jez-lysaght
Everything these guys produce is joyous, the added polish from DJ Angola gives it a killer edge!
Favorite track: Doniyan feat. Queen Ayesha (DJ Angola Remix).
Ma malƐ sum tisifum
Ma malƐ sum tisibaa
Maa tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Ma bigisi fum nogim
Ma bode fum yelaa
Din ka maa male wosaa
Main fum mani fum mani fum pugridaa
Ma male sum tisid nidip
Ka baa yodim bentee
Ma male sum tisibaa
Ka ba le sim bentee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma lep din ka fu nyan male
Fu ya be nogim nidip
Ka male din mare
Fuyaa ben nogim taaba
Ka maa din naree
Nogimaa nogimaa nogimaa
Nogim nidip baa
Male p din ka fu na yan malee
Doniyanla ani agohh ni teng 3x
Sag see bƐ ka fu male bentee
Ma malƐ sum tisifum
Ma malƐ sum tisibaa
Maa tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Ma bigisi fum nogim
Ma bode fum yelaa
Din ka maa male wosaa
Main fum mani fum mani fum pugridaa
Ma male sum tisid nidip
Ka baa yodim bentee
Ma male sum tisibaa
Ka ba le sim bentee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma lep din ka fu nyan male
Fu ya be nogim nidip
Ka male din mare
Fuyaa ben nogim taaba
Ka maa din naree
Nogimaa nogimaa nogimaa
Nogim nidip baa
Male p din ka fu na yan malee
Doniyanla ani agohh ni teng 3x
Sag see bƐ ka fu male bentee
Ma malƐ sum tisifum
Ma malƐ sum tisibaa
Maa tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma tisifum siege wosaa
Ma malƐ sum tisifum yee
Ma bigisi fum nogim
Ma bode fum yelaa
Din ka maa male wosaa
Main fum mani fum mani fum pugridaa
Ma male sum tisid nidip
Ka baa yodim bentee
Ma male sum tisibaa
Ka ba le sim bentee
Doniyanla doniyanla doniyanla
Ma lep din ka fu nyan male
Fu ya be nogim nidip
Ka male din mare
Fuyaa ben nogim taaba
Ka maa din naree
Nogimaa nogimaa nogimaa
Nogim nidip baa
Male p din ka fu na yan malee
Doniyanla ani agohh ni teng 3x
Sag see bƐ ka fu male bentee
about
This summer saw the return of the unique collaboration between Ghanain xylophonist Isaac Birituro and British singer-songwriter Sonny Johns and his band of live musicians, AKA The Rail Abandon. Having created something of a buzz back in 2019 with their debut album Kalba - gaining support along the way from Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews and Tom Ravenscroft to name but a few - and after something of a hiatus, the combo released their new LP, entitled Small Small, in July of this year.
The album received global radio, DJ and tastemaker support with single Senye claiming a spot on BBC 6Music’s A-list and receiving plenty of love from Lauren Laverne, Jamz Supernova, Craig Charles and just about everyone on the station!
“Wah Wah 45s bringing us that heat. I love them as a label.” Jamz Supernova
“Perfection.” Annie Mac
The follow up single, entitled Doniyan, is another high energy offering, brimming with positivity, as Sonny explains:
“Doniyan simply means ‘The Universe’ or ‘The World’. No matter who you are in this world you need to be nice, to help one another and live a good life.”
And like Senye, which featured Ghanain vocalist Wiyaala, Doniyan also shines a light on that country’s unsung musical royalty. Queen Ayesha was born in Accra, though her heritage is Kusasi from the Upper East region of Ghana, bordering Togo and Burkina Faso. She is an actress and singer working in Accra and her own music is a cross between traditional styles and dancehall aimed at impacting on people's lives, both young and old.
As well as radio friendly versions of the track, this package also features a highly intense and uplifting club remix from Texas based DJ and producer, DJ Angola. A specialist in turning originals into dance floor gold, Angola has worked his magic over the past couple of decades on The White Stripes, Outkast, Antibalas, Jungle Brothers
and many more. Here, he turns Doniyan into a relentless four-to-the-floor banger that’s already doing plenty of damage by those in the know.
Small Small is a very Ghanaian saying, a direct translation to English, which is used in a wide variety of contexts to mean ‘bit by bit,’ ‘one step at a time’ or ‘slow and steady’.
Sonny was first introduced to the phrase on his first trip to Ghana in 2016, when he met Isaac in Kalba, and the phrase popped up over and over ever since.
“The album is about loss, frustration and struggle, but it’s also about the light at the end of the tunnel; about overcoming difficulties to find a brighter future and no matter what separates us, whether that be language, culture, continents or boarders, when we listen to each other and learn from each other, there’s really not much that separates us. So from everyone involved, here’s to a brighter future.” Sonny Johns
credits
released October 7, 2022
Written by Isaac Birituro & The Rail Abandon, Queen Ayesha (and Jason Asnes on Track 1)
Remix and additional production by DJ Angola (Track 1)
Produced by Sonny Johns
Executive Production by Tim Becker
Engineered by Sonny Johns
Additional Engineering from Jörg Seemann, Chris Klang, Samuel Osei, Beda Ehrensperger and Emmanuel Kusani Derry
Recorded at Noiseless Studio, Rhede Germany; Klangkantine, Frankfurt Germany; Fish Factory, London UK and Beda’s Studio, Accra Ghana, Kalba Church, Ghana
Mixed by Sonny Johns at The Nave, Leeds UK
Mastered by Antony Ryan at RedRedPaw Mastering, Denmark
Isaac Birituro – Xylophone, Vocals
Sonny Johns – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Yuval Wetzler – Drums, Electronic Drums, Percussion
Raphael Clarkson – Trombone, Prepared Piano, Electric Piano, Keyboards
Elliot Galvin – Synthesisers
Laura Jurd – Trumpet
Mark Lockheart – Tenor Sax
Kasim Kada – Kpanlogo
Dela Bofri – Flute
Aminu Amadou – Dundo
Zosia Jagodzinska - Cello
Hellen Dompkier – Vocals, Choir Lead
Queen Ayesha – Vocals
Beda Ehrensperger – Backing Vocals
The Birifor Choir: Helen Domkpier, Angelina Ankaarma, Elizabeth Naamwinekumah,
Emmanuella Domo, Emmanuel Dery Kuusani, Isaac Birituro
A Pan-Latin folktronica odyssey that develops Bolivian music and culture into a roadmap for metaphysical growth and inner serenity. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 12, 2022