Watch the music video for the first single of this collaboration recorded in Kalba, Ghana. To be released on Februabry 22nd on Wah Wah 45s.
Isaac Birituro hails from the world-renowned lineage of xylophone virtuoso Kakraba Lobi. Leeds-based producer Sonny Johns aka The Rail Abandon has worked with artists such as Ali Farka Touré, Oumou Sangaré, Tony Allen, Cheihk Lô and Fatoumata Diawara. Their collaboration was a thing of serendipity, that led Sonny to build a mobile recording studio in Kalba.
“Yesu Yan Yan” is the lead single taken from this project, and was actually the very first song Isaac played to his new musical partner. A perfect marriage of brass, reed and wind instruments, backed by abundant percussion, a resonant bass-line and The Kalba Birifore Choir. The title, that translates to “welcome”, is also the opening track of the forthcoming album.
Kalba was recorded over three days in a church – the only place that had reliable electricity. A part of the proceeds from this album will be used to help the Rüt’n’Rock Association build a school in Kalba, North Ghana and continue to fund music projects that will impact positively on people’s lives.
Yesu Yan Yan will be out on February 22nd on Wah Wah 45s. Pre-order it here.
Kalba will be out in May 2019.
Listen to Wah Wah 45s’ playlist on Spotify.
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