Knats - Tortuga

Today, Newcastle Upon Tyne quintet Knats return with their new single “Tortuga (For Me Mam)”.

The track marks their first release for London analogue specialist label Gearbox Records (Elliot Galvin, Cahill//Costello, Village Of the Sun), and comes on the heels of an incendiary year for the band including supporting Geordie Greep (black midi) on a UK tour as well as playing a sold out Jazz Refreshed headliner, supporting Str4ta at a sold Jazz Cafe and performing for the BBC Proms. The band are currently also touring the UK with R&B legend Eddie Chacon as his backing band.

Led by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle, Stan Woodward (bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (drums), Knats pride themselve on making "Geordie Jazz", with sophisticated arrangements, strong melodies and danceable grooves. Their infectious energy has seen the band develop an enviable word-of-mouth ascent, earning Spotify playlist covers and plaudits from the likes of the Guardian, Jazzwise, and more.

“Tortuga (For Me Mam)” sees the band combining cinematic strings with funk-inflected basslines and breakbeat drumming that draws from their dance and electronic sensibilities. Muscular up-tempo rhythms dance around complex arrangements featuring vitreous trumpet work and dextrous keys.

Thematically, the track is a deeply personal piece written by Woodward as a tribute to his mother and in honour of all strong single mothers. Speaking on the track, the band says, “both Stan and King were raised by influential and resilient women, and the song reflects their admiration and appreciation for the strength and sacrifices of single mothers.”

As the band come to the end of their tour with Eddie Chacon, they look ahead to an appearance at London Jazz Festival supporting labelmates Village Of The Sun, as well as a performance at London’s Jazz Café for their “Wrap Up ’24” event alongside rising stars Marla Kether and Ella Knight. Full dates are as follows:

9th Nov - Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds %
11th Nov - Jazz Cafe, London %
12th Nov - Alphabet, London %
Sun 17th Nov - Village of The Sun support London Jazz Festival, Lafayette, London
Sat 21st Dec - Jazz Cafe, London

% - w/ Eddie Chacon

With their signing to Gearbox Records, a string of packed out UK dates, and further new music to be announced in 2025, “Tortuga (For Me Mam)” lands as evidence that all the goodwill for Knats in the UK scene is entirely deserved, and they’re only just getting started.