London-born Ahmed Gallab (driving force behind four piece Sinkane), who comes to us via Sudan, Ohio and, most recently, New York has confirmed the release date and tracklist for their forthcoming album, ‘Life & Livin’ It’, while also dropping a single from the album, ‘U’Huh’, along with a video.
Per NPR Music, Sinkane said of the raison d’etre for the new track, ‘U’Huh’ and the album as well, ‘Times are tough. Struggles have always existed in our lives, but hope, love and the power of positivity help us stay alive. It is what inspires me to wake up in the morning, make music, and, ultimately, connect with people. To my sisters who ache, my brothers losing strength: we don’t need to be saved. We’ll make our own way. Kulu shi tamaam! As long as we try we’re all going to be alright!’ The phrase ‘Kulu shi tamaam’, which is a constant refrain in the track, translates from Arabic as ‘everything is great!’
Thus, ultimately the message of ‘U’Huh’ is one of hope and one for the future, but as can be seen in Sinake’s words above and the video accompanying the track (below), it is also rooted firmly in the past and in the present. The current political climate is clearly fraught, in Gallab’s words, ‘times are tough’, and this appears to be the inspiration behind the use of footage from civil unrest in Newark and Detroit in 1967. However, the video is also about the power of music to improve the present and the future, as Gallab gyrates on stage along with the crowd in a joyous, saxophone fuelled, rallying cry.
Per The Line of Best Fit, the video was directed by Nick Bentgen using Union Pool in Brooklyn.
As for the album, The Line of Best Fit reports that it was produced by Gollab with Greg Lofaro providing “lyrics and help” – a pairing that have frequently worked together in the past. It was recorded in El Paso, Texas, adding yet another world location to Gallab’s already well-travelled past. Having made their debut with Sinisterals in 2007 this effort will be the band’s sixth and although there is now a litany of former members, Gallab has remained a constant and will look to move from strength to strength following the positive reception for 2014’s Mean Love. The Tracklist for ‘Life & Livin’ It’ will be as follows:
- Deadweight
- U’Huh (Youtube)
- Favourite Song
- Fire
- Telephone
- Passenger
- Theme From Life & Livin’ It
- Won’t Follow
- The Way
Sinkane will also be embarking on a World Tour, including one stop in the UK to perform at The Dome on the 29th March 2017. The full schedule can be found below:
15/2 – Space Gallery – Portland, ME
16/2 – Great Scott – Boston, MA
17/2 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
18/2 – Black Cat – Washington, DC
2/19 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
2/21 – Club Café – Pittsburgh, PA
2/22 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
2/23 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
2/24 – Arab American National Museum – Dearborn, MI
2/28 – The Tractor – Seattle, WA
3/01 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
3/03 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
3/04 – Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles, CA
3/05 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
3/10-13 – Botanic Park for WOMADelaide – Adelaide, AU
3/17-19 – WOMAD NZ – New Plymouth, NZ
3/29 – The Dome – London, UK
3/30 – Point Ephemere – Paris, FR
4/01 – Sugar Factory – Amsterdam, NL
4/02 – Volksbuhne Theatre – Berlin, DE
4/03 – Gebaude 9 – Cologne, DE
4/04 – Karlstorbahnhof – Heidelberg, DE
4/05 – Kammerspiele – Munich, DE
4/06 – Bogen F – Zurich, CH
4/07 – Biko Club – Milan, IT
4/08 – Auditorium Parco della Musica – Roma, IT
