Lance Ferguson

Lance Ferguson, the New Zealand-born, Melbourne-based producer, songwriter, guitarist, DJ and recording artist, returns to Tru Thoughts.

“2025 marks two decades since I first signed with Tru Thoughts Records. I was DJing at The Brighton Jazz Rooms in 2000 and got to meet the wonderful Rob Luis, and being a big TT fan, I handed him a CDR with some new recordings from The Bamboos and my Lanu solo project. Rob was into the music, and later he got back to me and we ended up signing both acts to the label” – Lance Ferguson

Lance’s previous releases on Tru Thoughts include work with The Bamboos, Menagerie, Kylie Auldist and Lanu. He has carved out a reputation as one of Australia’s most versatile and visionary musical minds. Across his Rare Groove Spectrum series, released via Freestyle, he delves into a deep crate of Soul, Jazz, Latin and Funk obscurities, re-recording them with a live band to breathe new life into under-appreciated classics. Previous Rare Groove Spectrum volumes have received strong support from tastemakers like Gilles Peterson, Jazz FM, Bandcamp and Craig Charles. Lance has produced 45 full-length albums and more than 100 singles and remixes for an array of respected labels, including Atlantic, Universal, Warner, BMG, Sony, Tru Thoughts (UK), Ubiquity (USA), Inertia (Australia), Freestyle (UK) and his own imprint Pacific Theatre. His work has earned him Seven ARIA Award nominations and five APRA Music Award nominations, cementing his influence.

His songwriting and production work achieved global chart domination in 2016 with the hit ‘This Girl’ by Kungs vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners, co-written and originally produced by Lance. The track reached Top 5 in 29 countries, hit #1 in 10 territories, and achieved Diamond, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications across the US, UK, France, Germany and beyond. It currently boasts over 1.27 Billion  Spotify streams and 545 million YouTube views.

A trusted collaborator and producer, Lance has worked with a wide-ranging roster of artists, including Aloe Blacc, Roy Ayers, Alice Russell, Durand Jones, Tim Rogers, Daniel Merriweather, Quantic, Lyrics Born, Joey Dosik, Kylie Auldist, TY, and J-Live. His boundary-blurring approach has seen him championed as: “Australia’s answer to Mark Ronson” – Blues & Soul Magazine (UK)

His music has appeared in over 200 compilations and across an impressive number of international media placements, including CSI NYC, Grey’s Anatomy, Homeland, The Blacklist, House of Cards, Suits, NFL Sunday Morning, Ugly Betty, and Neighbours, as well as major advertising campaigns for Old El Paso, Font Vella, BMW, Westpac, Air New Zealand, Miss Dior, Chase Manhattan, and films like Jurassic Park: Rebirth, Crazy Stupid Love, Good Hair and Adoration.As a guitarist, Lance has shared stages and studios with Ed Sheeran, Aloe Blacc, Syl Johnson, Joe Bataan, Eddie Bo, Betty Harris, and more, bringing his signature tone and touch to collaborations with soul legends and modern innovators alike. His DJ sets and live shows have taken him around the world, including performances at The Barbican (London), The Jazz Café, Low End Theory (LA), The Brighton Jazz Rooms, New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, and throughout Australia and New Zealand.