Wu-lu — real name Miles Romans Hopcraf is a South London-based producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist. Raised in a creative environment built by a professional contemporary dancing mother and afro-jazz trumpeter, his run ins with music were early and frequent.
Fast forward to his self-released debut EP, Ginga. The 2015 cassette release — which featured Stones Throw’s MNDSGN and Gilles Peterson favourite, Andrew Ashong —combined the off-kilter brilliance of J Dilla’s hip hop with ounces of lo-fi, psychedelic guitar in a refreshing fashion.Wu experimented with the influences on his Brixton doorstep; the issues facing a young mixed race male in the centre of London.
Further afield, the talented bassist’s production credits are few and far between but weighty. With Brainfeeder stalwart, Ras G and also as the man behind “How Far” by the Omar Lye-Fook endorsed songstress, Ego Ella May, along with Reiss G.
2016 has continued on a similar trajectory. Along with Hector Plimmer, Wu-Lu created SAMPLED; an live audiovisual exploration of the divisive ‘world music’ tag with a 13-piece superband. The group consists of artists, producers and poets including the finest contributors to the burgeoning UK jazz scene. With Wu-lu at the helm, the group have produced to create an array of self-written arrangements. Most recently, they have taken the project to the Church Of Sound, a new church venue dedicated to bringing jazz-influenced sounds to a new audience. As well as performing a set of their own material, they present a refreshed take on the Minnie Ripperton/Rotary Connection songbook.