They’ve been at it for quite a while, but the UK’s hottest house duo Copyright have just dropped their debut album Voices and Visions on the mighty Defected Records, probably the world’s most recognizable house music brand. Featuring full length versions of both new and classic Copyright tracks, the triple CD is equally perfect for DJs, house heads and music lovers alike. Sam Holt and his Copyright partner Gavin ‘Face’ Mills have managed to bring together an awesome collection of full-length house tracks, drawing upon some slightly older tracks (_I Pray_ and ‘We Can Rise_) and sitting them side by side with their new material like Warrior Dance (Yema Ya), Wizeman and Voodoo.
Holt explains that the tunes have a broad appeal, and the album reflects their sound. “House music albums can often be seen as tricky. We just approached this in our normal way. It’s 12 tracks all aimed squarely at the dancefloor for DJs, but you can play it in the car too, it’s a collection of songs inspired by our worldwide travels, old and new. To us, they’ve all got the essence of our sound. And it’s nice to include them as part of the collection. To us, We Can Rise is a record that reflects exactly what we are about. Peak time beats, with a soulful twist, and a hands-in-the-air vocal.
“Also because we’ve worked with our long time collaborators, Shovell, Imaani and Tasita D’Mour, it’s given a link between the older tracks and the new ones. We’ve all been developing as artists and over a long period of time you build a good rapport with each other and that really helps the vibe.”
The release features a second disc of some older material, like Never Again and Keep On Rising, which are tracks in the vein of classic soulful house. The new material may seem like a departure from the ‘traditional’ soulful vocal house sound that the guys have championed in the past, and it seems the duo have deliberately steered away from their former US house sound, resulting in a more energetic vocal style of house. “We wanted to showcase some of our past remixes too on the album, to try and encapsulate a little bit of where we come from,” says Holt. “I think we still make the US soulful vocal house sound. Its just we’ve developed and changed over time. Our sound now is more reflective of what we play and what we are into. We love those classics, but you have to move on and develop.
“Vocal and soulful house has taken a massive hit. I mean, we try and do our thing out there and it seems to work well, we play across the board and try and keep a soulful and uplifting side to our set. Vocal house tracks seem to bubble now for up to a year before becoming anthems. If you get stuck into one style, then you become predictable and lose the ability to surprise people.”
The duo played two massive shows in Sydney and Melbourne when they toured Australia in March, here to support their mix for Defected’s Alumbra In The House release, named after the Melbourne club of the same name. Beginning both sets with newie Warrior Dance (Yema Ya), which is one of the early stand-outs on Voices and Visions. The tune is a catchy afro-vocal house track, with an infectious guitar hook, and it received massive reactions on the tour. “This one has been getting great reactions so far! And we’ve got remixes from ATFC and Danny Marquez on the way, which should give it a good shot in the arm. Oh and another little exclusive edit from us!”
The album also includes collaborations with Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B and underground producer KC Flightt. Sam explains; “The Jazzie B tune came about because we wanted a spoken vocal on a track but we wanted it to have a UK feel to it. We contacted Jazzie with the backing and he loved it. So we popped over to his studio where he was recording the next Soul II Soul album and did the vocal. It was great working with him….and we’re going to be remixing a Soul II Soul single very soon.
“The single with KC came about, after we did the backing track with the nitroi deluxe sample in it. We wanted a hip house vibe! And KC came up with the classic beat concept. We did the whole thing transatlantic sending files backwards and forwards.”
And going on their experiences when they were last here to promote their mix for the Alumbra In The House release, Copyright say they’re keen to make it back very soon. “Well we had a great time promoting the album over in Australia. It was great to play at the club too. We’ve had loads of feedback from people everywhere digging that album. Hopefully it’s raising the profile of soulful house music in Australia!”
Indeed it is Sam, indeed it is.
Copyright’s Voices and Visions and Alumbra In The House are both out now in Australia through Defected/Stomp.
