Coming of age as a fusion DJ on London's pirate radio scene, Gilles Peterson has never lost his thirst to uncover new music.
Throughout his radio shows, label work and live events the DJ remains at the forefront, helping to spearhead new genres and provoke fresh sounds.
A showcase for breaking music, Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards are shaping up to be one of January's most engrossing parties. Returning for its eighth year, the Worldwide awards will take control of London's historic KOKO venue on January 19th.
Maintaining the celebratory tone which has underpinned previous events, Gilles Peterson has invited along a vast array of guest musicians to liven up the crowd. Mala will take his Cuban venture to KOKO, while other special performances are due from Neneh Cherry (appearing with Rocketnumbernine), Stubborn Heart, Romare and many, many more. A mixture of live music and guest DJs, the Worldwide awards are one of the most unique ceremonies on the British calendar.
Ahead of the event, Gilles Peterson agreed to construct a playlist for ClashMusic. A deeply personal look at the ceremony, the DJ decided to pick five artists he was looking forward to seeing - shifting from Afro-Futurism to free jazz, indie rock to Brazilian culture.
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1. Neneh Cherry And The Thing - Sudden Moment
The daughter of Don Cherry with the original Buffalo Stance, Neneh has always been at the cutting edge. It's really worth listening back to her early records as a member of Rip Rig + Panic and it's an absolute honour that we can premier her new material with Rocketnumbernine who performed at the Worldwide Awards 2 years ago with Four Tet. This will be a unique show.
2. Marcos Valle - Estrelar
Marcos Valle’s 50th year in the music industry and what an honor it is to have him come over all the way from Brazil. The man who has glided over the history of Brazilian music at it's forefront from the early Bossa Nova Years to his more radical tropicálial political sentiments to his outstanding work with the likes of Leon Ware - a true Carioca!
3. Nick Mulvey - April
Formerly I knew him as a key member of the Portico Quartet, he played the hang with them, but his talent as a singer song-writer showed when I received a copy of River Lea, that I subsequently released on 'Brownswood Bubblers 8'. His live show last year was a real highlight for me, not only a very controlled vocalist but also a highly accomplished guitarist. He spent a while upgrading his technique in Cuba and his time has come, one to watch out for!
4. The Invisible - Wings
So glad that the invisible are here especially after David’s accident last year in Lagos when he was electrocuted on stage. I've been a big fan of them since when Dave was in Jade Fox and watching them grow to being one of the premier British bands had been exciting and also and major respect must go to Dave on his productions including the most recent Jessie Ware album.
5. Romare - The Blues (It Began In Africa)
It’s always been a big part of the Awards to incorporate the constantly developing electronic scene from Joy Orbison to Benga to James Blake and Julio Bashmore there's always been a strong element of bass music and 2012 certainly saw another generation of great beat makers coming out of club culture and Romare is defiantly one to watch somewhere between Nicolas Jaar and Machinedrum.
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Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards take place on January 19th. Ticket link