- Digital
papaya noon
on your side
First Word Records
- Cat No: FW374
- Release: 2026-06-25
- updated:
First Word Records are proud to bring you ‘on your side’, the new single from papaya noon.
papaya noon are a Cardiff-based duo comprised of vocalist Annie Mirza and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marriott.
Formed five years ago, they make jazz-infused R&B music that incorporates their mutual love of classic soul, hip hop & electronica.
They’ve already amassed an impressive fan-base online, receiving praise along the way from such luminaries in the US as Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, 9th Wonder & Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde).
This is a result of their unique style, captivating grooves & deeply catchy hooks, encompassing a distinctive blend of soul music, from retrospective 90s vibes to alternative futuristic flavours, creating a sonic palette that’s wonderfully contemporary, yet very much their own.
All their music is written, performed & produced single-handedly by the duo themselves, who’ve managed to create a magically powerful potion from their plant-filled Cardiff studio space, and create huge anticipation for their future output in-turn.
The last release (‘blush’) got support from Somewhere Soul, Stereofox, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), BBC Wales, Dan Digs (NPR), Dubmission (WYEP, USA), Gilles Smith (NTS) & Soho Radio, to name a few.
The follow up ‘on your side’ is the second single taken their forthcoming debut EP ‘through the moods’.
A short but sweet soulful uptempo bop, Greg’s lush rhodes, slinky synths & deeply funky bassline accompany Annie’s glorious vocal harmonies, creating another slice of infectious audio magic, set to become another future soul classic.
The duo said that this one is “written from the perspective of a breakup. Someone is over explaining and justifying reasons for leaving, but you don’t need it. You’re on their side..
When we released the teaser of this track back in 2023, it got some support from some of our music idols, but in the same space, we both experienced extreme loss in our personal lives…”
Already being compared to the likes of Moonchild & The Internet, papaya noon were named as one of Clash Magazine’s “must-see” acts at FOCUS Wales in 2025, bringing their music to life on stage with their 5-piece live band, additionally performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, Inglefest, Nowadaze, Swn Festival & Good Vibrations Society, as well as NXNe and BreakOut West in Canada, and supporting the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band & Reel People.
With everything already pointing to the duo swiftly becoming one of the hottest new soul acts in Britain, this is only the beginning of the journey for papaya noon…
‘on your side’ will be released on all digital platforms on Thurs 25th June, with the debut EP set to drop in mid-July.
papaya noon are a Cardiff-based duo comprised of vocalist Annie Mirza and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marriott.
Formed five years ago, they make jazz-infused R&B music that incorporates their mutual love of classic soul, hip hop & electronica.
They’ve already amassed an impressive fan-base online, receiving praise along the way from such luminaries in the US as Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, 9th Wonder & Bootie Brown (The Pharcyde).
This is a result of their unique style, captivating grooves & deeply catchy hooks, encompassing a distinctive blend of soul music, from retrospective 90s vibes to alternative futuristic flavours, creating a sonic palette that’s wonderfully contemporary, yet very much their own.
All their music is written, performed & produced single-handedly by the duo themselves, who’ve managed to create a magically powerful potion from their plant-filled Cardiff studio space, and create huge anticipation for their future output in-turn.
The last release (‘blush’) got support from Somewhere Soul, Stereofox, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), BBC Wales, Dan Digs (NPR), Dubmission (WYEP, USA), Gilles Smith (NTS) & Soho Radio, to name a few.
The follow up ‘on your side’ is the second single taken their forthcoming debut EP ‘through the moods’.
A short but sweet soulful uptempo bop, Greg’s lush rhodes, slinky synths & deeply funky bassline accompany Annie’s glorious vocal harmonies, creating another slice of infectious audio magic, set to become another future soul classic.
The duo said that this one is “written from the perspective of a breakup. Someone is over explaining and justifying reasons for leaving, but you don’t need it. You’re on their side..
When we released the teaser of this track back in 2023, it got some support from some of our music idols, but in the same space, we both experienced extreme loss in our personal lives…”
Already being compared to the likes of Moonchild & The Internet, papaya noon were named as one of Clash Magazine’s “must-see” acts at FOCUS Wales in 2025, bringing their music to life on stage with their 5-piece live band, additionally performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, The Great Escape, Inglefest, Nowadaze, Swn Festival & Good Vibrations Society, as well as NXNe and BreakOut West in Canada, and supporting the likes of Hot 8 Brass Band & Reel People.
With everything already pointing to the duo swiftly becoming one of the hottest new soul acts in Britain, this is only the beginning of the journey for papaya noon…
‘on your side’ will be released on all digital platforms on Thurs 25th June, with the debut EP set to drop in mid-July.
