James Stanley a.k.a LEGATO has carved a path as one of the freshest voices coming out of the UK house underground. His LEGATO project launched in 2019 with impactful releases on Eton Messy, Nightcolours, Anjunadeep and All Day I Dream.
Now partnered with LabelWorx and with a new team around him, LEGATO is looking to make moves in 2024 and beyond, with new single ‘Either Way’ a clear statement of intent as his sound evolves beyond his more straight up melodic house productions.
‘Either Way’ retains some of the key characteristics of previous LEGATO releases, while pushing his sonics forward in exhilarating new ways. The gorgeous melodies and ethereal tones remain, backed up with punchy, swung beats, a deep, groove-led bassline and highly evocative vocals; a vibey, summer house cut ripe for festivals and home listening alike.
“Either Way marks the start of a new LEGATO chapter. My sound’s naturally shifting into something more raw and expressive, but still connected to what I’ve released before and centred around emotion. I’ve been thinking about music differently recently since losing some of my hearing, drawing influence from new places and feeling hyper creative and productive in the process. I’m hoping this tune finds its place not only in the club, but outside of that world too to listeners everywhere.” – LEGATO
With the single out now, we caught with the artist and dug deeper into what to expect from his forthcoming EP and his new musical direction. Enjoy!
WWD: Welcome to When We Dip! How’s the year been treating you so far?
Hey WWD, thanks for having me! And a big thanks for all the support on my music over the years. 2024 has been off to a great start. I’ve been feeling super creative and inspired and have spent a lot of time in my studio writing new music. I signed a direct deal with LabelWorx earlier this year, and I’m super excited to finally find a new home for my music.
WWD: Can you describe the journey and evolution of your sound from your earlier releases to your new single ‘Either Way?’
‘Either Way’ marks the start of a new chapter for me. My sound is naturally evolving into something more raw and expressive while still staying true to what I’ve released before. This evolution is partly inspired by a recent personal challenge—the partial loss of my hearing. This setback has made me reconsider how I approach music, resulting in a surge of creativity and deeper emotional resonance in my work. My music is starting to shift into shorter forms too. I’m naturally moving away from longer progressive tracks with big builds and breakdowns into music with a structure that’s more succinct and precise.
WWD: How has partnering with LabelWorx and assembling a new team influenced your music and career direction?
Moving away from the traditional record label setup just felt like the right move for me at this point in my career. I now have the freedom to create exactly the music I want, without feeling the need to conform to any particular style, and that’s a major benefit of going down the distribution route. Both my manager, Tom, and I have had total creative freedom in every aspect, from putting together the new team to collaborating with artists on art direction. I’m not saying I won’t release with other labels in the future, but for where I’m at in my life right now, having this newfound freedom has really helped with my creativity. Partnering up with LabelWorx now enables me to release music more frequently and expand my catalog at my own pace.
WWD: In what ways does ‘Either Way’ push the boundaries of your previous work in melodic house?
‘Either Way’ could probably be better described as a UK garage track, but it’s definitely mixed with melodic house elements too. Up until now, I’ve mostly made straight-up 4×4 tracks, but this one’s packed with groove and shuffle. I’m diving deeper into sampling now too, shifting away from VSTs and experimenting with exciting loops and sounds I come across, then shaping them into something new. Harmony remains at the core of my music, though. As for my previous work, I still find myself drawn to evocative chord progressions that evoke a specific mood.
WWD: What was the inspiration behind the new single ‘Either Way’ and how did the creative process unfold?
Lately, I’ve been listening back to a ton of UKG and “future garage” from the 2010s, tunes by artists like Burial, Four Tet, Koreless, Floating Points, Joy Orbison, and more. ‘Either Way’ is an homage to that era while also blending in elements from other inspirations. It’s also the first track I’ve released since switching from Reason to Ableton! Until about a year ago, I was making music solely in Reason. Moving to Ableton has opened up a whole new world of sound possibilities and has definitely sparked my creativity. However, Reason still holds a special place in my heart—it’s where I taught myself most of what I know about production. But Ableton has provided a fresh perspective to my approach, and I’m super excited to move forward with it.
WWD: How has your recent experience with hearing loss impacted your approach to music production and creativity?
At first, most of my friends thought that my hearing loss was due to exposure to loud music over the years, but that’s not the case. In reality, I had a rare genetic disorder in my left middle ear, which required surgery and the removal of some of my hearing bones to prevent more serious issues in later life. At first, I was pretty bummed out about it. It felt pretty cruel to take away hearing from someone whose whole life revolves around music. However, as my brain has adjusted over the past few months, I’ve rediscovered some sort of a stereo field, and I can make music again! I’m going for a hearing aid soon, with plans for reconstructive surgery next year. It’s actually made me feel very grateful for what I do have!
WWD: What can fans expect from your upcoming EP ‘Midnight Rendezvous’ in terms of themes and musical exploration?
Looking ahead to ‘Midnight Rendezvous,’ you can expect a diverse mix of sounds, including real instruments like violin, mandolin, and marimba. I love experimenting with both real instrument sounds and samples, along with synths. Plus, I enjoy playing and recording my guitar and piano. This EP marks the beginning of a new chapter for me, and I can’t wait to share it with you all. While it stays true to the LEGATO sound I’ve been developing over the years, it definitely ventures into new territories.
WWD: How do you envision the ‘Midnight Rendezvous’ EP fitting into festival and club settings and more personal listening environments?
I hope this EP fits well both in the club and in people’s personal listening spaces. At its core, it’s dance music, but upon deeper listening, I hope listeners pick up on elements they might miss in a club or festival setting!
WWD: What are your goals and aspirations for 2024 and beyond, both musically and professionally?
I plan to keep making music and growing my catalog. My aim is to bring in new fans while also serving those who are already connected to my music. Plus, I’m itching to perform more. DJing is a massive passion of mine, and I’m keen to get out there and share my music live whenever I can!
‘Either Way’ is available here