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.
Duval Timothy | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 October 1989 London, England, UK |
| Genres | Hip hop · nu jazz · postminimalism |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist · composer · music producer |
| Labels |
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| Website | duvaltimothy |
Timothy is also an avid photographer, videographer, visual artist, and cook.[3]
Early life
editTimothy 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
editTimothy 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
editTimothy 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
editAlbums
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- ^ "Duval Timothy". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Duval Timothy discography – RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b "There Is Nothing Duval Timothy Can't Do". Pitchfork. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b "Duval Timothy". nataal.com. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Duval Timothy reissues his debut album, Brown Loop, with an alternate tracklist and bonus material · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "The Groundnut". Future Positive. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ Todd, Timothy Duval,Folayemi Brown,Jacob Fodio (2015-07-02). The Groundnut Cookbook.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ "Rosie Lowe / Duval Timothy: Son". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- ^ "Duval Timothy: Help". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b "Duval Timothy: Meeting With a Judas Tree". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Kendrick Lamar collaborator Duval Timothy announces new album Meeting With a Judas Tree". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-06-14.