London, UK, 15th September 2023 Welsh-Jamaican singer and media personality Aleighcia Scott releases her landmark debut album Windrush Baby, produced by sound system and production legend RoryStoneLove. Windrush Baby went straight to number one, pipping UB40, Bob Marley and Gyptian to the top spot.
Over half a decade in the making, Windrush Baby is a lovingly sculpted, deeply personal project that celebrates the JA-to-UK heritage of both Aleighcia and Rory, taking a musical journey from the blues dances and shubeens of Cardiff and London to the modern age.
Spanning ten tracks, Windrush Baby pairs Aleighciaâs emotionally overproof, uplifting voice with buoyant, authentic reggae rhythms played by Jamaicaâs top musicians. The albumâs title and striking cover art reference the arrival of Caribbean culture in the United Kingdom, via the Empire Windrush ship, 75 years ago.
âThis album is so important to meâ says Aleighcia of the projectâs significance âIt is an offering of everything I stand for both morally and creatively, whilst honouring the Windrush Generation that I stem from, who paved the way before meâ.
âThe album Windrush Baby reflects what my childhood was like growing up in south Londonâ says Rory âI was listening to music that sound systems would play at my mumâs parties and my sisterâs. I have tried my best to recreate that period.â
The result of multiple trips to Jamaica to record with Rory and the islandâs premium session musician talent, the album shows many different sides to Aleighciaâs soulful, heartfelt brand of reggae. Aleighcia is naturally at home singing about matters of the heart: on defiant, sweetly scathing opener First Love, dreamy Studio One/Brook Benton update Do You, or daring, singjay departure Pretty Little Brown Thing. But she also invests the same passion in socially conscious topics, such as the heavy stepping jazzy Mr Big Shot and the bouncy Compass Point era Jamaican disco of Hey World. She even combines roots and lovers vibes, in the tradition of UK lovers rock groups like Brown Sugar, to the eddying flutes and soft trombone of the wistful Maybe.
âI have learnt so much as an artist whilst working with Roryâ says Aleighcia on being inspired by her producer and his array of musicians, âand Iâm so excited to share this project with the worldâ.
âI was so lucky to have Aleighcia Scott record on this albumâ says Rory. âShe has that âgirl next door approachâ and that hunger that is hard to find. She is open to any ideas and not thinking about herself but always putting the creation of the project firstâ.
Windrush Baby is out on 1 September 2023 via Rorystonelove/Black Dub Music.
TRACKLIST
- First Love
- Good Vibe
- Do You
- Hey World
- In My Shoes
- Pretty Little Brown Thing
- Maybe
- Mr. Big Shot
- This Way
- My Love
LINK WITH ALEIGHCIA SCOTT
https://facebook.com/AleighciaSings
https://instagram.com/aleighciasings
https://twitter.com/AleighciaSings
https://tiktok.com/@aleighciasings
https://linktr.ee/AleighciaScott
NOTES TO PRODUCER/EDITOR
Artist: Aleighcia Scott, Rorystonelove
Album Title: Windrush Baby
Label: RoryStoneLove/Black Dub
Producer: RoryStoneLove
Credits available on request
Release Date: 1 September 2023
Smartlink: https://ffm.to/windrushbaby