(PR) Born and raised in the Netherlands, critically acclaimed producer Nicolay has launched his own label, NICOLAY MUSIC, in partnership with Premium Blend Music Productions (GmbH). The first album release will be TIME:LINE, a concept album by Nicolay & Kay.The first release for the label will be TIME:LINE, by Nicolay & Kay. Nicolay is best known as the producing half of the Foreign Exchange (the other half being Phonte Coleman of Little Brother), whose debut album Connected (BBE; 2004) made a huge impact on the underground hip hop and soul scene. Kay Jackson is a mainstay of the Houston underground scene who has worked with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, A Tribe Called Quest, Oh No, and SA-RA. The concept behind TIME:LINE is the cycle of life. Lyrically and musically the album evolves from birth to death to rebirth over the course of 12 tracks.
The launch of NICOLAY MUSIC echoes the sentiment that the future of the music business lies in establishing and maintaining a direct artist-fan relationship. Explains Nicolay, "Independently releasing music through my own label enables me to eliminate the middle man and speak directly to my fans all while maintaining full control over my projects." In addition to the label launch, Nicolay has finished setting up a recording studio in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he now resides.
Both the CD and gatefold 2LP version of TIME:LINE will be available in stores February 1st in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and February 12th in the US. A special Japan edition is schedule for early spring. Instrumentals will be available separately. Digital versions will also be available and the iTunes version includes the exclusive bonus track "It Takes Time." Anticipation for the album is already high: the first pressing of the 12" for the first single, "Tight Eyes", sold out in four days.
Tracklisting:
01 TIME:LINE
02 BLIZZARD featuring TOBY HILL of SOULFRUIT
03 THE LIGHTS featuring MYTH S1 of STRANGE FRUIT PROJECT and NICOLE HURST
04 THROUGH THE WIND featuring STOKLEY WILLIAMS of MINT CONDITION
05 WHAT WE LIVE
06 I'VE SEEN RIVERS
07 TIGHT EYES featuring OH NO and THE LUV BUGZ
08 AS THE WHEEL TURNS
09 THE GUNSHOT featuring CHIP FU
10 GRAND THEFT AUTO
11 WHEN YOU DIE
12 DANCING WITH THE STARS featuring SOULFRUIT
