Yazz Ahmed - Waiting For The Dawn (Richard Russell Remix)

Q4 W43 New Music 2025

Yazz Ahmed – Waiting For The Dawn (Richard Russell Remix)

British-Bahraini trumpeter Yazz Ahmed releases Richard Russell’s remix of “Waiting For The Dawn”, a standout track from her latest album “A Paradise In The Hold”. The Ivor Novello Award-winning composer first met Russell when he invited her to perform live in 2018, and they’ve since collaborated on several Everything Is Recorded projects including “08:00”, “Spring Equinox”, and this year’s “Temporary”.

Russell transforms the track into an infectious dance number, building a strong melodic hook from Natacha Atlas’s vocal track. Ahmed doubles this melody on flugelhorn, adding her signature brass sound to Russell’s programming. The remix keeps all of Martin France’s drum sounds from the original, a meaningful choice since France passed away last year. His presence remains in the mix.

“A Paradise In The Hold” draws on traditional music and folklore alongside Ahmed’s experience as a British-Bahraini woman. She blends ancient rhythms with contemporary musicianship, working to change narratives about Arab women. “So often, they are misrepresented as oppressed, but in Bahrain, there are many creative women forging new paths,” she explains.

The original album features Ahmed on flugelhorn, Naadia Sheriff on Fender Rhodes, Dudley Phillips on bass guitar, Martin France on drums, and Natacha Atlas on vocals. Russell’s remix pulls these elements into club territory without losing the core identity.

Ahmed has upcoming shows across Europe including Ronnie Scott’s in London, venues in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France through November.