Mamas Gun in collaboration with Brian Jackson on new single ‘DIG!’
UK five-piece soul outfit Mamas Gun return with the second single and title track from their forthcoming album DIG!, featuring the legendary Brian Jackson (Stevie Wonder / Gil Scott Heron / Roy Ayers / Earth Wind & Fire) on vocals, keys and flute. It follows their previous release, “Food For The Flames”, which received outstanding support across BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Jazz FM, where it was added to the station’s A List.
“DIG!” was recorded straight to analogue tape, showcasing their much-loved authentic soulful sound. Lyrically the song is about not taking everything at face value – such is the world in which we find ourselves. Scratching past the surface and getting to the heart of the matter .
“I’d met Brian in 2006, near the start of my career. I had just got my first publishing deal on the back of the promise I showed as a writer and artist. Through that first deal I luckily got the chance to work with the likes of songwriter Rod Temperton (Michael Jackson / Thriller), Hall & Oates, and Brian Jackson. So fast forward to 2025 and I have this song “DIG!” 80% written. It needs a final touch and some special sauce. Brian is over in the UK for touring and on my suggestion comes to my studio to hang out. What you hear is what happened next. It’s a song we are very proud of”, explains Andy.
Andy and Brian’s connection stretches back long before Mamas Gun even existed. A mutual friend introduced them in New York, where Brian was living at the time, suggesting they write together. Andy spent the day at Brian’s flat and the pair immediately clicked, laughing, eating and drinking far too much to actually finish a song, but forging a lasting bond.
Fast-forward nearly twenty years. As work began on the new Mamas Gun album, Andy’s manager reached out to Brian once again. Over the years, their paths had continually crossed at festivals and venues across the globe. With Brian heading to the UK, he agreed to meet the band. Much like that first encounter, the session involved plenty of conversation, laughter and a generous amount of food and drink, but this time, the work was done and from that reunion, “DIG!” was born.
“Working together has been something that Andy and I had talked about for a long time, and after years, the stars aligned and we finally got the chance. I’ve always been a fan of funky tunes and well-crafted lyrics with a message, so when I heard “Dig!” I knew we had finally arrived at the right place at the right time. “Dig!” is the song we were meant to record together” -clarifies Brian.
Mamas Guns band members include Andy Platts – the songwriting frontman with the golden falsetto; Drummer Chris Boot – the band’s backbone, supplying the heaviest grooves with a jazz player’s lightness of touch; Bass player Cameron Dawson, flowing and fearless echoing the spirit of James Jamerson but with a melodic sound uniquely his own; Terry Lewis, a guitarist whose taste, feel bring a warm old school validity, and last but by no means least; Dave Oliver, a dynamic keys player whose profound command of the piano, wurlitzer and hammond organ joins the dots from jazz to gospel to soul with ease.
“DIG!” (single) out digitally on February 4th 2026 via Candelion
