Tru Thoughts is a British

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

founded in

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

in 1999 by Robert Luis and Paul Jonas. Since the acclaimed first album release of Bonobo's debut ''Animal Magic'', the label has put out over 200 LPs, across genres from electronic, funk, soul and hip hop to jazz, tropical, grime and more. It has developed a reputation for releasing a wide variety of high-quality music.

Will Holland William Holland (born 1980) is an English musician, DJ and record producer. He is based in New York City, after spending seven years in Colombia. Holland records under various pseudonyms, including Quantic, the Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Lim ...

, widely known as Quantic, has released under a number of monikers on the label; including projects such as Quantic, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Flowering Inferno, The Limp Twins, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro and his collaborations with Alice Russell and Nidia Gongora.

History

In September 1999, after the success of their club nights "Phonic: hoop" and "Shake Yer Wig", Paul Jonas & Robert Luis, two music-obsessed friends, decided to launch their own label. From the improvised 'office', under Robert Luis' stairs, the new Tru Thoughts records started its history with their first 12" EP ''Alarming Frequency''. There followed many releases which organically built on the success of the label, including Bonobo's '' Animal Magic'' (July 2000), Quantic's ''The 5th Exotic'' (June 2001), TM Juke's ''Maps from the Wilderness'' (October 2003), Alice Russell's ''Under The Munka Moon'' (July 2004) and Nostalgia 77's ''The Garden'' (March 2005). In 2005 Tru Thoughts were awarded Label Of The Year at the annual Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards. Other long-term signings followed from further afield, including London trio

Belleruche Belleruche ( was a three-piece electronic/soul band from the United Kingdom. They were signed on the Brighton-based Tru Thoughts label. The members of the band were Kathrin deBoer, Ricky Fabulous, and DJ Modest. The band was formed in North Lon ...

; Lance Ferguson from Melbourne, Australia (with his various guises including The Bamboos (funk band), Lanu, Menagerie and the production of Kylie Auldist); New Orleans’

Hot 8 Brass Band The Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, New Orleans-based brass band that blends Hip hop music, hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional Brass band#New Orleans, New Orleans brass sounds. It was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jon ...

; and Edinburgh's Hidden Orchestra. 2009 saw Tru Thoughts marked their 10th anniversary with a 3-disc compilation and the label being described as one of the UK's best independents. As time has gone on, the label has released music from an increasingly global roster, including the music of Moonchild, Space Captain,

Youngblood Brass Band The Youngblood Brass Band is an American brass band from Madison, Wisconsin that was established in 1998. The band has released six albums and has toured throughout the United States and Europe. History The band came together in 1995 as the On ...

, The Seshen and Lost Midas from the US; Kinny, of Native Canadian and Jamaican heritage and based in Norway; Brazilians Drumagick and Saravah Soul; Japan's Anchorsong; and more from the UK, including Maddslinky aka Zed Bias, Flowdan,

Hint Hint and similar may refer to: * Hint (musician), musician Jonathan James from Sussex, England * Hint (SQL), a feature of the SQL computer language * Hint Water, a beverage company from San Francisco, California * Aadu Hint (1910–1989), Estonian ...

Zero dB Zero-db is an English music duo composed by Chris Vogado and Neil Combstock, whose specialty is trip hop, jazz and fusion music. They signed a record contract with Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in Londo ...

, Omar, Wrongtom,

Riz MC Rizwan Ahmed (; ; born ) is a British actor and rapper. As an actor, he has won an Emmy Award and has received nominations for a Golden Globe and three British Independent Film Awards, and as a rapper he has won an Academy Award for the short ...

, Harleighblu, Ty and Rodney P/ London Posse. In 2017, Tru Thoughts celebrated their 18th birthday with an all-day event at London's famous Roundhouse venue, which featured appearances from Quantic, Alice Russell, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Anchorsong and Rodney P. Recent successes include the release of Quantic's critically acclaimed ‘Atlantic Oscillations’; Moonchild being named Jazz FM's Soul Act Of The Year 2018 and their subsequent Tiny Desk session featuring tracks from their latest release, ''Little Ghost''; Hot 8 Brass Band's twice sold-out shows at London's Roundhouse and Brit Awards 2019 performance alongside George Ezra; and Anchorsong's ''Ceremonial'' placing at #5 in BBC 6Music's Album Of The Year 2016 list and ''Cohesion'' being named Album Of The Day in 2018. The label has worked with an impressive list of collaborators and remixers over the years, including Skream,

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...

, Daedelus, Cut Chemist, Aloe Blacc, MJ Cole, Beth Rowley, Toddla T, Prins Thomas, Clark, Sam Sparro, Falty dL, Flux Pavilion, Rizzle Kicks,

Megan Washington Megan Alexanda Washington (born 7 January 1986) is an Australian musician and songwriter who has worked mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. She has released three s ...

, Tim Rogers, Roy Ayers, True Tiger, Tawiah,

Common Common may refer to: Places * Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland * Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts * Cambridge Common, common land area in Cambridge, Massachusetts * Clapham Common, originally com ...

, Angie Stone, Maxi Jazz, Adrian Utley and many more. Tru Thoughts has also discovered various notable artists who subsequently signed to other record labels;

Bonobo The bonobo (; ''Pan paniscus''), also historically called the pygmy chimpanzee and less often the dwarf chimpanzee or gracile chimpanzee, is an endangered great ape and one of the two species making up the genus '' Pan,'' the other being the comm ...

signed to

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others. Inspired by a visit ...

, Chris Clark signed to Warp Records, Jon Kennedy to Grand Central Records, Chroma to LTJ Bukem's Good Looking Records and The Capoeira Twins signed to Timo Maas' Hope Recordings. Tru Thoughts has a publishing company called Full Thought Publishing. The music from the label has been used on adverts for iTunes, Ford, MLB, Mercedes Benz, and Unilever and appeared on numerous films and TV programs including Mad Men, Big Little Lies and Netflix's Sex Education. From 2018, the company's releases are distributed in the United States by Redeye Distribution. Tru Thoughts organizes many club nights between

and London, and broadcasts on several radio stations.

Subsidiary labels

* "Unfold records", compilation releases * "Zebra Traffic",

UK hip hop British hip hop, also known as UK hip hop or UK rap, is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/Hip-Hop. Briti ...

Artists

* Abi Flynn * Alice Russell * Anchorsong * Animanz * Aurora Dee Raynes * Azaxx * The Amalgamation Of Soundz * The Bamboos * Barakas *

benji Boko Benjamin Gordon (born 5 October 1986), known professionally as Benji Boko, is an English DJ and producer. Early life and career Benji Boko grew up in Brighton, East Sussex. He first became interested in remixing from a young age when he stored ...

* Beta Hector *

* Bryony Jarman-Pinto * The Broken Keys * Capoeira Twins * Carolina Lins & Os Planatos * Deeds Plus Thoughts * Diesler * Domu * Flevans * Flowdan * Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills Are Wildcookie ** Freddie Cruger a.k.a. Red Astaire * Galaxian * Gawd Status * Hidden Orchestra *

* Humble Munk * Irah X Abstrakt Sonance * J-Felix * Jon Kennedy * Jumbonics * Jung Collective * Kingdem (Rodney P, Ty, Blak Twang) * Kinny ** Kinny & Horne * Kylie Auldist * Lanu * Lightning Head * The Limp Twins * Lakuta * Lizzy Parks * London Posse *

Maddslinky Dave Jones, better known as Zed Bias, is an English electronic musician based in Manchester, who operates within the UK garage/2-step, broken beat and UK funky genres, as a producer and as a DJ. He has also released material under various ps ...

Maga Bo Maga Bo () (born Bo Anderson in Seattle, Washington) is an American Brazilian DJ, producer, sound engineer and ethnomusicologist. Though he currently resides in Rio de Janeiro, he is constantly traveling around the World to research local rhythms ...

* Magic Drum Orchestra * Mangataot * Manu Delago * Mark de Clive-Lowe * Mawglee * Me&You * Milez Benjiman *

Moonchild (band) Moonchild is an American alternative R&B band based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of Amber Navran, Max Bryk, and Andris Mattson. All three are alumni of USC Thornton School of Music's Jazz Studies program. The band formed in the s ...

* Natural Self * Nikitch & Kuna Maze * Nirobi & Barakas * Nonames *

Nostalgia 77 Benedic Lamdin is a British music producer, composer, songwriter and guitarist who releases music as Nostalgia 77. He has produced Nostalgia 77 albums since 2004, with a variety of other musicians, some of which are instrumental and some have guest ...

** Nostalgia 77 Octet ** Nostalgia 77 Sessions feat. Keith and Julie Tippett *

Quantic Quantic may refer to: * Quantic, an older name for a homogeneous polynomial. * Quantic Dream, a video game developer studio * Will Holland, musician and producer with stage name ''Quantic'' * Quantic School of Business and Technology, an online ...

** Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro ** Quantic & Nidia Gongora ** Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno **

The Quantic Soul Orchestra William Holland (born 1980) is an English musician, DJ and record producer. He is based in New York City, after spending seven years in Colombia. Holland records under various pseudonyms, including Quantic, the Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Li ...

* Peshay * Pieces of a Man * Rabii Harnoune & V.B. Kühl *

* Rhi * Rodney P * Saravah Soul * Sefi Zisling * The Seshen * Sly5thAve *

Spanky Wilson Louella "Spanky" Wilson (born c. 1947) is an American soul, funk and jazz vocalist, who has performed internationally and recorded several albums since the late 1960s. Biography Wilson was born in Philadelphia as Louella Wilson, and was raised ...

* Space Captain band * Steady *

Stonephace Larry Stabbins (born 9 September 1949 in Bristol) is a British jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer. Biography Larry Stabbins learned clarinet at school from the age of eight, when his musical idol was Acker Bilk. He started playing saxophone a ...

* Strategy * sUb modU * Te'Amir *

Terror Danjah Terror(s) or The Terror may refer to: Politics * Reign of Terror, commonly known as The Terror, a period of violence (1793–1794) after the onset of the French Revolution * Terror (politics), a policy of political repression and violence Emoti ...

* Tiawa *

TM Juke TM or Tm and variants may refer to: * Trademark, often indicated with the symbol ™ ** Trademark symbol Businesses and organizations * TM Forum, telecommunications and entertainment industry association * TM Supermarket, a chain of supermarket ...

** TM Juke And The Jack Baker Trio * Treva Whateva * Unforscene * Uniting of Opposites * Unitone * Werkha * WheelUP * Wrongtom * Wrongtom meets the Ragga Twins *

* Zed Bias *

Discography

Compilation albums

* ''When Shapes Join Together'' (25 October 1999, cat. no: TRU002) * ''When Shapes Join Together 2'' (28 January 2002, cat. no: TRU026) * '' Heavyweight Rib Ticklers'' (compiled by

Mr. Scruff Andrew Carthy (born 10 February 1972), better known by his stage name Mr. Scruff, is an English record producer and DJ. He lives in Stretford, Greater Manchester and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University. ...

, 11 February 2002, cat. no: UNFOLDCD001) * ''Phonic Hoop'' (compiled by Robert Luis, 18 July 2002, cat. no: UNFOLDCD002) * ''When Shapes Join Together 3'' (21 October 2002, cat. no: TRUCD035) * ''Vocalise'' (compiled by Robert Luis, 11 November 2002, cat. no: UNFOLDCD003) * ''Mono – When Shapes Join Together Mix'' (compiled by

, 5 April 2003, cat. no: TRUCD044) * ''Shapes One Horizontal & Vertical'' CD (1 September 2003, cat. no: TRUCD045) * ''Shapes Yellow'' (2 November 2004, cat. no: TRU/ZEB002) * ''Shapes Red'' (6 June 2005, cat. no: TRUCD091) * ''Shapes Compilation'' (26 March 2006, cat. no: TRUCD101) * ''Shapes Compilation'' (11 September 2006, cat. no: TRUCD111) * ''Shapes 07:01 All New Amazing Sounds'' (6 March 2007, cat. no: TRUCD122) * ''Shapes 07:02 All New Amazing Sounds'' (5 Novembre 2007, cat. no: TRUCD122) * ''Shapes 08:01'' (2 June 2008, cat. no: TRUCD164) * ''Shapes 08:02'' (20 October 2008, cat. no: TRUCD181)

Tru Thoughts 10th Anniversary (19 October 2009, cat. no: TRUCD200)

; Disc 1 ( downtempo) #

– Terrapin #

– Quiet Dawn feat. Beth Rowley # Alice Russell – Hurry On Now feat. TM Juke # Natural Self – The Rising feat. Andreya Triana # Milez Benjiman – Chop That Wood #

– One Woman Army feat. Laura Vane #

& Nickodemus feat. Tempo & The Candela Allstars – Mi Swing Es Tropical # Bonobo – Kota # Lizzy Parks – Raise The Roof # The Limp Twins – Sunday Driver #

– What's My Name? (Rock With The Hot 8) # Flevans – The Notion feat. Sweet Laredo # The Nostalgia 77 Octet – Musical Silt #

Presenta Flowering Inferno – Ciudad Del Swing # Kinny – Desire feat. Nostalgia 77 # Freddie Cruger a.k.a. Red Astaire – Pushing On feat. Linn ; Disc 2 ( club) # Saravah Soul – Nao Possa Te Levar A Serio #

– Super 8 # The Bamboos – Step It Up feat. Alice Russell #

– Transatlantic #

– Come Away feat. Sophie Faricy # Lanu – Dis-Information # Natural Self – Shake Down #

– Northern Girls # Alice Russell – All Over Now #

– Mishaps Happening (Prins Thomas edit) # Nirobi & Barakas – Bungee Jump Against Racism #

& The Jack Baker Trio – Party Favours feat. Gecko Turner # Kylie Auldist – Community Service Announcement #

– Don't Joke With A Hungry Man feat. Spanky Wilson # Me&You – The Hoop Loop # The Broken Keys – The Witch ; Disc 3 (exclusives) # Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Time Is The Enemy # Domu – We Can # Flevans – The Second Bite # Azaxx – Disco Bimbo #

– Tape Packs #

– Only a Little While Here # Saravah Soul – Alforria # The Bamboos – Turn It Up feat. Lyrics Born # Freddie Cruger a.k.a. Red Astaire – Boogie Down Hagsätra # Barakas – Spitfire #

– Singularity # Kylie Auldist – No Use (Acoustic Version) * ''Shapes 09:01'' (8 June 2009, cat. no: TRUCD194) * ''Unfold Presents Tru Thoughts Covers'' (7 September 2009, cat. no: UNFOLDCD007) * ''Shapes 10:01'' (12 April 2010, cat. no: TRUCD212) * ''Tru Thoughts Compilation'' (6 September 2010, cat. no: TRUCD216) * ''Shapes 10:02'' (6 December 2010, cat. no: TRUCD226) * ''Shapes 11:01'' (6 October 2011, cat. no: TRUCD 239) * ''When Shapes Mix Together'' (21 November 2011, cat. no: TRUCD244) * ''Tru Thoughts Disco/Boogie'' (22 October 2012) * ''Shapes 12:01'' (3 December 2012, cat. no: TRUCD264) * ''Shapes Circles'' (27 August 2013, cat. no: TRUCD280) * ''Shapes Rectangles'' (30 June 2014, cat. no: TRUCD293) * ''Tru Thoughts Anniversary'' (16 October 2014, cat. no: TRU300) * ''Shapes Wires'' (30 March 2015, cat. no: TRUCD303) * ''Tru Thoughts Covers 2'' (8 August 2015, cat. no: TRUCD308) * ''Shapes: In Space'' (5 August 2016, cat. no: TRUCD329) * ''Shapes Kaleidoscope'' (11 August 2017) * ''Tru Thoughts 18'' (21 October 2017, cat. no: TRU351) * ''Shapes: Mountains'' (12 October 2018 cat. no: TRU360)

References

External links

Official site

Tru Thoughts Obsession
{{Authority control Record labels established in 1999 British independent record labels Electronic dance music record labels Electronic music record labels British hip hop record labels British companies established in 1999