Janka Nabay

Luaka Bop label brings us a colourful new effort from Janka Nabay, recorded in USA but filled with African sounds and moods.

Janka Nabay, who fled from Sierra Leonean civil war to America years ago and stopped making music for a while, came back to the mic partly thanks to David Byrne’s acclaimed label Luaka Bop.

Although his new album was recorded in the US, “Build Music” is a very African album since Janka used actual sounds he’d received from the continent, and then added African-infused arrangements. Once again rewriting the bubu tradition of his mother country, he brings music that is hard to define, but easy to enjoy.

“Santa Monica” is the latest single off the album, and it’s also a great example of the whole record’s kaleidoscopic ambience, soft grooves and – simply – joy!

Stream “Build Music” LP on Bandcamp.

Photo: Sidney Schlieff & Oliver Citrin

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