Background information
Origin London
Genres
Nu
jazz
Neo
soul
R&B
Alternative
dance
Hip
hop
Years
active
2001–2005,
2009-Present
Labels
Greasy
Geezers,
I-innovate
(UK)
Associated
acts
Fiona
Faye, Stark, The Andrea Duo, Abdul
Shyllon,
Angiee, Soulem Productions, Mel
Glynn,
Christine Corinaldesi, Bada Badoo,
Finimo
Kieribo
Members
Georgeyo
Mathieu
Karsenti
Najero
Okenabirhie
Sanya
Lerin
Notable instruments
Fender
Rhodes, Acoustic Guitar, Moog, Analog
Recordings
"The
Wah Wah Collective" were initially a London based neo-soul underground
music group
who
released vinyl only EP's and Singles from 2002-2005. The music group gained
notoriety for
their
mixture of neo-soul with alternative dance. The Wah Wah Collective founding
members
were Georgeyo
and Najero Okenabirhire. The Wah Wah Collective were on the Greasy Geezers
imprint
label distributed by Kudos Records, Goya and Pinnacle. The Greasy Geezers label
was
the
creation of Najero Okenabirhie who previously worked with Sanctuary Music
Management.
The
sister arm of the Wah Wah Collective were a latin /acoustic based group called
Gafanhoto
Lingo
an additional project created by The Wah Wah Collective founding members.
Gafanhoto
Lingo
were accompanied by guitarist/ vocalist Mathieu Karsenti.
Critical Reception
The
Wah Wah Collective were warmly received by the UK underground urban media in
the
early
00’s. Wah Wah releases were often reviewed by genre leading UK publications.
"Pete
Mclntyre, IDJ Magazine - R&B Soul Tunes Review, March 2004"
"
‘London’s Wah Wah Collective under the guidance of veteran producer Georgeyo
hit playdirt
with
this superb double-header. ‘Tell Me Why’ is a superb late night slinky groove
featuring the
feline
purr of vocalist Fiona Faye; Flip-over to ‘Gordo’ for a breezy Cuban influenced
dancer
guaranteed
to get you moving. Excellent."
"Dom
Servini, Straight No Chaser - Singles Review, Spring 2004"
"
‘Not to be confused with the record label with the same name, The Wah Wah
Collective come
through
with their second 12” release, and it’s the best so far. Fiona Faye’s vocals
fit really
nicely
in to this downtempo jazz ditty with its tender fender rhodes and soulful
strings. Perfect
after-hours
listening".
"Matilda
Egere-Cooper, Blues & Soul Magazine - Singles Review, April 2004"
"‘This
is R&B jazz well done. Producer Georgeyo has built up an impressive track
record over
the
last few years, and the track offers a snapshot of his predominantly jazz
sound, with other
styles
sneaking in here and there. Track number two ‘Gordo’, provides more of an
earthly
vibrant
percussive vibe-straight out of Cuba - and where ‘Tell Me Why’ whispers ‘sun-down’,
this
one is sunny Balearic beach bar music. If that’s your thing. You’ll dig it.
(Verdict : Smooth
soul
vibrations for the sophisticated set)".
Radio Reception
Several
titles from the Wah Wah Collective roster were supported with UK National Radio
airplay
on shows such as Rosie Kendrick (Late Lounge) (Smooth 102.2 FM), Patrick Forge (The
Cosmic
Jam - Kiss 100 FM) and also on US radio with pioneering groove jazz radio DJ Rafe
Gomez
who hosted the nationally syndicated radio show "The Groove Boutique"
from 2003
through
to 2008.
The Mid 00’s
After
releasing several tiles on vinyl the music group decided to venture in to
different projects.
Georgeyo
set up another leftfield group called Stark (Futuristica Music). Najero left
the band and
set
up I-innovate Communications a video production / indie label. I-innovate (UK)
who
maintained
ownership of the Greasy Geezers label roster and music archive. Greasy Geezers
the
imprint
was disbanded and turned in to a dance production house under the I-innovate
(UK)
label.
Mathieu
Karsenti former guitarist/vocalist for Gafanhoto Lingo went on to set up the
production
and
composing company Intricuts music focusing on music compositions for TV, film,
theatre
and
multimedia. Notable clients were the Britain's Got Talent, Series 3 (ITV, 2009)
winners
Diversity.
2010 Onwards
I-innovate
(UK) utilized the Wah Wah Collective archive to resample and release a single
by
performer
Bada Badoo from X-Factor, UK series 7 (ITV/SYCO, 2010). Conceptual Love was
based
on the unreleased Wah Wah Collective song ‘Quartet Junkie’. A future Wah Wah
Collective
album was planned to be released by I-innovate (UK) showcasing unreleased
material
and
digitally re-mastered versions of their original vinyl releases over the last
ten years with
additional
contributions from affiliated artists.
Cry
Baby Soul the long awaited debut album by The Wah Wah Collective was released
on 24th
February
2014 showcasing remastered versions of previous releases alongside new
recordings.
The
digital release was accompanied by vinyl re-issues.
Promotion
From
September 2012 The Wah Wah Collective released rare groove hip hop based
tasters to
support
their forthcoming album. In August 2013, wah wah promo
material ‘You
Are
Somebody (Eternal Inspiration)’ featured on the US/San Francisco based
compilation
‘Earwax
ZipTape Delta’ (Allied Forces Press).In 2014 The Wah Wah Collective twitter
brand
@thewahmama
was nominated for The 2013 Shorty Awards for Best Social Media Campaign.
Discography
Singles & EPs
· "Everytime"
(Greasy Geezers, vinyl re-issue 2014)
· "Prying
Eyes" (Greasy Geezers, vinyl re-issue 2014)
· "Tell
Me Why" (I-innovate (UK), 2004-13)
· "Gordo"
(Greasy Geezers, vinyl re-issue 2014)
· "Life
On Your Mind" (Gafanhoto Lingo) (Greasy Geezers, 2004)
Albums
· "Cry
Baby Soul" (I-innovate (UK), 2014)
