Wah Wah 45s are proud to present the new single from Afrobeat supergroup Eparapo. Having come together during the unprecedented events of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, and despite being a project born from the privations of lockdown, their music is ultimately an expression of hope, resilience & resurgence.
The word “eparapo” means “join forces” in Yoruba, the language of Afrobeat. It’s also the title of a track by the late, great Tony Allen – drummer for Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and lifelong friend and mentor of our very own “Afrobeat Ambassador”, Dele Sosimi. Not only did Tony help to invent Afrobeat, he always looked for ways to push the boundaries, never content with recreating what had gone before but constantly expanding and developing the genre. This project hopes to pay homage to his legacy, and that of Fela Kuti himself. Its aim is to innovate, fuse and diversify while still retaining the essence of the music.
The force behind Eparapo is bassist, composer & producer Suman Joshi. He has been a member of Dele Sosimi’s Afrobeat Orchestra for nearly a decade and has performed on stage with the likes of Tony Allen, Seun Kuti, Ginger Baker & Laura Mvula. He is also bassist with UK jazz ensemble Collocutor and fusion project Cubafrobeat.
“The Eparapo project was conceived during a time of lockdowns & government scandals. The music that makes up this album was written and recorded against a backdrop of societal upheaval, culture wars and rising wealth inequality. With little scrutiny or resistance from the mainstream media, our human and democratic rights were being eroded and our institutions debased. Even our right to protest is now under threat. This is a call to action, an expression of frustration & anger at what our nation has become. It’s saying that enough is enough, it’s time to join forces and make our voices heard. It’s time to take to the streets.” Suman Joshi
My Beautiful City is the latest single to be taken from the forthcoming album, Take To The Streets, released this August. Written by Suman and featuring Ghanaian born master percussionist and vocalist Afla Sackey, it’s a lament to the rising cost of living that caused Suman to leave London just a few years ago. On a global level, though, it refers to the general squeeze put on individuals and communities due to capitalist greed.
The style of the song is a unique mix of Afrobeat and Highlife, with touches of K Frimpong in particular, that makes it simultaneously mournful yet somehow uplifting.
“They killed my beautiful city with their greed
And now I have to leave, I have to leave, I have to leave
And they stripped my beautiful city of its soul
And now I have to go, I have to go, I have to go
Where there once were thriving communities
There’s now just profit and speculation
Where it once was all creativity
There’s now just finance and money making
Where there once were wide opportunities
There’s now just hardship and tribulation
Where we once took care of human needs
There’s cost of living and isolation”
The rest of the group comprises of highly rated vocalists Sahra Gure & Lizzie Dosunmu; saxophonist, composer, producer and bandleader of the renowned forward thinking jazz outfit Collocutor, Tamar Osborn; keyboard player, producer and front man for Lokkhi Terra and Cubafrobeat, Kishon Khan; one of the UK’s finest and most in demand trumpeters, Graeme Flowers, who has played with Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter and many more; trombonist for Bellowhead and mainstay of Dele’s Afrobeat Orchestra, Justin Thurgur; and finally drummer for Steamdown and Sons of Kemet, as well as the man behind the Nache project, Eddie Wakili Hick.
Reactions & Radio Play
Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM), Sarah Ward (Jazz FM), DJ Ritu (Resonance FM), Debbie Golt (Resonance FM, Threads Radio), Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“My Meat of the Week!” Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music, UK)
“This is fabulous! Great Stuff.” Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM, UK)
“There’s a mournful sound underlying this wonderful single.” Sarah Ward (Jazz FM)
“One word….beautiful! I’m getting behind this piece of glorious music.” Ashley Beedle (North Street West, UK)
“Beauty.” Thristian (Global Roots, Rinse FM / Worldwide FM, UK)
“This downtempo afro groove is essential for us. We want to understand the message more deeply.” Dazzle Drums (Block Party, Japan)
“Loving it!” Eyal Baroz (Various, Berlin, Germany)
“A beauty of a record.” Dave Koor (Albert’s Favourites, UK)
“Great track!” DJ Angola (Space Ibiza NYC, USA)
“Perfect! I love this – and genius to bring in Afla Sackey to sing with his laid back yet bang on style and great person too.” Debbie Golt (Resonance FM, UK)
“Beautiful music!! Really a great release!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z, Germany)
“A cool and bitter sweet afrobeat with a message about greed which has to be shouted loud.” John Warr (Afrobase, Totally Radio, UK)
“Wicked tune!” Kid Hops (KEXP, Seattle, USA)
“I love this easy but very moving groove and the message that hit´s the zeitgeist on the head. Bravo!!” Tom Strauch (Switchstance Recordings, Germany)
“Exceptionally good release from a very interesting group. The message is SO relevant to many cities and cultures worldwide, including here in Los Angeles. Solid and authoritive groove.” Derek Rath (KPFK Radio, LA, USA)
“There’s a good groove here!!” Cesare Cera (Bologna Uno, Italy)
“V nice x” DJ BobaFatt (First Word / Soho Radio, UK)
“What a beauty!! On air a must!” Olgierd (Sofa Surfing, Poland)
“Powerful song, beautifully constructed.” DJ Osric (RTR FM, Australia)
“Fela lives! The struggle continues! Full radio support.” Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“Loving this afro business.” Jon Brent (Dusk Dubs, UK)
“Lovely :)” Eliana Ben David (Various, Berlin, Germany)
“Great tune!” Raul Campos (KCRW, USA)
“Love It!” Rino Spadavecchia (HearDis, Germany)
“Very smooth afrobeat.” Dan Wesker (Detektor FM, UK)
“Gorgeous!” DJ Mr Lob (Various, Australia)
“Nice tune!” Karsten John (Vinyl Vibes, Germany)
“Nice one!” Junior (Record Breakin’, USA)
“Choon!!!” Mark Bailey (Radio Corax, Germany)
“A real gem of a track. However apt and sad the message is. The sentiment is beautifully delivered. Sonic soundbed of soul.” DJ Expression (What’s Hot Radio, UK)
“Respect!” Ivan Mera (Higher Club, Spain)
“Very funky.” Sista Selecta (2Bob Radio, Australia)
“Deep and smooth, really like it.” Amar Kabouche (Fauve Radio, Hong Kong)
“Pretty laid back afro beat – right soundtrack for this kind of temperatures.” Oliver Korthals (Mojo Club, Germany)
“Vibe for the summer.” Paul Knight (Reform Radio, UK)
“Feels to me that there has been no anti-gentrification soundtrack like this before…” Rene Josquin (Format Analog, Germany)
“What a beautiful slice of afro reggae soul, can’t wait to share this one with listeners!!” Alan O’Malley (RTE Pulse Dublin, Ireland)
“Straight in there… bang. love it. great groove!!!” Marky Mark Johnson (1BTN, UK)
“I love it.” Rado Tomek (NU Spirit Club, Slovakia)
“A deep groove and a righteous message. I love everything about this.” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“Strong (and sad) messaging.” Susan Schwartz (Platinum Rye Entertainment, USA)
“Excellent.” Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krim, France)
“Nice one.” Tjerk (Armada Music, Netherlands)
“GREAT AFROBEAT.” Jim McMaster (TNGC Radio, UK)
“Love it. Will put on rotation.” Chris Maragakis (Subtone Records, USA)
“Great – will play.” DJ Lamp (Coalition, UK)
“Nice, chill groove, My Beautiful City, is delightful we’ll be adding it to our playlist.” DJ Phil D (The BocX, USA)
“Bumping!” Cal Gibson (Secret Soul Society, UK)
“Nice one.” Robert Lochmann (Radio X, Germany)
“Love this.” Bob Hill (Illicit Grooves, UK)
“Brilliant.” Olivier Cavallier (Del La Bonne Musique, France)
“So, so beautiful.” Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe, UK)
“Afrobeat spirit!!!!” Jean Marc Baehler (Radio Couleur 3, Switzerland)
“Respectively Afrobeat with positivity.” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
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