Pieces of a Man (band)

Pieces of a Man are a musical group from Manchester, UK. The band's music is a blend of future soul, funk, hip hop, jazz, formed from a mix of live organic elements, loops and samples.[1][2] They are signed to the Tru Thoughts record label and have released one studio album and one extended play recording since their signing in 2018.

This article is about the UK band. For other uses, see Pieces of a Man (disambiguation).
Pieces of a Man
Pieces of a Man performing at Band On The Wall in 2015
Background information
Also known asPOAM
OriginManchester, UK
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsTru Thoughts
Associated acts
Websitepiecesofaman.org
Members
  • Illya "Pils" Gosling
  • David "DK" Klein
  • Tolu "To!u" Ajayi
  • Tim Curry
  • Mark Parkinson
  • Aden Peets
Past members
  • Lauren Wright
  • Alec Stockton
  • Kelani Koyejo
  • Terry King
  • Jo Fidler (Lily-Jo)
  • Caroline Gosling
  • Su Durant
  • Julie E Gordon
  • Pete Robinson

History

Pieces of a Man (POAM) was formed in early 2013 by musical director and producer lllya "Pils" Gosling, together with DJ and visual artist David "DK" Klein, together with keyboardist Pete Robinson (Riot Jazz) and four female vocalists; Julie E. Gordon, Jo Fidler, Su Durant and Caz Gosling. Pils coined the band name having been reminded of the Chicago jazz poet and "bluesologist" Gil Scott-Heron's death, and the band's musicality has paid homage to him throughout their career.[3]

Tolu "To!u" Ajayi initially replaced one of the original four singers, later becoming frontman on departure of the other three vocalists in summer 2013. Tim Curry & Mark Parkinson joined the band via advertising and witnessing live performances respectively. After the release of their debut mixtape the band were soon noticed and supported by several promoters including BBC Introducing, Mike Chadwick (Snarky Puppy) and Lubi Jovanovic (Soul Rebels). That same year POAM opened for internationally renowned neo-soul artists Bilal & Omar Lye-Fook, cementing their place in the UK live soul circuit.[3][4][5]

In 2016, following the success of their appearances on The Funk Apostles UK tour, POAM started to write and record demos for what would eventually become their debut album. A chance meeting between DK and producer Zed Bias in 2017 eventually lead to Zed collaborating with the band to produce the record, ultimately leading to Tru Thoughts signing the band in 2018.[6] In 2019, Pieces of a Man released Made In Pieces, and in 2020 the follow up release Reframed EP, both records and associated singles signed to and distributed by Tru Thoughts.[7][8][9]

Thematically, POAM's releases have centred around themes of relationship and identity; personal, political and intersectional. Pils is the principal songwriter for the band, with all six members listed with writing credits. To!u is an outspoken advocate for platforming LGBT+ people of colour, his contributions and lyricism often stem from his activism.[10]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details
Made In Pieces

Extended plays
Title Details
Reframed EP
  • Release date: 18th August 2020[12]
  • Label: Tru Thoughts
  • Formats: Digital Download

Singles
Title Details
"Grits/Climb Down (POAM Remix)"
  • Release date: 12 August 2019
  • Label: Tru Thoughts
  • Formats: Digital Download
"Listen"
  • Release date: 23rd May 2019
  • Label: Tru Thoughts
  • Formats: Digital Download
"Nothing To Lose"
  • Release date: 17 April 2019
  • Label: Tru Thoughts
  • Formats: Digital Download
"Rising Tide (feat. Kobi Onyame)"
  • Release date: 2015
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: Digital Download
"Paych£ck"
  • Release date: 2014
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: Digital Download

Mixtapes
Title Details
Mixtape Vol.1
  • Release date: 2013
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, Digital Download
Mixtape Vol. 2
  • Release date: 2014[13]
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: CD, Digital Download

Music videos
Song Year
"Brother" 2013
"Nothing To Lose"[14] 2019
"Listen"[15]
"Grits"[16]

References
  1. "Pieces of a Man – Nothing To Lose – Global Soul Radio". Global Soul.
  2. "Pieces of a Man". Sofar Sounds | Pieces of a Man. 21 September 2019.
  3. AJ, Ray (15 May 2019). "Pieces of a Man interview – not a typical soul band". BN1 Magazine.
  4. "Interview – "Pieces Of A Man"". Artistic Echoes.
  5. Minvielle, Tony (30 November 2020). "Pieces of a Man Live In Session". Folded Space on Jazz FM.
  6. "A Labour of Love: How Zed Bias met Pieces of a Man". Tru-Thoughts. 2019-05-10.
  7. Wilhelm, Rich (24 July 2019). "Pieces of a Man: Made In Pieces album review". Pop Matters.
  8. "【今週のマストチューン】クルアンビン、ファンシー、ピーシズ・オブ・ア・マン〜7月第2週〜". [Mast Tune of the Week] Khruangbin, Fancy, Pieces of a Man ~ Week 2 of July ~ (in Japanese). 12 July 2019.
  9. "Pieces of a Man - Reframed - EP". Traxsource. 8 August 2020.
  10. "Pieces Of A Man Share New Single 'Listen'". Broadway World. 29 May 2019.
  11. "Made In Pieces Pieces of a Man". Tru-Thoughts. 12 July 2019.
  12. "Reframed EP Pieces of a Man". Tru Thoughts.
  13. "Pieces of a Man". Band on the Wall.
  14. "Pieces of a Man - Nothing To Lose - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 17 April 2019.
  15. "Pieces of a Man - LISTEN (Live Session) /// Tru Thoughts (4K) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 20 June 2019.
  16. "Pieces of a Man - GRITS (Live Session) /// Tru Thoughts - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 21 August 2019.
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