Today, pioneering UK garage producer Wookie releases Wookie 25, a 25th anniversary release of his self-titled debut album. Fully remastered from the original tapes, Wookie 25 pairs classics like “Battle”, “Scrappy” and “Get Enuff”, as well as three previously unreleased tracks featuring Lain Gray – long-lost pieces that expand the story of an album that helped define a generation of UK garage.
To celebrate, Wookie is performing a special anniversary show tonight at The Lower Third, reuniting on stage with vocalist Lain Gray for the first time in 25 years. Gray, whose unmistakable voice fronted some of Wookie’s most enduring tracks, returns to London for the occasion.
Since its original 2000 release on Soul II Soul Recordings, Wookie has stood as one of the defining textbooks of UK garage on the album stage, influencing artists from Disclosure and Conducta to Jamie xx and Skream. Tracks like “Battle” have only increased in relevance in the last few years, being sampled by Skepta & Kanye West for the Mains London SS24 fashion show. Wookie’s signature blend of richly-syncopated rhythms, soulful songwriting and jacking production continues to set the standard a quarter-century later, solidifying Wookie as one of Black British music’s most forward-thinking producers.
Pioneering UK producer Jason Chue, better known as Wookie, stands tall as one of the most influential founding fathers of UK garage. His name has become synonymous with a distinct sound that has shaped the landscape of electronic music, rising to prominence with his UK top 10 hit “Battle”, “Sunshine” by Gabrielle “Wookie remix” and his iconic “Exemen Works” remix of Sia’s “Little Man”.
From the early days of his musical career, Wookie released timeless classics like ‘Scrappy’, ‘Down On Me’ and ‘Storm’ through his esteemed label, ManChu Recordings. After signing with Jazzie B’s Soul II Soul production team in 1995, he embarked on a solo journey, releasing a series of white labels which took his career to new heights.
In 2000, Wookie secured a deal with Jazzie B’s label and released his groundbreaking self-titled album, spawning chart hits like “Battle”, “Get Enuff” and “Back Up to Me” and earning the producer a MOBO award nomination for Best Producer amongst the likes of MJ Cole, Dr. Dre and Timbaland. Wookie’s sound has become a major influence on a new generation of producers, his style laying the foundation for the rebirth of the NUKG and 2-step revival in the UK and internationally.
Upcoming Show Dates:
- The Lower Third, London – 21 November
- Artum, Birmingham – 20 December
- Jazz Cafe, London – 26 December
