There’s a staple routine for music composers … a cup of tea, a slice of toast … and jamming until a fully fledged track seemingly emerges from the ether. It’s a simple ritual, but one that has powered countless late-night breakthroughs and writer’s-block-breaking sparks of inspiration. That moment when a half-formed idea suddenly clicks, when melody and rhythm stop arguing and finally agree to work together … that’s the thrill. That’s the magic of creating something from nothing.

And that’s the spirit behind our new label, Tea, Toast & Jams. We’re shining a spotlight on homemade music written by real people … played, recorded, programmed, felt … not synthesised by algorithms or churned out by machines faking soul. These tracks come from kitchens, bedrooms, garages, converted lofts and garden studios … anywhere someone with an idea and a bit of nerve dares to capture it. It’s created … not generated.

We believe diverse artists and tracks deserve to be presented … celebrated … championed even, rather than surrounded-by and buried-in some algorithmic abyss. Here, they get to stand tall. Here, they get to be heard without apology. And you, the listener, gets to decide what resonates, what surprises, what delights, what confuses … and even ponder, in those moments of curious wonder, “But is it art?”.

To celebrate the soft launch of Tea, Toast and Jams, we’ll be be doing a fantastic giveaway to win a pair of Apple Airpod Max Headphones … so keep listening. You’ll find the first batch of releases on the Tea, Toast & Jams music page – here.

NB – If you are a sub-publisher in a different territory to the UK and are interested in having TTJ in your territory (30 albums currently being completed) – please contact tim@thefunkyjunkies.co.uk