6 weeks of 'time'...

‘The detuned synth, vocal delays and expansive harmonies all create this surreal quality and that voice cuts straight to the chase. That was Ni Maxine with Time’. - Soweto Kinch, BBC Radio 3

It has been 6 weeks since I released the first track from my upcoming EP ‘Time’, and I am so grateful for everyone playing it on the radio and to have the opportunity to talk about what it means to me, and tell my story!

Since my last update, we’ve had support from the legendary Soweto Kinch on BBC Radio 3 (‘Round Midnight), with such kind words...

‘I remember being invited to an event that she hosted, way back in the heady days of post-lockdown. She creates this warm ambiance in the room before flooring you with her voice. Ni has a new EP on the way, and ahead of it, here’s her latest single ‘Time’…’ - Soweto Kinch, BBC Radio 3

We’ve spent a number of weeks on the Jazz FM playlist in great UK Jazz company, (corto.alto, Sol Paradise, Ego Ella May, Yazmin Lacey, Celeste and more), and been played across the station. I didn't take the traditional 'go and study vocal jazz at a conservatoire' route, I just found great jazz singers, and studied their work in my own way, Ella being the first when I found 'Ella Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook' CD at family friend's and studied the lyric book back to front, Billie when I was having a dinner party while living in halls which turned into staying up all night, crammed into my single room, listening to music and a friend of mine showed me Billie Holiday - Speak Low, which changed my life. Learning about her life and how she stood up for what she believed in is a source of inspiration to me, daily. Amy Winehouse was my gateway to Dinah Washington... 'Teach Me Tonight'.

‘She’s Billie, Ella and Dinah rolled into one, but uniquely Ni Maxine’ - Simon Phillips, Jazz FM

Most recently, we had a spin on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM show, again, in great company. Thank you to every single person who has listened to and included ‘Time’ in their curation.

In the real world, I played a well received acoustic set at the issue 02 BRASSIC Magazine launch at Artefact, ‘showcasing the richness of Northern culture and talent’, celebrating my cover feature… Support Northern print media here.

The following week, we threw a party in Liverpool to celebrate the release of ‘Time’ at Bold Street basement SUONO, an ‘In Conversation with Ni Maxine’ hosted by the brilliant cultural curators Renee Charles and Andrew Ibi who bookended the conversation with perfect sets.

Over 60 people gathered, dressed in Black, to mourn the death of 'jazz' being an institutionalised art form, made inaccessible to the very community that conceived it, and the birth of something that represents and speaks to the people. That is my intention with my music, to be an entry point into 'jazz', to raise awareness of its roots and to make sure that everyone benefits from it.

I'll be sharing the transcript of our conversation soon, it got really deep...

It was beautiful to see an international and intergenerational crowd come together in the name of ‘Jazz’… I’m looking forward to the next happening!

My next single ‘Not For Me’ is out on Wednesday 12th November 2025. You can pre-save it now here.