Kamaal Williams

Kamaal Williams (also known as Henry Wu) is a British musician and record producer. Williams rose to prominence alongside drummer Yussef Dayes in 2016 as one half of the London-based jazz group Yussef Kamaal following the release of the duo's debut album Black Focus, which earned them the 'Breakthrough Act' award at the 2017 Jazz FM awards.^[1] In addition to live instrumentation, Williams also releases electronic music under the name Henry Wu.

Early life

Williams was born in Peckham in South London to a Taiwanese mother and British father.^[2] Growing up, Williams took an interest in learning Mandarin and Chinese calligraphy.^[2] From an early age, Williams was involved with a number of creative pursuits. His interest in calligraphy, as well as his parents' involvement with graphic design, contributed to an interest in street art and graffiti culture, an influence which is reflected in the album art of later projects such as Black Focus and The Return.^[2]

Williams took an early interest in music. In high school, he learnt drums and percussion^[3] which he played in the school band.^[2] It was during this time that Williams cultivated a formative grounding in jazz, funk and house music. His father was instrumental in introducing him to jazz names such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.^[2] Alongside an interest in jazz, Williams also developed a taste for garage and grime music, citing the 2001 release Execute by fellow South Londoners Oxide & Neutrino as a major influence.

Career

After high school, Williams progressed to college, where he studied music and picked up the keyboard.^[2] Around this time, Williams began gigging regularly around London, eventually landing a place in the band of Katy B alongside drummer Joshua McKenzie, with whom he would later work on The Return.^[3] In 2008, Williams put on a show with the then fourteen-year-old drummer Yussef Dayes,^[4] with whom he would later form Yussef Kamaal. Williams remained with Katy B for two years before leaving the band to focus on his own music.

From 2012 onward, Williams released a number of short, broken-beat and house releases under the name Henry Wu, including 2014's Natural Complexion, which featured former band mate and fellow London musician, Ed 'Tenderlonious' Cawthorne.^[5] In 2013, Williams assisted Cawthorne in establishing 22a, a London based, artist run record label.^[3]

In 2015, Williams invited Dayes to perform Henry Wu material live for the Boiler Room (music project),^[6] an event which would initiate further collaboration.

In 2016, Williams recruited both Dayes and Cawthorne to perform at the 2016 Worldwide Awards hosted by London DJ and broadcaster Gilles Peterson.^[2] The group played a short, thirty minute set during which an original composition, 'Strings of Light', was performed.^[7] At the end of the set, Peterson suggested he might have to sign the pair.^[7]Williams and Dayes were subsequently signed to Peterson's independent label, Brownswood Recordings, and released their debut album, Black Focus, under the name Yussef Kamaal in November 2016. The album was met with critical acclaim. Clash Music described the sound as "exceptional, vital" and "enthralling";^[8] whilst Canadian magazine Exclaim! described it simply as "dope".^[9] The album was widely praised for its unique blend of sounds traditionally associated with jazz, hip hop and breakbeat music.^[9][10]

Williams and Dayes collaborated for a brief and tumultuous period following the album's release. Shortly before embarking on a tour of the United States, the band were refused entry to the country after Dayes' visa was revoked in accordance with an Executive immigration order implemented by the Trump Administration.^[11] Several weeks later, the duo unexpectedly announced their split.^[1] Williams has since been reticent regarding the incident, but has maintained that he continues to admire and support Dayes in his solo ventures.^[4]

In the years following, Williams established his own label, Black Focus Records.^[2] Less than two years after the release of Black Focus, Williams enlisted the services of former band mate and drummer Josh 'MckNasty' McKenzie and bassist Pete Martin to produce his solo bandleader debut, The Return. In many ways, The Return was received as a "sequel" to Black Focus^[12]—there are obvious similarities in the album artwork, as well as the instrumentation, which features the reappearance of tones distinctive to Black Focus, such as the synthesizer patch from 'Strings of Light'.^[13] The album was also similarly praised for its blend of genres, a sound Williams has called "a London thing".^[12] The release of The Return prompted Williams' first global tour.^[14]

Musical style

Despite citing influences such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock, Williams has frequently rejected the term 'jazz' being applied to his music, rejecting the "elitist" and traditionalist connotations it evokes.^[2][4] Williams has instead opted to create music under the eponymous genre of 'Wu funk'.^[13]

Williams has also listed other influences on his sound. Amongst them are British acid jazz pioneers Jamiroquai, as well as American soul and jazz legends Roy Ayers and Donald Byrd. ^[2] Various influences have been attributed to Williams by critics, including hip hop producer J Dilla.^[3]

Williams' sound on Black Focus and The Return has been called a blend of several genres, among them jazz, funk, hip hop, grime, garage and broken beat.^[15]

Personal life

Williams adopted the name Kamaal upon converting to Islam in 2011. According to a 2018 interview, religion has played a key role in Williams' approach to his career, reminding him to remain humble and grateful in the face of success.^[4]

Discography

References