While this summer’s heat (or the lack thereof) has been nothing short of disappointing, Nectar
Woode is bounding in to save the season with her soulfully sublime brand-new single, ‘30
Degrees’. As her newest release following her debut EP entitled, ‘Nothing To Lose’, could this
South-London rising star be our saving grace? Aspiring to create a skillfully raw sound, building
a metaphysical sonic world that “fills the soul”, Nectar may be one of the privileged few to
deliver a true ‘song of the summer’.
British-Ghanaian Nectar Woode is a singer/songwriter and up-and-comer taking charge of the
bubbling jazz and soul scene in London. As certain as the sun rises in the east, this young
artist’s trajectory is set for an enduring legacy. Taking influence from a range of soul icons,
ranging from Erykah Badu to D’Angelo to Minnie Ruperton, her music offers a warm, jazz-
infused, contemporary sound; a perfect accompaniment to a wander in the brisk morning breeze
or the backing track to a book on a cozy porch. She gives credit to the new wave of 2010’s soul
powerhouses such as Amy Winehouse and Duffy for giving her the final push to make the move
to London. From the nation’s capital, she has since built a community of like-minded co-
creators, transporting her musical career to new heights.
“30 Degrees” is a masterclass on modern jazz-infused instrumentation. A subtle line of
percussion hugs an ethereal guitar melody that carries throughout the song. Its gentle beat with
slight layers of added synth, builds an emotional depth to the song that further enhances
Nectar’s velvet-like tone. Described as “one of the best new British voices” (Jack Saunders), this
artist just has one of those vocal deliveries that speak to the listener on a level that transcends
lyricism.
Nevertheless, the track’s storytelling is the final piece to an already mesmerizing puzzle. Pulling
from her West-African roots as well as the teachings of songwriting sages like the iconic Lauryn
Hill, Nectar Woode takes pride in a sense of rawness and authenticity in her selection of lyrics.
She opens a door and (very vulnerably) leaves it open for us, confessing her feelings to
another, through the evocation of the blissfully rich summer moments we all helplessly chase.
“Grass in between my toes”, “laying back smell the roses”; this single is the personification of
all those good feelings one seeks to capture in our most intimate of moments.
After having recently exercised her marketing chops with Spotify UK at Glastonbury,
interviewing fellow industry peers, Nectar is set to take the rest of England by storm. For those
desperately in search of a new sound to raise spirits and soothe the heart, make sure to take
advantage of her string tour dates across the summer.
TOUR DATES
28th July – Secret Garden Party, Huntingdon
28th July – Cambridge Folk Festival, Cambridge
16th August – Wild Fields, Norwich
23rd August – Green Belt Festival, Kettering
28th September – Last Time Out Festival, Leeds
16th November – Live At Leeds Festival, Leeds
CONNECT WITH NECTAR WOODE:
