Join West African/electronic pioneer Fehdah live on stage with support from Simo Lagnawi's irrepressible Gnawa London, plus DJ sets from Marshmello (NTS) and Vandorta.
Fehdah
Spiritual daughter of Erykah Badu and Oumou Sangare, electronic cousin of Peggy Gou, Fehdah is a future-afro soul vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist, on the frontline of an emerging Irish hiphop and electronic music scene. An eclectic songwriter who draws on her love of Wassoulou music in forging an entirely new take on electronic soul.
Following the success of her debut EP, Like No Other, premiered by Aaron Byrd on LA radio station, KCRW; Fehdah has shared the stage with Grammy nominated artists such as Nai Palm at KOKO in London, Thundercat at Vicar Street in Dublin, Hiatus Kaiyote, Taylor McFerrin, Kamaal Williams with IAMDDB, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Tank and the Bangas.
She has since delved deeper in the direction of the title track of this EP, producing a pioneering sound that she describes as “Sahelian-Electrosoul”.
Fehdah is making waves as a producer since the release of her debut remix of 'This Heart' by Loah, last year. Her single, Saharakungoh is a vocally rich, heavily syncopated and lyrically vulnerable love song.
A new and cohesive moulding of contemporary electronic and traditional instrumentation which is aligned with today’s paradigm of the 21st century Afrofuturist. It was premiered on Worldwide FM, included on the New Music Friday UK Spotify playlist and got lots of love on BBC radio 1.
Buffer Fly is Fehdah’s most recent single. This track was playlisted on All New All Now and New Music Friday UK as well as getting spins on BBC Radio 1 and Worldwide FM. The song was written as both a lullaby and a war cry for Fehdah’s young nieces.
The sweet but powerful intro is juxtaposed with the dark and gritty verses where she references Slavic mythical demon Drekevac and ancient Babylonian Assaku spirits as metaphors for the anger and fear that some women face. The jubilant chorus celebrates vulnerability and fierceness in equal measure.
Layered throughout in delicate but rich vocal harmony from Fehdah, 90s R’n’B female girl groups are briefly invoked but this is where the similarities end. Her use of Sierra Leonean Krio to create a highly syncopated, percussive verse that wouldn’t be out of place on the Black Panther soundtrack, takes the track to a different dimension. This is surely the music of an Afrofuturist.
“Fehdah is crafting her own genre” - Gal Dem
“‘Butter Fly’ finds Fehdah on propulsive form, channelling touches of instrumental grime with the likes of Lafawndah and Little Dragon. The vocal pairing plays to each sister’s strengths, Loah’s enveloping range weaving around Fehdah’s own urgent verses”. – The Quietus
“Afrofuturist electrosoul worthy of many respins” – The Irish Times
Gnawa London
Gnawa master Simo Lagnawi is an ambassador of Moroccan culture in London.
With 8 albums under his belt including 4 solo records, 3 albums with fusion project Electric Jalaba and a further disc with his Gnawa Blues all stars, Simo has released through Strut and Waulk Records, his first solo album 'Gnawa London ' featuring in Songlines magazine as one of their 'Top of the World' albums. He has also been nominated as Best Newcomer and Best Artist in their annual awards.
Simo has performed on media outlets such as BBC World service, CNN World, BBC 3, BBC 6 and Vox Africa, and performed at a host of festivals including Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Latitude and Boom Town.
The Moroccan musician was raised in the Gnawa tradition and always remains true to his musical heritage. Each performance is a wholehearted expression of devotion from the UK's leading Guembri player - a North-African bass instrument constructed from wood and cowhide, with gut strings.
Whether through crossover groups such as Electric Jalaba and the Gnawa Blues All-Stars, or through hosting traditional ceremonial evenings - known as Lilas - the intention is always to bring the same healing energy through to the fore in each new creation, and spread the Gnawa tradition through the UK in the process.
On the night expect Simo in full flow with his tribe of Gnawis for a full-power performance.
MARSHMELLO
For the last 10 years she's been one of the founding and most regular hosts on NTS Radio; her diverse musical family. She's gained a dedicated following for her show, Midnight Marauders, by playing new music that makes her heart sing.
She has a deep understanding of the evolution of black British music over the last two decades, and she's been on the cusp of club culture from the Rare Groove movement of the early 90s to Jungle evolving into Drum and Bass, Garage to Broken Beat, leading to today’s Neo Soul and the New Jazz wave. She's often identified unique and genre-defining talent, bringing artists such as The Weeknd, Koreless, INC No World, FKA Twigs, Hiatus Kaiyote, Jessie Ware and Andrew Ashong into the hut, many of which have gone on to win major accolades.
Much of her career has seen her nurture talent as a music consultant. She has more than 15 years experience working with artists at all levels, from mentoring marginalized youth and developing their own voice to sourcing music for commercial names. As a creative developer she began by working with a wide range of young people, devising and delivering visual and performing arts-based projects - from radio plays to musical theater productions and informal education programmes. In her time with NTS she's also trained many of the young producers.
Working on projects like these has given her the ability to both collaborate and showcase her skills, as well as support new artists in their personal development. Throughout her career she has cultivated an unrivaled, valuable global network consisting of labels, production companies and major label artists as well as independent, homegrown artists.
VANDORTA
Vandorta is a London based selector, radio host and employee at Soho’s famed record institution, Sounds of the Universe.
An avid crate digger with a particular ear for all things funky, Vandorta has brought her eclectic musical tastes to esteemed London venues such as the Jazz Café and the Colour Factory; and has played festival sets at Gilles’s Peterson’s We Out Here and the inaugural Basket of Light Festival in Wales. Since 2019, she has hosted a regular radio show on Balamii Radio and has made guest appearances on NTS, Soho Radio and Vinyl Factory Live.
TIMINGS
Downstairs
2200 -2230 DJ
2230 - 2330 Gnawa London
2330 - 0000 DJ
0000 - 0100 Fehdah
0100 - 0300 DJ
Upstairs
2200 - 2330 El Shazly
2330 - 0100 Vandorta
0100 - 0300 Marshmello