Benjamin Race blasts into 2024 with the new single ‘Memories’ featuring Donna Odain! It will transport you on a nostalgic trip to a different time, back to the 1980s - it is like rediscovering a hidden treasure that never existed.

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This soulful time machine is a perfect blend of smooth vocals, catchy melodies, and vintage-inspired production. Be whisked away to an era filled with neon lights, Oberheim synthesisers, drum machines and Janet Jackon’s Rhythm Nation album is being played on every teenager’s Walkman. The new single ‘Memories’ really resonates with your soul. Benjamin Race showcases his ability to not only pay homage to the past but also bring a fresh perspective.

The track was mastered at the world's most famous recording studio - Abbey Road Studios in London by mastering engineer Alex Wharton, who is a 20-year veteran at Abbey Road! Alex has mastered albums and singles for the likes of Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, St Germain, and The Rolling Stones. His favourite memory at Abbey Road was in his early days as a runner and Paul McCartney ringing him and Alex not believing it was him!

Leading up to the creation of the single ‘Memories’, Benjamin received some one-to-one guidance from the legendary Jimmy Jam, part of the American R&B/ Pop songwriting/production team ‘Jam & Lewis’ who in 2022 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. They have written 31 top-ten hits in the UK and 41 in the US. Jimmy Jam was part of Flyte Time which later evolved into the Time. They were joined by Morris Day and were Prince’s opening act.

Jam & Lewis later were notoriously fired by Prince as they were producing and working with the S.O.S. Band in Atlanta. Because of a snowstorm, they missed their flight from Atlanta to San Antonio. However, one of the tracks they were producing, "Just Be Good to Me", became a hit and sealed the duo's reputation. Jam & Lewis were mentored by the likes of Leon Sylvers III and the legendary Clarence Avant of Tabu Records and later Sussex Records.

The duo was noted for early use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which was used in most of its productions. After working with other artists such as Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal, Jam and Lewis were introduced to Janet Jackson and produced her breakthrough album Control in 1986, for which the duo won a Grammy Award. Their collaboration on her next album, 1989's Rhythm Nation 1814, proved even more successful as the album became one of the top-selling albums in history with four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits. Their collaboration continued and remained highly successful.

In 1991, they founded a record label, Perspective Records - an A&M Records distributed label that has since been closed and then reactivated. Later that year, their newly minted label experienced success with a Minneapolis-based gospel/R&B collective of artists known as Sounds of Blackness. Their debut single, "Optimistic", served as a groundbreaking anthem stressing positivity and encouragement. The song served as a summer and fall anthem and began propelling Jam and Lewis' new boutique label towards the top.

Singer Donna Odain has worked with the likes of Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, Freda Payne & Full Flava. The lyrics and vocal arrangement (Donna Odain /Ricky Hanley) are relatable and heartfelt, reminding us of the power that memories hold in our lives.

This is also the first partnership with Ricky Hanley, a multi-platinum-selling writer and vocal arranger. Ricky has worked with Take That, The Pet Shop Boys, Cheryl Cole, S Club Juniors, Peter Andre, Mike & The Mechanics, JLS, Little Mix and Korean boy band EXO, and recently worked on The Masked Singer TV show.

Benjamin Race played all instruments except for; Nate Williams (Jamiroquai, Steve Winwood) on synth bass, Joon Switon (Eric Roberson, Glenn Lewis, Reel People) on guitar and Andrew Milnes on sax.

Image: A vintage Oberheim OB-Xa Synthesiser from the 1980s featured in the official music video!

Whether you were around during the 1980s or not, "Memories" will make you feel like you were there. So put on your dancing shoes, hit play on your cassette player and get ready for a musical journey that will have you reminiscing about simpler times. The 80s was a magical era for soul music, with its infectious beats, heartfelt lyrics, and smooth melodies by legends who dominated the charts with their unique styles and undeniable talent. Memories shows ubiquitous influences from the likes of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The System, Change, The S.O.S Band, Alexander O’Neal and Janet Jackson.

Image: Professional dancer Belinda Wood featured in the Official Music Video

The song is supported by an Official Music Video filmed at Neon Dreams Studio featuring Donna, Benjamin with a vintage Oberheim OB-Xa synthesiser, Pascal Consoli (Dinfluence) - playing a Simmons electronic Drum Kit and professional dancer - Belinda Wood.

Image: Behind the scenes at Neon Dreams Studio for the Official Music Video

‘Memories’ follows on from the hugely successful single ‘Take You Home’ which was featured on the Abbey Road Cuts Spotify Playlist - which collates projects mastered at Abbey Road including Paul McCartney, Sade, Tom Misch, Beverley Knight, Brian Eno and John Lennon. The music video also saw large exposure with 20,000+ YouTube views plus a host of On-demand/OTT and TV placements in the USA.