Description
DJ Lubi Presents
Onipa
Saturday 18th November 2023
Brudenell Social Club
Door Time 19:30
Age Restriction Under 14s must be accompanied
Leeds world music/global beats promoter Lubi Jovanovic (DJ Lubi) once again presents explosive afro-futurist collective ONIPA, fronted by irresistible singer/percussionist K.O.G, at Brudenell Social Club on Saturday 18th November 2023 as the band tour their new album "Off The Grid''. It's their first Leeds show since January 2022 and they will be performing their high-octane live show featuring material from the new album.
"Off the Grid" is a journey that joins the original story of dance rhythms from Africa to electronic dance music of today's clubs and festivals, connecting African folklore and storytelling to rap, jazz and hip hop.
From Accra Market cassette tapes to London pirate radio stations, Malian blues to UK jazz, the twin creative forces behind ONIPA — Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist) and Kweku Sackey (K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade) together with Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist) on drums and Dwayne Kilvington (a.k.a. Wonky Logic) on synths - have built a life-affirming and highly original world of sound.
"Off The Grid' is ONIPA’s second full-length album, their first release on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, and features an impressive cast of collaborators including Moonchild Sanelly, David Walters, Dele Sosimi and Theon Cross.
“A red hot cocktail of afro-futurist grooves which take us from Accra to Johannesburg, passing by Kinshasa and other planets" - Le Monde (France's biggest daily newspaper)
“An effervescent, life-affirming Pan-African tour” - Mojo Magazine
"Riotous beats and irresistible delirium" - The Guardian
Check the stunning video for the first single "No Commando" from the album. Shot around Accra in Ghana - where Onipa co-founder K.O.G's heritage lies - and featuring the vocals of David Walters, it’s the first taste of the new release. As K.O.G says :
“The album represents a search for freedom from corruption, from mental and financial burdens and from technology that disempowers and divides. The sacred power of music allows us all a chance to transcend our worries and our egos. A deep respect for those that came before us, a duty of care towards the imprint we leave the next generation and a love of the earth that we live on. This album seeks to trace sound origins and traditions of Africa and highlight their importance in the global soundscapes of the present and future”.
Speaking on ‘No Commando’ and recalling the lyrics he explains:
"'No Commando' is about peace. A call for 'oneness' and a look at where 'sources originate'. Seeing how the power of community can dispel fear and help us to express ourselves with 'calm' and 'ease'. The track was recorded with recycled metals, pots and pans for drums, a wooden spoon and a guitar. A musical interpretation of the concept that one person's rubbish is another's treasure. Working with David is always a joy. His poetic lyricism resonated with the concepts we explore on ‘Off the Grid'".
Explaining the story of the album’s front cover, K.O.G. adds:
‘The small boy in the photo is from a tribe living by the sea, as off the grid as you can be although not by choice. The rising sea level has devastated his community. All their homes have been taken by the sea. That photo is a shot from the front line of climate change".
Main support act still to be confirmed but DJ Lubi is happy to announce that one of Leeds' top African music DJs Ras Myles (Afroshake) will be on the decks with his Pan-African sounds past, present and future. He's been the warm up DJ for all the DJ Lubi African music Brudenell shows in the last 2 years including Santrofi, KOG, KOG & The Zongo Brigade, Jembaa Groove and ONIPA. Great to have him back once again.
"Off the Grid" is a journey that joins the original story of dance rhythms from Africa to electronic dance music of today's clubs and festivals, connecting African folklore and storytelling to rap, jazz and hip hop.
From Accra Market cassette tapes to London pirate radio stations, Malian blues to UK jazz, the twin creative forces behind ONIPA — Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist) and Kweku Sackey (K.O.G & The Zongo Brigade) together with Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist) on drums and Dwayne Kilvington (a.k.a. Wonky Logic) on synths - have built a life-affirming and highly original world of sound.
"Off The Grid' is ONIPA’s second full-length album, their first release on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, and features an impressive cast of collaborators including Moonchild Sanelly, David Walters, Dele Sosimi and Theon Cross.
“A red hot cocktail of afro-futurist grooves which take us from Accra to Johannesburg, passing by Kinshasa and other planets" - Le Monde (France's biggest daily newspaper)
“An effervescent, life-affirming Pan-African tour” - Mojo Magazine
"Riotous beats and irresistible delirium" - The Guardian
Check the stunning video for the first single "No Commando" from the album. Shot around Accra in Ghana - where Onipa co-founder K.O.G's heritage lies - and featuring the vocals of David Walters, it’s the first taste of the new release. As K.O.G says :
“The album represents a search for freedom from corruption, from mental and financial burdens and from technology that disempowers and divides. The sacred power of music allows us all a chance to transcend our worries and our egos. A deep respect for those that came before us, a duty of care towards the imprint we leave the next generation and a love of the earth that we live on. This album seeks to trace sound origins and traditions of Africa and highlight their importance in the global soundscapes of the present and future”.
Speaking on ‘No Commando’ and recalling the lyrics he explains:
"'No Commando' is about peace. A call for 'oneness' and a look at where 'sources originate'. Seeing how the power of community can dispel fear and help us to express ourselves with 'calm' and 'ease'. The track was recorded with recycled metals, pots and pans for drums, a wooden spoon and a guitar. A musical interpretation of the concept that one person's rubbish is another's treasure. Working with David is always a joy. His poetic lyricism resonated with the concepts we explore on ‘Off the Grid'".
Explaining the story of the album’s front cover, K.O.G. adds:
‘The small boy in the photo is from a tribe living by the sea, as off the grid as you can be although not by choice. The rising sea level has devastated his community. All their homes have been taken by the sea. That photo is a shot from the front line of climate change".
Main support act still to be confirmed but DJ Lubi is happy to announce that one of Leeds' top African music DJs Ras Myles (Afroshake) will be on the decks with his Pan-African sounds past, present and future. He's been the warm up DJ for all the DJ Lubi African music Brudenell shows in the last 2 years including Santrofi, KOG, KOG & The Zongo Brigade, Jembaa Groove and ONIPA. Great to have him back once again.
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