Fat Freddy's Drop

Fat Freddy's Drop have adopted the label "hi-tek soul" for themselves, yet the ensemble—producer and leader Fitchie, vocalist Joe Dukie, saxophonist Warren Maxwell, trumpeter Toby Laing, trombonist Joe Lindsay, guitarist Tehimana Kerr, and keyboardist Iain Gordon—might equally be viewed as a contemporary reggae outfit that weaves in soul and dub textures. Already established throughout their home country of New Zealand before their debut full-length arrived, the 2005 release Based on a True Story shipped gold and became the first independent title to top the official RIANZ chart. By December the group had registered strongly elsewhere, notably in England, where BBC Worldwide listeners on Gilles Peterson's program named it Album of the Year. Extensive touring occupied the ensuing four years. In 2007 Warren Maxwell departed for family reasons and Scott Towers stepped in on saxophone. The second studio album, Dr. Boondigga & the Big BW, appeared in 2009; it topped New Zealand's year-end sales tally and included a duet with Alice Russell on the single "The Camel." Another global tour followed the album's release. "Silver and Gold" received a vinyl pressing and free digital release in 2013. Its parent album, Blackbird, emerged later that year and marked the band's third straight number-one record on the New Zealand chart. While preparing the fourth studio album, Bays, the band issued the 2015 single "Slings and Arrows," and Bays itself surfaced the same year. Following extensive international live performances, the first preview of their fifth album arrived as the 2018 single "Trickle Down." Additional material was teased during the 2019 European tour with the release of the track "Kamo Kamo." Special Edition, Pt. 1—the opening installment of a planned double album—dropped digitally at year's end and received its physical edition in 2020.