Jerome Thomas - Secret (Single)

With his debut release for Peckham club and label institution Rhythm Section International, Hackney-raised Jerome Thomas is declaring the dawning of a New Age for British soul music.

Jerome’s music school was a home filled with non-stop records; whether that was bootleg CDs of Rare Groove from East London’s Sunday markets to late 90s R&B on The Box TV or family favourites; Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Chico DeBarge, Jill Scott. He learnt his prodigious vocal craft of ad-libs and harmonies by listening to Brandy’s ‘98 LP ‘Never Say Never’ on repeat.

For this EP he worked with a live 6 piece band of assorted ages and musical backgrounds ; from rock to classical jazz. Jerome’s sound is a 180 degree U-turn from the direction of travel of UK R&B - which has trended towards producers’ tracks made inside the computer. The result is a sound that could have been made in the 70s, the 90s or the 00s. He’s the new blood of the sophisticated British sound that traces back to artists like Mica Paris, Soul II Soul and Omar.

‘That Secret Sauce’ EP is out now.