London-based composer, Oscar ‘Sholto’ Robertson adds a bit of cinematic soul and tropical psychedelica to the Jazz Underground
Oscar Robertson (aka Sholto) takes the mix in a new direction with 10 new tracks which lean into the more soulful psychedelic side of jazz.
Originally from London, Robertson is a session drummer turned composer and producer. Born and raised in southeast London, Robertson was introduced to music at a young age. Added to that, he comes from a theatrical family which probably helped push him along the path to music early on.
Robertson cut his teeth as a live session drummer across many different genres. He’s worked with acts like Confidence Man, Nick Waterhouse, Yak, Sinead O’Brien and Baxter Dury just to name a few. Because Robertson is a drummer, I think I am particularly attracted to his style of music — I’m the type of person that listens to the instrumentals first, and then the lyrics (if there are any). Most times, those instrumental tracks I like most are led by the percussion. That’s what you find in the music that Robertson makes under the Sholto moniker — that and a whole lot of dreamy, soulful 60s and 70s-inspired jazz.
Sholto’s music blends vintage aesthetics with something more contemporary and fresh. It often starts off like the soundtrack to a movie before leading to a cinematic arrangement of lush instrumental (almost orchestral) jazz. It’s euphoric at times, laid-back and tropical at other times. It’s exactly the type of soulful psychedelic-affected jazz I like.
That is exactly what you can expect with the way the playlist has been shaped by Sholto this month. His selections feature music from the likes of Sven Wunder, Pearl & The Oysters, Klint, Sinje Clark, Finn Rees, and Rachel Kitchlew — all artists that are in their own right are pushing the genre in a more cinematic, psychedelic direction. I hope you enjoy the playlist as much as I do.
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If this is your first time listening to the Jazz Underground, here’s what you need to know: The Jazz Underground is a monthly feature where we enlist the musicians and producers who are pushing the boundaries of what jazz means to them. The idea is to change the perception of the music’s rotten public image — a genre that can sometimes be stuck in the past rather than something that is always evolving. Each month we invite a new resident artist to contribute and curate the playlist to reflect what jazz sounds like today.
Have a listen to the playlist, and if you like what you hear, make sure to follow the Jazz Underground playlist on Spotify.
