Tru Thoughts

Tru Thoughts is a British independent record label founded in Brighton in 1999 by Robert Luis and Paul Jonas.^[1] The label has put out over 200 LPs of electronic, funk, soul, hip hop, jazz, tropical, grime and other music.

Tru Thoughts
Founded	1999 (1999)
Founder	Robert Luis Paul Jonas
Genre	Electronic dance funk soul hip hop jazz tropical grime
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Location	Brighton
Official website	tru-thoughts.co.uk

History

In September 1999, after running club nights Phonic: hoop and Shake Yer Wig, Paul Jonas and Robert Luis, two music-obsessed friends, launched their own label.^[1][2] From Luis' home, Tru Thoughts began with its first 12" EP, Steady's Alarming Frequency. Bonobo's debut album Animal Magic followed in 2000^[1] and Quantic's debut The 5th Exotic in 2001.

In 2009, Tru Thoughts marked its 10th anniversary with a 3-disc compilation.^[3] In 2017, Tru Thoughts marked its 18th birthday with an all-day event at London's Roundhouse, with appearances from Quantic, Alice Russell, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Anchorsong and Rodney P.^[4]

Other operations

Tru Thoughts has a publishing company called Full Thought Publishing. The music from the label has been used in adverts and appeared in films and TV programs.

Tru Thoughts organizes club nights in Brighton and London, and broadcasts on several radio stations.^[5]

It has subsidiary labels Unfold Records, for compilation releases, and Zebra Traffic, for UK hip hop.

Recognition

In 2005, the label was awarded Label Of The Year at the annual Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards.^[6]

In 2009, it was described by Martin Longley, writing for the BBC, as "easily one of the UK's best independent labels, regardless of whether its audience is energetically twitching on the dancefloor or bobbing about in a chilled boudoir."^[3]

Artists

• Alice Russell^[7]
• The Bamboos
• Barakas
• Belleruche
• benji Boko
• Bonobo
• Domu
• Drumagick
• Flevans
• Flowdan
• Galaxian
• Hidden Orchestra
• Hint
• Hot 8 Brass Band^[8]
• Jon Kennedy
• Kylie Auldist
• Lightning Head
• London Posse
• Maddslinky
• Maga Bo
• Manu Delago
• Mark de Clive-Lowe
• Moonchild^[9]
• Nostalgia 77^[10]
• Omar
• Will Holland – a number of monikers and projects, including Quantic,^[11] Quantic and his Combo Bárbaro^[12] and his collaborations with Alice Russell and Nidia Gongora^[13]
• Peshay
• Pieces of a Man
• Riz MC
• Rodney P^[14][15]
• Spanky Wilson
• Stonephace
• Ty
• Youngblood Brass Band
• Zed Bias
• Zero dB

Discography

Compilation albums

• When Shapes Join Together (1999)
• When Shapes Join Together 2 (2002)
• Heavyweight Rib Ticklers – compiled by Mr. Scruff
• Phonic Hoop (2002) – compiled by Robert Luis
• When Shapes Join Together 3 (2002)
• Vocalise (compiled by Robert Luis, 2002)
• Mono – When Shapes Join Together Mix (2003) – compiled by Quantic
• Shapes One Horizontal & Vertical (2003)
• Shapes Yellow (2004)
• Shapes Red (2005)
• Shapes Compilation (2006)
• Shapes Compilation (2006)
• Shapes 07:01 All New Amazing Sounds (2007)
• Shapes 07:02 All New Amazing Sounds (2007)
• Shapes 08:01 (2008)
• Shapes 08:02 (2008 )
• Tru Thoughts 10th Anniversary (2009)
• Shapes 09:01 (2009)
• Unfold Presents Tru Thoughts Covers (2009)
• Shapes 10:01 (2010)
• Tru Thoughts Compilation (2010)
• Shapes 10:02 (2010)
• Shapes 11:01 (2011)
• When Shapes Mix Together)
• Tru Thoughts Disco/Boogie (2012)
• Shapes 12:01 2012)
• Shapes Circles (2013)
• Shapes Rectangles (2014)
• Tru Thoughts Anniversary (2014)
• Shapes Wires (2015)
• Tru Thoughts Covers 2 (2015)
• Shapes: In Space (2016)
• Shapes Kaleidoscope (2017)
• Tru Thoughts 18 (2017)
• Shapes: Mountains (2018)

See also

• List of record labels
• List of independent UK record labels

References

1. Adams, Owen (24 February 2009). "Label of love: Tru Thoughts". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
2. "ParisDJ "'Tru Thoughts has gone from strength to strength in its ten years, establishing itself as one of the leading independent labels in UK right now. Here's to another ten.' – Simon Green a.k.a. Bonobo (Ninja Tune)"". parisdjs.com. 12 October 2009.
3. Longley, Martin. "Various Artists - Tru Thoughts 10th Anniversary Review". BBC. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
4. Cocklin, Jane (7 November 2017). "Event Review: Tru Thoughts Records 18th Birthday Party @ Roundhouse (London, 21st October 2017)". Rhythmpassport.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
5. "Funandfloor Robert Luis" (PDF). funandfloor.ch. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011.
6. "Worldwide Awards 2005 // Looking Back". Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
7. "Alice Russell – 'To Dust '". London Jazz News. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
8. Jaward, Isa (2 April 2017). "The Hot 8 Brass band: On the Spot review – sharp-edged New Orleans jazz". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
9. "Moonchild: Starfruit". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
10. Buttimer, Colin. "BBC - Music - Review of Nostalgia 77 - The Sleepwalking Society". BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
11. Cragg, Michael (30 January 2014). "Quantic – Duvidó: New music". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
12. "Album: Quantic and his Combo Barbaro, Tradition in Transition, (Tru". The Independent. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
13. Kalia, Ammar (17 September 2021). "Quantic and Nidia Góngora: Almas Conectadas review – Colombian gold-panners go orchestral". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
14. "Hip-hop star Rodney P admits ex-girlfriend attack". BBC News. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
15. Topping, Alexandra (22 November 2020). "Two women accuse Rodney P of domestic abuse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2023.

External links

• Official website