Releases / Ralf GUM feat. Jon Pierce & Kafele - “Never”

GOGO Music keeps at it with this stunning and real heartfelt song titled ‘Never’, which gave Ralf GUM’s album ‘Never Leaves You’ its name. Featuring Chicagoan crooner Jon Pierce and Kafele on trumpet and background vocals, the song received much praise since the long-player was released. Finally it receives its single release with remixes by no one less than the legendary Louie Vega.

Ralf GUM is arguably one of the hottest names in the deep and soulful house music scene. Through years of consistent production and outstanding DJ performances, Ralf has earned his place as a visionary of the music scene and is renowned for his unique production talents which are classic, compelling and have blazed through the World’s musical consciousness. After the release of his critically acclaimed debut Album ‘Uniting Music’ in 2008 which gave birth to classics such as ‘Kissing Strangers’ and ‘All this love for you’, a second album with the same gravitation pull to satisfy the high expectations of his followers was always going to be a tough act to pull off for this multi-talented musician and DJ. And yet Ralf GUM continues to defy his critics - ‘Never Leaves You’, his second Album was released in September 2012 and reached the top spot in the charts of download and physical record stores, including a Gold Award in South Africa.

A native of the South Side of Chicago, Jon Pierce realized his deep love and sheer passion for music at just the impressionable age of 11. Having been exposed early on to such musical genius as Stevie Wonder, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Luther Vandross, it is the soulfulness of these and many other influences that helped him to shape his full-energy sound, which is filled with a hint of jazz. With his unique style and creativity Jon delivers lasting impressions that have not only made him a permanent fixture in Chicago’s diverse soul and theatre scenes, but have catapulted him globally with tours and performances throughout Germany and the UK. ‘Never’ is a true testament to Jon’s vocal capabilities and the authenticity of his unique sound.

To our joy Kafele lately becomes a kind of regular on GOGO Music’s releases. Now for the 5th time on the label, the great Jazz and Soul musician appends his unmistakable trumpet play to the song and as well can be heard on the background vocals together with Eliki. Right after his release with Sir LSG and Brian Temba, he once more proves his relevance as one of the sought after musicians in the House scene.

Remix honours for this single release come from Grammy award winner Louie Vega. Vega really shaped House Music as we know it like probably no other person. Whether as one half of the highly acclaimed ‘Masters At Work’, with his ‘Nuyorican Soul’ project, under one of his many monikers, as a solo artist or with his band ‘Elements Of Life’, he delivered countless and timeless blueprints of how the genre has to sound. When we approached Louie for a remix of one of Ralf’s album titles, he chose ‘Never’, which is in his own words is ‘simply a beautiful song’. He and his EOL musicians converted Ralf’s smooth broken beat production into an uplifting and monumental House affair, with that typical Vega touch so many others tried to copy, but only he can deliver.

Another time GOGO Music presents a real sophisticated soulful delicacy, with all ingredients a future classics needs.

Tracklist Ralf GUM feat. Jon Pierce & Kafele - Never - GOGO 059:

1 - Ralf GUM Main Mix 9:59
2 - Ralf GUM Main Instrumental 9:57
3 - Louie Vega EOL Mix 8:31
4 - Louie Vega EOL Instrumental 8:31
5 - Louie Vega Joburg Mix 8:30
6 - Louie Vega Joburg Instrumental 8:30
7 - Louie Vega Roots NYC Mix 8:31
8 - Louie Vega Roots NYC Instrumental 8:31
9 - Ralf GUM Reprise 5:05
10 - Ralf GUM Beat 7:36
11 - Ralf GUM Radio Edit 3:59
12 - Louie Vega EOL Radio Edit 3:23
13 - Louie Vega Joburg Radio Edit 3:21
14 - Louie Vega Roots NYC Radio Edit 3:23

GOGO Music ... music it is and is it!

PRESS REACTIONS AND REVIEWS:

Spirit Of House (Switzerland)
Ralf GUM feat. Jon Pierce & Kafele - Never - GOGO 059

Pick of the week!
Hot on the heels of the marvelous "All I am" by Sir LSG comes the next soulful masterpiece on GOGO Music, courtesy of label head Ralf GUM. Taken from his highly acclaimed second artist album "Never leaves you", "Never" is without any doubt one of our favorite songs from the album. The inimitable heartfelt vocals of Jon Pierce, the unmistakable trumpet play by Kafele, the amazing background vocals by Eliki and Kafele, grand keys, sweet guitar and of course Ralf GUM's gentle broken beat production are guaranteed to make you yearn for more... Louie Vega and the Elements of Life musicians take this beautiful song to a whole new level on their monumental remixes oozing with the unrivaled soulful sound only they can deliver. Tot cut a long story short, "Never" is a phenomenal slice of masterly crafted soulful dance music, coming complete with stellar remixes. By no means to be missed. by Michael Fossati

Some Ralf GUM feat. Jon Pierce & Kafele - Never - GOGO 059 - DJ reactions:

:: "Great song & remixes." Danny Krivit (New York)

:: ""Main Mix is a fantastic production. Louie's EOL is absolutely amazing! I'm dancing in my hotel room ;) Can't wait to play!" Hector Romero (Def Mix, USA)

:: "Superb Ep with wonderful remixes by Louie Vega & EOL! Full support I will play them on my gigs for sure!!" Rocco (France)

:: "I actually like the Main Mix the most. The remix is cool too." Sting International (Shelter, NYC)

:: "Great music!!" Oli Lazarus (Reel People, UK)

:: "TOO NICE...Louie really TURNING this out BIG TIME! Will Support MOS DEF!" Vinny Da Vinci (House Afrika, South Africa)

:: "Absolutely beautiful mixes! All mixes are stellar! Can't wait to play this." Master Kev (USA)

:: "Classic material here, Louie's Roots NYC Mix is my favorite!" Dj Spinna (USA)

:: "Amazing, love it. Will review in Tillate." Craig Bartlett (Tillate, UK)

::"This will be an House Music pearl. Incredible soulful energy... al the versions are great and musically captivated." Alessio Furia (Magma Global Groove, Italy)

:: "This is one incredible song." Reneca Nunn (Sole Notes Of House Magazine)

:: "Louie's mixes are bananas." Mr V (Sole Channel, USA)

:: "With the deepest and utmost respect …. many thanks for the amazing promo." Pim Bergkamp (Freak 31 Radio)

:: "A work of art! thank you so much!!!!" Cerino Testarossa (Radio Ibiza, Italy)

:: "It is superb." Joan Ribas Dj (Ibizasoulstice Radio, Spain)

:: "This entire EP is really great. Incredible mixes all tied together with soul and heart. Massive support guaranteed." Bobi (Club FM, Mazedonia)

:: "Inspirational music. You have my full support on these on the decks and on radio. Quality Modern Soulful Dance... Blessings and BIG love" Dr Bob Jones (UK)

:: "Massive!!!! Ralf GUM Main Mix for me!!!! Full support!" Mirko Paoloni (Radio Party Groove, Italy)

:: "That’s Spiritual House!! Another amazing production so...full support!" Cesare ‘boogeyman’ Cera (Gruradio, Italy)

:: "Definitely a soul inspiring vocal along with the acoustic harmony uplifting all the notes to sway your hips into motion and put you in a blissful place on the dancefloor. Vega brings that full on sound enhancing the swing in each step brings you." Oxide (Urbnet, Canada)

:: "Loving the whole package on this, Ralf GUM & Louie Vega remixes are my highlight looking forward to playlisting!!" Alan O (Multi Storey Soul radio show, RTE Pulse, Dublin, Ireland)

Ralf GUM Main Mix
Ralf GUM Main Instrumental
Louie Vega EOL Mix
Louie Vega EOL Instrumental
Louie Vega Joburg Mix
Louie Vega Joburg Instrumental
Louie Vega Roots NYC Mix
Louie Vega Roots NYC Instrumental
Ralf GUM Reprise
Ralf GUM Beat
Ralf GUM Radio Edit
Louie Vega EOL Radio Edit
Louie Vega Joburg Radio Edit
Louie Vega Roots NYC Radio Edit