Listeners were invited to embark on a journey of discovery at KEF Music Gallery London, to celebrate the launch of ‘Odyssey‘ by Mercury Prize nominee, Nubya Garcia.
Attendees explored a curated collection of album artwork and photography in the Atelier Room, with each piece personally chosen for the space by Nubya. Digging deeper, guests throughout the week were immersed in behind-the-scenes footage from the studio during the making of the album in the comfort of The Living Room and browsing exclusive merchandise in The Gallery space.
The guided explorations of the Odyssey album included watching an exclusive documentary about the process of making the album, hosted in the comfort of The KEF Living Room. Literally every aspect was considered, including the most enticing fragrance diffused throughout the space concocted by Nubya Garcia herself – it smelt lush.
The culmination of this journey for us was hearing tracks from the epic album within KEF’s state-of-the-art Ultimate Experience Room, which is equipped with an exceptional 9.14.4 Dolby Atmosphere surround system comprised of KEF’s flagship Muon HiFi speakers, Ci Reference in-wall speakers and KC92 Subwoofer.
These free sessions also included a child-friendly listening day where families with young children could experience Odyssey in a more relaxed setting, and educational trips for students from music schools across London including students from the college Nubya attended hosted by Garcia herself.
The gallery is a truly remarkable multi-sensory nirvana for the audio & visual arts, the likes of which we had not experienced before. KEF raised the exceptional record Odyssey onto the type of pedestal it deserves, no hype.
Following success after success, it’s no surprise that the energy that buzzed around Nubya Garcia’s new album ‘Odyssey’ was one of impatience and excitement. After her 2020 album ‘Source’ earned her a Mercury nomination, our expectations were high, and only increased when she welcomed ‘The Seer’ into the world.
The single is cinematic, explorative and shakes free the notion that Garcia’s notable success could ever see her relinquish her creative freedom in favour of becoming remotely mainstream. It was the perfect choice, introducing us to this new world she’s created in 12 tracks.
None of them are made for a singular listen, nor would they suit constant, monotonous, mainstream radio play. No, they favour all-absorbing, introspective journeying. Each listen teaching you something new, be it about the song, yourself or in this case, Garcia.
When describing what drives ‘Odyssey’, Garcia shared that “it represents the notion of truly being on your own path, and trying to discard all the outside noise saying you should go this way or that way.” So, what better album to take with you on a walk? To drown out the world, replacing them with these classical, jazz, dub and R&B infused sounds that beat through your headphones, immersing you in cinematic potential. A soundtrack to daydreams, potential and vulnerability.
We Walk in Gold’ ft. Georgia Anne Muldrow is the track you’ll return to. Pause to restart and soak in the ‘cosmic incandescent powers’ that this pair create, then share it with the woman who comes to mind. The one that walks in gold, who deserves to experience this buoyant, emboldened feeling for herself.
Female vocals weave their way through this work, with five-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding and KOKOROKO’s Richie Seivwright also lending their voices to Garcia’s wizardry.
Their differences are utilised beautifully within the album, staggered within the rhythm of emotions the piece navigates. They walk different paths, with ‘Set It Free’ ft. Richie stepped in 90s R&B, paying homage to the greats that came before through the harmonious backing vocals and emotive runs, bleeding into instrumental breaths of air. Whilst ‘Dawn’ ft Esperanza Spalding opens up this new world to us, sitting proudly as that first track. A fairytale dreamscape, layered with vocals fitting of old Hollywood.
As Herbie Hancock so rightly put it, “jazz is about being in the moment” and jazz weaves through Nubya Garcia’s ‘Odyssey’. So, press play and sit back – close your eyes and soak it in.
Photography: Mariana Pires