Funky Nature Talk Soul and Connection and the Making of ‘Together’ – Funky Nature’s new single and video, ‘Together’, is a warm, soulful statement that slows life to the pace of human connection. The track blends live, guitar-led indie textures and intimate vocal interplay with a clear hip-hop pulse delivered by Charles Mould. (Red Sea)The result – a soulful Indie-Hop groove.
The accompanying video mirrors the song’s closeness. It uses colourful, lived-in visuals that highlight the chemistry between the performers and the quiet moments. Those that give life meaning. The release comes from a London-based collective whose studio foundations and collaborative live approach have become central to their sound.
Q&A with UK’s Funky Nature
Q (Jason Fonfe): Can you describe the moment ‘Together’ first took shape? Where were you, what ideas were in the room, and what made you decide this track needed its own life?
Answer: I was in my studio thinking about writing a song that wasn’t concept-driven but more emotional and sensual. I had recently been to the monthly Rappers Delight night at the Ram Jam in Kingston, where I saw several hip-hop acts. One performed a song that mixed singing and rapping about a romantic encounter in very explicit detail. It made me wonder what level of openness would be acceptable in a soul or indie track. I used the tempo and feel of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On as a starting point.
Q (Jason Fonfe): You’ve said ‘Together’ began as a desire to slow things down. How did that intention shape the arrangement, production choices, and vocal delivery?
Answer: I’ve spent many years working as a producer, and I find it easier to work on other people’s music. You’re less attached and have more perspective. With Funky Nature, I never quite knew what I was doing until this track arrived. Then it hit me like a mantra. Keep it simple. No drum machines, no clever keyboard sounds, no endless harmonies, samples, or reversed guitar tricks. I limited myself to live drums (unquantised), one guitar, bass, and single vocals.
The vocals were delivered plainly and honestly. No cutting and pasting, so each chorus is slightly different. Very old school. I rarely love a finished track of mine, but this time I can say confidently that it landed exactly as I hoped.
Q (Jason Fonfe): The song is a soulful Indie-Hop groove. How would you define that for someone hearing Funky Nature for the first time?
Answer: Imagine three measures of Marvin Gaye, mixed with early Stone Roses, simmered with De La Soul for twenty minutes. Then add a little Us3 and finish with a hint of Paul Weller. That’s Indie-Hop at its best.
Q (Charles Mould / Red Sea): How did you approach your verse on ‘Together’? What informed the lyrical choices, and how did you balance rawness with the song’s intimate tone?
Answer: When I first heard the verses and felt the tone, I immediately connected with the bittersweet emotion running through it. It’s about that blameless loss of a love that should have worked. The memory of someone who occasionally appears in your dreams. I wanted to write the conversation I wish I could have had with the memory of her.
Q (Hannah Jones Allen): What does performing a song like ‘Together’ require from you emotionally and stylistically? Compared with your more upbeat numbers?
Answer: I’m not entirely sure. It felt natural as soon as I heard it. I knew what Jason wanted it to sound like, and I added my own approach. Over time it has simply shaped itself into what it is now.
Q (Gareth Haze): The drums keep the track warm and restrained rather than pushing it hard. What guided your drum parts on ‘Together’?
Answer: With a song like ‘Together’, it’s common to make the dynamic changes even more pronounced than on the recording. I watch and listen to what the other band members are doing and play off that. Cal Connor, our usual live bassist, and I like to mirror each other’s parts. I also enjoy picking up some of Red Sea’s vocal rhythms during the rap sections.
Q (Neil Jackson): Your bass lines feel like the invisible glue. Smooth, grounded, and essential to the track’s pulse. How did you find the pocket between Gareth’s drums and the rhythmic flow of Red Sea’s verse? And how did you balance the warmth of soul with the looseness of indie and the precision of hip-hop?
Answer: A good groove works regardless of where you come from. Music is a universal language. It has many accents, but you know when a song feels right. The lyrical themes are universal too. Nostalgia for an old love and the question of whether that love was real or imagined. The story is unresolved, but the rhythm and melody bring a sense of closure.
Q (Jason Fonfe): You produced, recorded, and mixed the song. What were the technical and artistic challenges of doing everything on such an intimate track?
Answer: The challenge was doing as little as possible. In a studio full of buttons, the skill is knowing not to press them. Take Peggy Lee’s version of Fever, apart from the vocal and double bass, there’s a single hit on what might be a cajón or similar, and that’s it. It must have taken courage not to add more. Keeping that restraint in mind was my guiding principle during the recording.
Q (Jason Fonfe): The video for ‘Together’ has a warm, retro charm with vintage tones that match the soulful feel. How did the visual concept develop, and who helped shape that nostalgic atmosphere?
Answer: Think of Madonna’s Vogue video, then go entirely the other way. Slow edits, held shots, smiling faces. The song felt timeless, Aside from Red Sea’s rap, it had a 60s quality. I told the director, Kerstin Craig, that I wanted it to look like the introduction to The Wonder Years.16mm style, rich colour saturation, dreamy and nostalgic. Many indie bands go for a moody, detached look, but that’s not us. A warmer, happier visual suits the band’s personality.
Q (Jason Fonfe): There’s a strong lineage to classic soul in the track’s spirit. Which artists or records did you reference while writing and recording, and why?
Answer: I drew heavily from ‘Let’s Get It On’ by Marvin Gaye. Paul Weller’s Wild Wood captures the soul-rock blend better than most, and I’d nod to him subconsciously. To a lesser extent, Michael Kiwanuka’s debut was an influence too.
Q (Charles Mould / Red Sea): How does working with a live band differ from beat-driven studio collaborations? What does the band setting bring to your performance?
Answer: Working with a live band, especially one as energetic and talented as Funky Nature, is constantly evolving. Each performance becomes a conversation between us on stage, which we share with the audience. I enjoy working with my own beats. It can’t compare to sharing a glance with Jason mid-song knowing we’re about to deliver a fresh take on something we’ve played countless times. Nothing in the studio matches that connection.
Q (Hannah Jones Allen): Which lyrical line or melodic moment in ‘Together’ matters most to you and why?
Answer: Probably the section I sing at the end. I’m not sure what it means to me lyrically, but it feels most connected to my own style.
Q (Gareth Haze): How do you adapt the song for live audiences who expect high energy from Funky Nature sets? What’s the live strategy for ‘Together’?
Answer: As a band, we tend to review our recorded parts and then adapt them for a higher-energy live performance. The parts also change depending on the line-up. I have several different harmonies ready depending on whether Hannah or Becky are on vocals. Whether it’s a rap-only show with Jason and me covering melodies. It keeps things interesting and keeps us sharp as musicians.
Q (Neil Jackson): For listeners in the UK and South Africa, the themes may land differently. Do you think the song speaks to both audiences in the same way?
Answer: The themes are universal. Reflecting on a past love and questioning whether it was real or imagined. The story may be unresolved, but the beat and melody help it feel complete.
Q (Jason Fonfe): The band grew from studio sessions and cross-scene collaboration. How has that shaped the way you write and invite guest artists to participate?
Answer: Every Funky Nature song is written with cross-scene collaboration in mind. The concept is about reaching across the cultural divide. To invite rappers who work with very different soundscapes into a live band environment. You’ll notice I rarely include solo sections for guitar or keys. That space is left intentionally for rappers. At live shows, rappers sometimes join us on stage without even speaking to us beforehand. The band knows to stay alert. Some rappers treat sixteen bars as thirty-two or even sixty-four, and they just keep going.
Q (Jason Fonfe): The band calls itself a collective. How does that fluidity help or challenge your identity when releasing a personal song like ‘Together’?
Answer: I don’t consider any song particularly personal. For me, songs are vehicles for expression and opportunities for other creatives to contribute. It’s like building a puzzle. Some pieces are fixed, and some spaces are left open for others to fill. As a producer, I focus on bringing out the best in each artist. By recognising their strengths and shaping the music around them.
Q (Jason Fonfe): ‘Together’ is about small moments and connection. Why do you think listeners are drawn to songs like this now? How do you hope it fits into their lives?
Answer: We live in a connected but fragmented world, each of us guided by our own algorithms. More ways to communicate often mean more ways to be overlooked. Bands struggle to chart while solo artists thrive. We hope to show that there is still real value in groups and collective expression.
Q (Charles Mould / Red Sea): What was your first reaction to the finished mix and video? Did anything surprise you?
Answer: Honestly, I was impressed by how well they captured my best angles. The production team’s talent astonishes me every time. The way the video feels personal, combined with the mix highlighting the conversational tone of the song. It really completes the track.
Q (Jason Fonfe): Looking ahead, how will ‘Together’ influence the next phase of your music? Songwriting, production, collaborations, and live shows?
Answer: This song set the benchmark for me as a producer. I now know how I want to record and shape every track from here on. Balancing rap with melody, arrangement with production, and message with feel. It only took five years to figure it out.
Thank you, Funky Nature, for sharing the story behind ‘Together.’ To all our readers, keep an ear out for the single and video. Watch for Funky Nature’s next steps. The band’s collaborative energy suggests there is much more heartfelt music to come…
Stream ‘Together’ from Funky Nature here
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