Tag: single

Seun Kuti feat. Kamasi Washington

Seun Kuti shares “Move (Keep Moving Version)” feat. Kamasi Washington taken from “Heavier Yet Deluxe Edition” out May 28 via Record Kicks and featuring De La Soul’s Pos, Adi Oasis and announces the European tour.
 
Today, April 23, Afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti joins forces with jazz icon Kamasi Washington to share “Move (Keep Moving Version)” via Record Kicks. Listen here. The track is a reimagination off his critically acclaimed, Lenny Kravitz-produced, album “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)”. This new version is part of the album’s deluxe edition to be released next month on May 28, with additional features from De La Soul’s Pos, Adi Oasis and more. Coming off two knockout performances at this year’s Coachella, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 have just announced the “Heavier Yet Deluxe Tour”, a new set of spring/summer European shows including the UK, Portugal, Romania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Poland, North Macedonia and Germany. All dates and tickets here.


The Kuti and Washington collaboration is a powerful melding of Afrobeat and spiritual jazz—a meeting of minds and movements where both artists, known for their social commentary, come together with purpose. Washington’s sax amplifies Kuti’s lyrical urgency, creating a transcendent rhythmic call to action that overwhelms the senses with revolutionary positivity from every angle.
 
Saxophone giant Kamasi Washington is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader born and raised in Los Angeles. His four bodies of work to date— “The Epic”; “Harmony of Difference”; “Heaven and Earth”, and “Fearless Movement” —are among the most acclaimed of this century. In 2020, Washington scored the Michelle Obama documentary “Becoming”, earning Emmy and Grammy nominations for his work. Also in 2020, Washington co-founded the supergroup Dinner Party with longtime friends and collaborators Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder—their EP “Dinner Party (Dessert)” was subsequently nominated for a Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album. In 2021, he contributed a cover of Metallica’s “My Friend of Misery” to the band’s “Metallica Blacklist” covers project. Washington has toured the world, collaborated and shared stages with Kendrick Lamar, Florence + the Machine, Herbie Hancock, and many more.
 
Seun Kuti is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father’s political and musical legacy as the leader of Fela’s former band Egypt 80. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. In 1997 when Fela passed, in fulfilment of his father’s wishes, Seun assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80 and he has run it ever since. During his career, Seun Kuti released 5 albums with Egypt 80 and collaborated with many great artists such as MC extraordinaire Black Thought, Janelle Monae, Talib Kweli, MadLib and Damian Marley. His latest album is Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head), praised by critics as “his greatest and most powerful yet.”

Calibro 35 unleash New Single & Video “Discomania”

Cinematic combo Calibro 35 unleashes afro-disco stormer “Discomania”, the second single from the new album “Exploration” due June 6. The single’s release is accompanied by a video filmed in legendary Piero Umiliani’s studio.

Italian cinematic funk legends Calibro 35 pay homage to “Il Maestro” Piero Umiliani with an incendiary Afrobeat version of his 1978 cosmic-disco single “Discomania”, out today, April 2,on all digital platforms. “Discomania” is the second extract from their new album “Exploration”, to be released worldwide on June 6 via independent label Record Kicks and now available for pre-order HERE.

A true icon of the world of soundtracks, Piero Umiliani has enchanted several generations of listeners. Worldwide famous for his “Mah-Nà Mah-Nà” single made popular by The Muppets, Umiliani wrote more than 150 soundtracks and, alongside Ennio Morricone, helped create the now iconic golden age of Italian film soundtracks of the 1960s and ’70s. “Discomania” has a legendary status amongst Italians for being the closing theme song of iconic TV football program “90° Minuto” in the 1980s.

“There are tracks that we stumble upon almost by chance but that remain unforgettable and become a part of who we are” says Calibro 35. “Discomania – which was the theme song of 90° Minuto when we were kids – is definitely one of those tracks”.

“Discomania” comes with a video of Calibro 35 recording the track at Sound Workshop, Piero Umiliani’s historic recording studio in Rome. The video also reveals the spirit behind the creation of the new album, which could be summarized in three key points: thirst for exploration, fun and Calibro’s musicianship.

“We have always loved Umiliani and since a few years we’ve become almost like a family with his daughters Alessandra and Elisabetta, who recently rebuilt the Sound Workshop in Rome, which was their father’s studio, where many of the soundtracks we love were born. With Discomania, Umiliani, behind an apparent simplicity, gave us such a memorable theme. You can take it, decline it in other ways but the song follows you and always remains incisive and powerful. While we were working on our ‘Calibro version’, we decided to distance ourselves from the original, taking it into an Afrobeat territory”.

Seun Kuti feat. Pos of De La Soul

Seun Kuti shares “Stand Well Well (Grand Stand Version)” feat. Pos of De La Soul, taken from the forthcoming “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) Deluxe Edition”, out May 28 via Record Kicks featuring Kamasi Washington, Alborosie, and Adi Oasis.

Afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti teams up with the legendary Pos of hip-hop icons De La Soul to share “Stand Well Well (Grand Stand Version),” released via Record Kicks. The track is taken from his critically acclaimed, Lenny Kravitz-produced, album “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)”.Here, the song is reimagined with the distinctive lyrical prowess of Pos, who adds a fresh and vibrant dimension to one of the most captivating tunes from the album. This new version of “Stand Well Well” is part of the deluxe edition of “Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head)”, set for release on May 28 featuring additional reworks by Kamasi Washington, Alborosie, and Adi Oasis.

“Seun is a powerful soul and it’s inspirational being around him whenever I have been,” Pos says about getting to collaborate on the track. He continues, “The song for me means to stand well rooted in agreeableness. Standing well rooted against the whirlwind of misery dressed up as entertainment online, as well as its powerful elixir of self doubting. Standing focused to not fall for the trap of redundancy that being on social media can present.”

Kelvin “Pos” Mercer is one third of hip hop legendary group De La Soul.  Hailing from Long Island, New York, they are pioneers of the conscious hip-hop movement and known for their innovative blend of jazz, funk, and soul, along with their intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics. After delivering their seminal debut “3 Feet High and Rising” in 1989 with the production genius of Prince Paul, the New York City-bred trio went on to further impact Hip Hop culture with eight more groundbreaking albums.  As influential figures in hip-hop, De La Soul have consistently pushed creative boundaries, earning a Grammy Award and critical acclaim for their unique style and socially conscious messaging. Pos’ contribution to “Stand Well Well” brings a fresh perspective and undeniable hip-hop energy, making this collaboration a true meeting of musical minds.