Duval Timothy

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Duval Timothy
Born (1989-10-02) 2 October 1989 (age 34)
London, England, UK
Genreship-hop · nu jazz · postminimalism
Occupation(s)Pianist · composer · music producer
LabelsI Should Care Records, Carrying Colour
Websiteduvaltimothy.co.uk

Duval Kojo Bankole Timothy (born 2 October 1989) is a pianist, composer, and music producer based in London, England and Freetown, Sierra Leone. He has released four solo albums, an EP titled 2 Sim in 2018, and the split album Son with Rosie Lowe in 2021.[1] His music incorporates themes of hip-hop, nu jazz, and postminimalism.[2] He has produced songs for a variety of artists including Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Vegyn, Nosaj Thing, Mount Kimbie, Mr. Mitch, and Loyle Carner.

Timothy is also an avid photographer, videographer, visual artist, and cook.[3]

Early life[edit]

Timothy was born on October 2, 1989, in London, England. His mother is English and his father is of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian descent.[4] He began playing piano at the age of 13, inspired by artists like Amy Winehouse. He graduated from Central Saint Martins with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.[4]

Career[edit]

Timothy wrote and recorded his first album DUKOBANTI while in school in 2012. In 2016, he released his second album Brown Loop with I Should Care Records. The album was out of print for several years before being re-released in 2020 under his personal label.[5]

During the period of 2011 to 2016, Timothy and collaborators Folayemi Brown and Jacob Fodio Todd ran a pop-up restaurant called The Groundnut in South London, serving sub-Saharan African dishes twice a month.[6] In 2015, Timothy, Brown, and Todd published The Groundnut Cookbook through Penguin, which features recipes served at the restaurant.[7]

His third album Sen Am was released in 2017. The title means 'send it' in Krio; the album samples WhatsApp messages from family and friends in Sierra Leone with solo piano compositions. The Guardian called the album "an immersive, cross-cultural dialogue".[8]

In 2017, he created Carrying Colour, a record label and clothing/lifestyle brand. He recorded his fourth album Son with Rosie Lowe at the label's studio in Freetown. A children's book with the same name was created featuring illustrations by Timothy and Lowe.[9]

Timothy released the extended play "2 Sim" in 2018. It was created from two months of field recordings and interviews with family and friends in Freetown. It was accompanied by a short film of the same name. He released his third album Help in 2020, featuring diverse instrumentals from various other artists in London.[10] In 2022, Timothy released Meeting with a Judas Tree, a short album incorporating more synth strains.[11]

In recent years, he has collaborated with several hip-hop artists providing piano and album production. His instrumentals are featured on a song from Solange's When I Get Home and four tracks from Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.[12]

Personal life[edit]

Timothy has participated in a variety of local art projects such as weaving sustainable fabrics in Freetown, designing tapestries in New Orleans and Chicago, and constructing a football pitch in Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. He also sells homemade ginger beer on the streets around UK, a recipe for which is included in The Groundnut Cookbook.[11]

He only wears blue clothing in homage to the "blue borough" of Lewisham where he grew up.[3]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • DUKOBANTI (2012)
  • Brown Loop (2016)
  • Sen Am (2018)
  • Help (2020)
  • Son (2021)
  • Meeting with a Judas Tree (2022)

Singles and EPs[edit]

  • "Ibs, Pt. 2" (2017)
  • "2 Sim" (2018)
  • "DYE" (2019)
  • "Kam" (2023)

Production[edit]

  • "United in Grief" – Kendrick Lamar
  • "Father Time ft. Sampha" – Kendrick Lamar
  • "Rich Interlude" – Kendrick Lamar
  • "Crown" – Kendrick Lamar
  • "Mushroom Abolitionist" – Vegyn
  • "Sometimes I Feel Like I’m Ruining Songs" – Vegyn
  • "Fake Life" – Vegyn
  • "Dreams" – Solange
  • "DVD" – Mount Kimbie
  • "Continua" – Nosaj Thing
  • "Make Time" – Mr. Mitch
  • "Lost Touch" – Mr. Mitch
  • "Carluccio" – Loyle Carner
  • "Dreams Of You Are Too Much To Speak" – Cktrl
  • "Lighthouse" – Cktrl
  • "Robyn" – Cktrl
  • "Will The Feelings Leave" – Cktrl
  • "Fw Circle" – Cktrl
  • "Reset Walking" – Martyn
  • Knopperz – Dave Okumu

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Duval Timothy". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. ^ "Duval Timothy discography – RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  3. ^ a b "There Is Nothing Duval Timothy Can't Do". Pitchfork. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  4. ^ a b "Duval Timothy". nataal.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  5. ^ "Duval Timothy reissues his debut album, Brown Loop, with an alternate tracklist and bonus material · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  6. ^ "The Groundnut". Future Positive. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  7. ^ Todd, Timothy Duval,Folayemi Brown,Jacob Fodio (2015-07-02). The Groundnut Cookbook.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lewis, John (2017-12-14). "Duval Timothy: Sen Am review – immersive album of precision piano sounds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. ^ "Rosie Lowe / Duval Timothy: Son". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  10. ^ "Duval Timothy: Help". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. ^ a b "Duval Timothy: Meeting With a Judas Tree". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  12. ^ "Kendrick Lamar collaborator Duval Timothy announces new album Meeting With a Judas Tree". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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