Throughout the London-based producer, composer, musician and Sekito Records head Alfa Mist’s career, he has steadfastly refused to be boxed into a specific genre or style: his work has spanned everything from hip-hop beatmaking to producing for rappers like Loyle Carner, composing neo-classical works for the London Contemporary Orchestra and reworking tracks for Ólafur Arnalds and legendary jazz label Blue Note. He also hosts the Are We Live podcast with Barney Artist and Jordan Rakei.
Since the release of his full-length debut, 2015’s Nocturne, the London-based artist and producer has also quickly established himself as one of the UK’s most focused and distinct contemporary musical voices while also working with Jordan Rakei, Tom Misch, Richard Spaven, Lester Duval and Emmavie among others.
The recently released full-length Variables finds Alfa Mist moving forward with a renewed intensity and purpose. “The whole album is more uptempo and influenced by the freedom of returning to gigs,” Alfa Mist explains. “It feels like I’m coming back to my early days of making grime beats and creating tracks that make me want to bop my head fast.”
Last month, I wrote about “Angel Eyes” featuring longtime collaborator Kaya Thomas-Dyke. “Angel Eyes” is a gorgeous bit of trip-hop-inspired neo-soul built around a finger-plucked guitar melody by Jamie Leeming, a swelling string-driven, cinematic chorus from Peggy Nolan (cello), twinkling keys from Alfa Mist paired with Thomas Dyke’s expressive, gossamer vocal. The arrangement and Thomas Dyke’s vocal express a yearning sense of hope.
“Foreword” Variables latest single is a sleek and stunning synthesis of bop era jazz and jazz fusion: cascading and twinkling Rhodes is paired with intricate drum patterns, a supple bass line, an enormous Dizzy Gillespie-meets-Birth of the Cool-era Miles Davis horn arrangement and gliding and guitar lines that showcases the buzz-worthy artist’s ability to craft arrangements that are challenging yet remarkably accessible — and are rooted in dexterous and sublime musicianship.
The accompanying visualizer by SPOD features some gorgeously animated watercolor paintings reminiscent of Van Gogh and the Dutch masters while being mindbending.
Alfa Mist recently returned to the road for an extensive series of tour dates across the UK. European Union and the US this spring and fall. The tour includes two New York area dates — April 29, 2023 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and April 30, 2023 at Racket NYC. Tour dates and ticket information is below.
TOUR DATES
Apr 27 Philadelphia, PA – The Ardmore Music Hall
Apr 29 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Apr 30 New York, NY – Racket
May 02 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
May 04 Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre
May 05 San Francisco, CA – August Hall
May 13 Berlin, Germany – XJAZZ! Festival
May 20 Norfolk, UK – Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Norwich
May 25 – 28 Liège, Belgium – Jazz a Liege Festival
May 28 London, UK – Cross The Tracks Festival
Oct 04 Paris, France – La Cigale
Oct 09 The Hague, Netherlands – Paard Van Stal
Oct 10 Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje
Oct 11 Groningen, Netherlands – Spot
Oct 27 Budapest, Hungary – House of Music
Oct 28 Prague, Czech Republic – Mladi Ladi Jazz Festival
Nov 16 Dublin, Ireland – Opium Rooms
Nov 18 Glasgow, UK – BAaD
Nov 19 Manchester, UK – RNCM Concert Hall
Nov 20 Bristol, UK – Trinity
Nov 22 London, UK – Outernet
Tickets Available Here: https://alfamist.co.uk/live
