I heard him sound checking. Up pricked my little ears and that was it – a few minor stalker-ish messages and he was on board! I love the way Des plays the drums, it is transformative they way he can slip between genres and yet still make everything sound coherent – vibes man for the win.  

Tony Samuels was a standard ‘Bristol friends of friends’ meeting as far as I can remember. He hopped on the percussion whilst I was djing at The Plough Inn and it was wicked! My music definitely has an afro/trip hop vibe to it and I was also really adamant that I wanted some latin flavour as well so – enter Bongosan!  

And last but not least, Karen Nyame-Gyamfi who can’t join us but will be there in spirit and has also laid down some percussive wonderment on We Fly. I also met Karen over the airwaves, another super fabulous DJ and a producer. She’s actually remixed one of the tracks from the EP which will be going out as a separate project on Durkle Disco in 2020. Watch out for her – true bad gyal.   

We Fly would still be an idea in my head if it wasn’t for these wonderful talented group helping me to bring it to life. I cannot thank you enough and I cannot WAIT until everyone can hear how fantastic you are tomorrow the EP Launch : We Fly 💜🧡🖤💙

Sofar Sounds Video!

Music

I am a little overwhelmed to share my first ever Sofar Sounds video!

Huge thanks to Sofar Sounds Bristol for getting us in and MASSIVE thanks to Tom Hackwell, Laura Noir, Desmond Rogers and Tony Samuels for being on this mad musical journey with me. Catch us November 1st at the We Fly EP Launch!
Tickets available via Headfirst Bristol

NGAIO – Blackbird | Sofar Bristol

I’ve been a huge fan of Sofar Sounds for a while so when there was a chance to film one I jumped at the chance! Me being me, it had to be highly stressful… the band and I had been recording We Fly at Red Bull Studios in London all week and had to fly back to Bristol after a day of recording to get back in time to do this. Rush hour was hit, coaches were missed, we arrived at Temple Meads to road works everywhere – the whole thing was utter madness.

On the journey back I was sat there thinking…why do I do this to myself? Why can’t I do one thing at a time, my poor band! They’re exhausted, I’m exhausted…am I a crazy person!? Turns out yes…but it was so totally worth it. After being in the studio recording Blackbird all day we were able to really get into this performance and you can see it here 💖

%d bloggers like this: