D'Influence
D'Influence is a British production team and acid jazz band. Formerly of The Echo Label, they founded their own label, Freakstreet Records. Original members include Kwame Kwaten, Sarah-Ann Webb, Ed Baden-Powell, Ned Bigham and Steve Marston.
Biography
D'Influence emerged in 1990 from the UK club scene. The group eventually issued, in August 1992, their debut album entitled Good 4 We on East West Records. That album reached No. 7 on the Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart. The song "Good Lover" from the LP also got to No. 11 on the Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart.D'Influence later released their 1995 sophomore studio album, Prayer 4 Unity on EastWest Records. The album reached No. 17 on the UK [R&B Singles and Albums Charts|UK R&B Albums Chart]. A single from the album, entitled "Midnite", reached No. 11 on the UK R&B Singles Chart and No. 24 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. Another single, "Waiting", peaked at No. 26 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.
The group's third studio album, titled London was released in 1997 by Echo Records. This album reached No. 8 on the UK R&B Albums Chart and No. 6 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. A song from the album called "Hypnotize" reached No. 33 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 3 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and No. 8 on the UK R&B Singles Chart. Another single entitled Magic reached No. 19 on the UK Dance Singles Chart, No. 13 on the UK R&B Singles Chart
and No. 19 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.
During 1998 a non album cover of Michael Jackson's "Rock with you", was released by Echo Records. This song peaked at No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 4 on the UK Independent Singles Chart and No. 6 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.
In 2017, the band regrouped for one-off concerts at various top London clubs and summer festivals in the UK. Reviewing their 'generation-spanning' set at Love Supreme festival, Mike Hobart of the Financial Times praised "the slinky, bass-heavy grooves that sustained their success in the 1990s." He also proclaimed that D'Influence "last played a festival 17 years ago, their current revival coming about after a promoter saw... their annual get-together jam on Instagram. The band has lost none of its sass." 2018 saw further performances in the UK, Africa and Europe.