Taken from forthcoming album ‘Defective Disk’ (out in May), South London-based saxophonist and composer Lewis Daniel announces the release of his third and fourth singles: irreverent, glitchy, tech-driven disco-jazz cut “Tech Glitch”, and “When I” featuring acclaimed rapper Tee Peters.
“Tech Glitch” is about feeling broken—like something is inherently wrong but you don’t know what. It captures the turmoil of anxiety and depression, using the metaphor of computer errors and glitches to reflect the chaos of intrusive thoughts and emotional paralysis. The track features lush synth textures and a jazz scat duet with steel pianist Marlon Hibbert. Producer DJ Harrsn enhances the track with granular effects, distortion, and an escalating sense of musical disintegration. “This is a feeling I’ve experienced many times—not being able to move forward, not being able to untangle thoughts and emotions,” Daniel shares. “Tech Glitch reflects some of the more irreverent, chaotic, and experimental touches on the album. I wanted to really capture how our minds can trick us into panic and intrusive thoughts, sometimes in ways that feel almost cartoonish. It’s a humorous yet poignant reminder to step back, talk to someone, and untangle what’s really going on.”
“When I” is a hip-hop jazz fusion with a dark undertone, driven by distorted synth bass and culminating in a soaring gospel ride-out. Featuring singers from the House Gospel Choir and a lush string quartet, the track embodies Daniel’s signature blend of experimental composition, genre-blurring sound design, and cinematic orchestration. He describes it as “a dark hip-hop track that ends in a sour gospel finale.” Lyrically, “When I” delves into the relentless rat race of modern life – the ‘hedonistic treadmill’ we all run on, chasing external success in the hope of finding contentment. You can even hear the sound of a treadmill within the track. “We think that once we get the job, the money, the six-pack, or reach that next goal, we’ll be set. But real fulfilment never comes from external achievements alone,” Daniel reflects. “This song represents a younger version of me – hopeful, naïve, believing success would be the answer. But life keeps shifting the goalposts, and no status symbol will shield you from its challenges.” Tee Peters’ verse expands on this theme, painting a stark picture of a world where corporations mine our data, jobs are cut in pursuit of prestige, and brotherhood is reduced to transactions. “You ain’t choose to live like this,” he raps, capturing the feeling of being trapped in an unforgiving system. The choir echoes these sentiments in haunting refrains: “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do… I don’t know what I’ve got to lose.” This tension between ambition and disillusionment builds until the track’s final moment—a gospel-infused outro where voices soar over swelling strings, forcing a moment of reckoning. “We’re convinced it’s a race, but we chase shallow tides, hastening in our lives,” Peters comments. Daniel adds, “I wanted to create a song that feels like an awakening—one that starts in a dark, mechanical space but erupts into something raw and human. The gospel section at the end is a release, a cry for something real in a world that keeps pushing us to chase the next thing.”
Daniel’s conceptual jazz album, Defective Disk, is set for release on May 9th. A 13- track narrative album, it follows the journey of a video game character, Xavier, through a futuristic cyberpunk world, blending jazz, hip-hop, electronic textures, and Daniel’s Caribbean heritage. Inspired by the ambitious storytelling of Frank Ocean and Beyoncé, Defective Disk pushes the boundaries of UK jazz.
Listen to Tech Glitch / When I here
Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff
