Alexis Ffrench | Classical Soul Vol 1 [Double Vinyl] 2LP

Classical Soul Volume One’ by Alexis Ffrench is a collection of original compositions for piano & orchestra, interspersed with tiny snippets of beloved soul anthems dotted throughout the record as palette cleansers, recorded at Brad Pitt and Damien Quintard’s renowned Miraval Studios. Composer, pianist & producer Alexis Ffrench is one of the UK’s most distinctive and groundbreaking artists, who pioneered the genre ‘Classical Soul’, has amassed over 1 billion streams on his catalogue, and performed at the King’s Coronation Concert to an audience of over 18 million viewers.

“The Way It Was draws inspiration from my dad’s vast record collection. Growing up, our home was filled with a rich soundtrack of Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack – some of whom I consider to be my earliest teachers.

As I played ‘imaginary’ piano on the kitchen table, to classics like Superstition and At Last, I was transported to a place of wonder and felt a calling. And as I listened, I absorbed the passion, pride & purpose of these soul icons and dreamt of a parallel pathway – informed by the storied lives of these soul greats and their wider mission.

As I look back and remember the way it was, and the limitless space I was given to grow creatively and spiritually, I have come to better understand all that I had been gifted, and the debt that I owe.These artists, and the power of their collective voices, connected with me deep within and opened a gateway to a world of Classical Soul, and for that I am truly grateful.”

Speaking about the forthcoming album, Alexis adds:

“It is for this reason that I wanted to create a modern mixtape, classical-soul symphony for the 21st century. An album which seeks to reframe the classical story – building soaring symphonic pillars of ‘Black Ivy’ from the echoes of soul classics into a majestic expression of pride, love, nostalgia, and healing elixir.”

A pioneering superstar of Classical Soul, Alexis’s sound refuses to be penned in by genre, time period, or by expectations of the kind of musician he should be. Rather than leaning into the narrow, traditional understandings of ‘classical’, Alexis instead leans outward, expansive in his perspective, drawing on a multifarious mosaic of influences that takes the listener by the hand and leads them on a journey through a world of possibility.

The Way It Was is the first track in Alexis’ big year of music, and on Classical Soul Volume One we can expect some of his most heartfelt and purposeful material to date.