Dan Coulthurst / Babyteeth
Release Date: 5th April 2024
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0163
Dan Coulthurst (Photographer: Gareth Howell)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of trumpet player Dan Coulthurst, for the release of Babyteeth, his debut album on Ubuntu Music.
Dan describes the project and the idea behind it: “I came up with the name Babyteeth by thinking about how our physical bodies naturally change over time. Whereas typically, we tend to neglect the need for our mindsets to change. Often, we hold on to things from the past that predetermine our present day. Baby teeth are essential when you are a child. You are smaller so they fit perfectly in your mouth, and you have no need to cut through solid foods that your body is unable to digest. However, as your body physically changes, you outgrow the need for smaller weaker teeth, as they would simply break when attempting to eat more robust food. This cycle of intense pain would result in the body not being able to get the nourishment that it needs to survive. The same goes for our mental well-being. By engaging in a lifestyle that dulls your perceptions of your surroundings and by ignoring the opportunity for discovery and growth, you deprive your mind of the goodness that it needs to live a fulfilling life. The situations will change but the cycle of pain will continue. Instead, by surrounding yourself with people that challenge the way you see the world, by prioritising the things that fill you with joy and give your life meaning and by being connected to others whilst allowing yourself to be open to new ideas, I’ve found that this the path to giving your soul the nourishment that it craves. As I have grown older, I feel incredibly excited by the prospect of a new challenging situation as I know that it is an opportunity to grow and to learn new things about myself and the world. This album is about the difficult and beautiful journey of letting go of the past and embracing the uncertainty that comes with the future.”
Left to right: Matt Jacobs, Alasdair Pennington, Fergus Quill, Dan Coulthurst, James Romaine, Rianna Henriques, Lydia Kotseria (Photographer: Sophie Jouvenar)
Dan continues, sharing his perspective of the music: “I find that I write my best music when I allow myself to be inspired by the beauty of consuming art in its varying forms, from Pablo Neruda’s ‘Ode to a beautiful nude’, to Jean Michel Basquiat’s ‘Untitled’ to Vaslav Nijinsky’s choreography for ‘Rite of Spring’. During the start of my creative process for ‘Babyteeth’, I wanted to create a sound world that have the colours of a Debussy suite combined with the raw punk aesthetic of Nirvana. Yet it was writing poetry that galvanised my need to create this body of work. All the music has been inspired by poems that I have written or by poets that I chose to immerse myself in. The album opens by starting down a dark path of dissolution with ‘Babyteeth’ and ‘What we were, now we are not’. I then chose to switch up the band and change ensemble instruments with each piece, allowing the mood of the album to shift dramatically before gradually getting lighter towards a euphoric and content conclusion with ‘Home’ and the final piece ‘Love Will Return’. In ‘Home’, I reference a number of songs from the record, aiming to create a rounded conclusion to the narrative of the album. By using poetry and lyrics in these last two pieces, I wanted to have one final push at stating the message of the album and the meaning of what it is that I’m trying to covey. It is my hope that you enjoy listening to this music as much as I enjoyed making it.”
Dan Coulthurst (Unknown Photographer)
Dan describes his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “It is an absolute honour to be a part of the Ubuntu Family. I have been huge fan of many artists on their roster for a number of years and to now be a part of the community and involved in their creative practices is incredibly exciting and a dream come true.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I was first introduced to Dan by Steve Fishwick, a phenomenal British trumpet player who obviously knows his stuff. Steve mentored Dan, rated him highly and asked if I’d be interested in meeting him. I believe you call this ‘an offer you cannot refuse.’ Soon after connecting with Dan and hearing early versions of his project, I was convinced…Dan should join our Ubuntu Music Family. And I’m so very glad he did. This is a deep, powerful debut release and we expect that it will strike a responsive chord to all who listen.”
For further information, please contact:
Dan Coulthurst (Artist): dcoulthurst9@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Dan Coulthurst (Photographer: Sophie Jouvenar)
DAN COULTHURST BIOGRAPHY
Birmingham raised trumpet player and composer Dan Coulthurst is one of the young rising stars of the British music scene. Born into a musical family, Dan quickly found his passion for the subject and wasted no time in getting involved in the thriving Birmingham music scene.
Since graduating from Leeds College of Music in 2018, Dan has performed with internationally acclaimed artists such as Jean Toussaint, Hermeto Pascal and Nikki Iles. Now based in London, some gig highlights include performing with the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, Simon Spillet Big Band, China Moses, Blue Lab Beats and TC and the Groove Family. Dan has also released two EPs as part of nu-soul band Mamilah.
Babyteeth is Dan’s debut album and explores themes of love, racism, anxiety and self-acceptance.
The album will be released on the Ubuntu Music record label from 5th April 2024.
