Photo credit: Jo Bongard
Today Sinkane unveils his new video 'Telephone', the second single from his upcoming album 'Life & Livin' It', due Feb 10th via City Slang. Sinkane has also announced more UK tour dates, in addition to the London show on March 29th.
Directed by Bráulio Amado & Bruno Ferreira, and filmed in a single-shot in an apartment in Lisbon, Portugal, the video stars Kelly Nakamura, a classically-trained ballerina and dance instructor, and Sinkane aka Ahmed Gallab. "Dancing, repetition and fun are foundational elements of Sinkane,” Gallab tells FADER, adding, “Bráulio understands this. I was inspired by the fun Instagram videos my friend Cherie posts of her and her friend Lizzy losing themselves and dancing to 90’s club hits in their room. I recorded myself dancing to this song on my phone and sent it to Bráulio. I do this kind of thing a lot. Especially after getting out of the shower. You all should try it. It'll change your life."
Sinkane music — every note of it — comes straight out of a generosity of spirit. Never has that spirit been on more vivid display than on the uplifting new album, ‘Life & Livin’ It.’ This is feel-good music for trying times, celebrating what makes life good without ignoring what makes it hard.
Recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, Texas, and once again produced by Ahmed Gallab with lyrics and help from longtime collaborator Greg Lofaro, ‘Life & Livin’ It’ draws from the best elements of Sinkane’s previous records: the slinky funk and soul grooves are there, so are the sparkling melodies with roots in sub-Saharan Africa. With basic tracking played together live, the fun and immediacy of Sinkane’s live show is a central feeling of the recordings. The four members of Sinkane - Ish Montgomery (bass), Jason Trammell (drums), Jonny Lam (guitar), and now joined by Amanda Khiri (vocals) and Elenna Canlas (keys and vocals) - sang and play additional parts on every song, with Trammell contributing lyrics to “Theme from Life & Livin’ It,” and Lam helping with arrangements. Daptone recording artists Antibalas contributed horns.
‘Life & Livin’ It’ is the follow-up to Sinkane’s acclaimed 2015 album ‘Mean Love,’ for which the band played 166 shows in 20 countries, and Gallab’s time leading The Atomic Bomb Band — the highly celebrated 15-piece outfit that played the music of elusive Nigerian electro-funk maestro William Onyeabor. The band included David Byrne, Damon Albarn, members of Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Jamie Lidell and legendary jazz musicians Pharoah Sanders and Charles Lloyd, and they played all over the planet, including making their TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. “Those 14 months really changed my life,” Ahmed says. “Not only did I learn how to put on a bigger show, but all that touring brought Sinkane closer as a band."
As Ahmed got into the depths of writing for ‘Life & Livin’ It,’ he had a clear goal: to conjure the ups and downs of a universal experience, and have fun while doing it. Ahmed’s primary intention was to make music that is joyous, but also socially conscious when you scratch beneath the surface. “I would listen to my favorite records, like Funkadelic’s ‘America Eats Its Young,’ and realize how great they made me feel. That carefree, light and fun feeling I was getting while writing this record is what I want everyone to feel when they listen to it."
True to its name, ‘Life & Livin’ It’ is an album about all kinds of experiences. When Ahmed Gallab sings, he sounds unafraid yet vulnerable. But while he once sang of feeling like he was on the planet Mars, Ahmed is now firmly grounded on Earth. He’s no longer searching for his home — he has created a home for himself. There’s a party there, and ‘Life & Livin’ It’ is playing on the stereo. You are invited.
‘Life & Livin’ It’ is now available for pre-order at http://sinkane.lnk.to/lifeandlivinit.
'Life & Livin' It' tracklist:
1. Deadweight
2. U'Huh (Youtube)
3. Favorite Song
4. Fire
5. Telephone
6. Passenger
7. Theme From Life & Livin' It
8. Won't Follow
9. The Way
'Live & Livin' It' artwork:
Sinkane 2017 World Tour:
February
15 - Portland, ME @ Space Gallery
16 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott (Tickets)
17 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)
18 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat (Tickets)
19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s (Tickets)
21 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe (Tickets)
22 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement (Tickets)
23 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall (Tickets)
24 - Dearborn, MI @ Arab American National Museum (Tickets)
28 - Seattle, WA @ The Tractor (Tickets)
March
01 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios (Tickets)
03 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (Tickets)
04 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater (Tickets)
05 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar (Tickets)
10-13 - Adelaide, AU @ Botanic Park for WOMADelaide (Tickets)
17-19 - New Plymouth, NZ @ WOMAD NZ (Tickets)
23 - Birmingham, UK @ The Hare And Hounds (Tickets)
24 - Leeds, UK @ Headrow House (Tickets)
27 - Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen (Tickets)
29 - London, UK @ The Dome (Tickets)
30 - Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere (Tickets)
April
01 - Amsterdam, NL @ Sugar Factory (Tickets)
02 - Berlin, DE @ Volksbuhne Theatre (Tickets)
03 - Cologne, DE @ Gebaude 9 (Tickets)
04 - Heidelberg, DE @ Karlstorbahnhof (Tickets)
05 - Munich, DE @ Kammer 2, Kammerspiele
06 - Zurich, CH @ Bogen (Tickets)
07 - Milan, IT @ Biko Club (Tickets)
08 - Roma, IT @ Auditorium Parco della Musica (Tickets)
Sinkane on the Web:
https://sinkane.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SinkaneRa/
https://twitter.com/sinkane
For more information please contact: frankie@stereosanctity.co.uk / t. +44 7921 176502
Watch 'Telephone' below: