The Wilroy remix EP came about after Emmer was listening in to Mary Anne Hobbs radio show on 6 music, where she played an abstract soul track by a talented Canadian born artist called Wilroy. The experimental music made such a wonderful and everlasting impression on Stephen, that he decided to reach out and ask Wilroy if he would be interested in re-working six tracks from his Home Ground album.
Listen to Home Ground - The Wilroy Remixes on your favorite music platform here
Home Ground is an international award-winning humanitarian music project where composer / producer Stephen Emmer was joined by an array of artists who contributed to a collection of original soulful and spiritual songs, with orchestral compositions and a socially conscious lyrical style but with modern day production values.
“The lyrics in particular were central to Home Ground and that each song was a new extension of its concept. So with the vocals already in place, I really wanted to give them a fresh world to inhabit.” (Wilroy)
The retro-soul album was released in 2017 and featured the likes of Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, Kendra Foster, Leon Ware, Frank McComb, Andy Bey, Dwight Trible, Mary Griffin and Ursula Rucker. The project itself hit a nerve with both media and audiences alike. It also honours the artists by representing their truest vocal talent, whilst addressing social issues of today, about a world that is constantly in conflict over land, religion and race.
“At first it was a bit daunting because the songs are already so fully realised. I find it more challenging remixing something that already sounds like something I would want to make. So how do I re-interpret something I already love?” (Wilroy)
The Wilroy remix EP came about after Emmer was listening in to Mary Anne Hobbs radio show on 6 music, she played an abstract soul track by a talented Canadian born artist called Wilroy. The experimental music made such a wonderful and everlasting impression on Stephen, that he decided to reach out and ask Wilroy if he would be interested in re-working six tracks from his Home Ground album.
“The incredible remix has offered a radical change harmonically. I believe Wilroy is the best remixer of today!” (Stephen Emmer)
“I used a lot of the gear that’s migrated with me over the years. Lots of re-amping things through pedals & using different percussion instruments. My mom was in Peru recently and she brought back some different shakers and a thunder tube that I used”. (Wilroy)
Wilroy was recently selected by Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Music talent discovery initiative Future Bubblers, his track 4F3D63 Hex is featured on the latest compilation. Talking to Clash Magazine he said “Prince was a huge inspiration to the track and I incorporated many elements that are considered hallmarks of his mid-80s output”. Wilroy’s music has also been played on BBC Radio 6, 1Xtra, Worldwide FM & Bandcamp Weekly.
"Molten, abstracted soul music" is what Mary Anne Hobbs quoted about Wilroy’s contemporary and cutting edge style of music.
Listen to Home Ground ft Patti Austin on your favorite music platform here.
