The Brand New Heavies

Known as one of the most pioneering and influential groups of the Acid Jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies started out as bedroom jamming sessions between school friends Andrew Levy, Jan Kincaid and Simon Bartholomew. The trio became involved in the early incarnation of London’s 80s dance and rave scene, eventually signing to Acid Jazz in the label’s infancy followed by their debut LP in 1990.

By 1992, the Heavies had hip-hop royalty lining up to work with them, culminating in Heavy Rhyme Experience: Vol 1, followed by their groundbreaking Brother Sister (1994), which shot to #4 in the UK Charts, with N’Dea Davenport-fronted classics ‘Dream On Dreamer’ & ‘Midnight at The Oasis’. The band followed up with the Platinum-certified Shelter in 1997, this time fronted by Siedah Garrett. Two years later, the anthology entitled Trunk Funk: The Best of the Brand New Heavies appeared, with material fronted by Carleen Anderson.

After 2003's We Won't Stop, fronted primarily by Sy Smith, and 2004's Allabouthefunk, with Nicole Russo, Davenport returned for numerous projects well into the 2010s. Among these were 2006's Get Used to It and 2013's Forward. Dawn Joseph, who had contributed to Forward, took the spotlight on Sweet Freaks, the band's 2014 offering, but she left afterward, as did Jan Kincaid.

After 2019’s TBNH, produced with long-time fan Mark Ronson, the band issued Never Stop… The Best Of, reliving the best of the band’s years at London Records.