ALBUM REVIEWS
QUEENS & KINGS
Press Release 2018
African Connection serves up a highly potent musical cocktail, blending soulful Afrobeat rhythms, highlife, funk, rock’n’roll, and west African traditionals. This bold new international group celebrates the spirit of music with compassion, a love of life, rhythm, and outbursts of raw emotion. Their music is storytelling from the cold north of Scandinavia and the hot streets of Ghana - uniting across borders, creeds, and prejudice. It is honesty, soul, love, and most of all it is passionate music with boundless energy.
Their sound is inspired by Fela Kuti, pioneer of Afrobeat and a Nigerian legend. Their drummer, Frank Ankrah ”CC YoYo”, played with Fela in the 80s and was a student of iconic drummer Tony Allen. With roots in Fela’s Afrobeat, African Connection provides today’s listeners with a distinctive and modern interpretation of the genre. As said by charismatic frontman and bassist Abdulai Issaka Kyemtore, “We come from so many nations and all walks of life, but in music we speak to each other without filter, barriers, or limitation. We meet and we connect.”
This chemistry and connection, discovered when the musicians met in Ghana in 2016, is what formed the basis for the band. With support in both Cape Coast, Ghana and Aarhus, Denmark, the band was able to play several shows and even record the debut album in both countries over the past year, highlighting the unique and growing international collaboration. To deepen the cultural diversity, the band engages with talented local musicians while traveling. This allows the musical experience to remain organic - constantly developing and transforming.
Their debut album, Queens & Kings, was released on the German label Sounds of Subterrania on March 30, 2018. A tour in Europe is being planned for October 2018.
Their sound is inspired by Fela Kuti, pioneer of Afrobeat and a Nigerian legend. Their drummer, Frank Ankrah ”CC YoYo”, played with Fela in the 80s and was a student of iconic drummer Tony Allen. With roots in Fela’s Afrobeat, African Connection provides today’s listeners with a distinctive and modern interpretation of the genre. As said by charismatic frontman and bassist Abdulai Issaka Kyemtore, “We come from so many nations and all walks of life, but in music we speak to each other without filter, barriers, or limitation. We meet and we connect.”
This chemistry and connection, discovered when the musicians met in Ghana in 2016, is what formed the basis for the band. With support in both Cape Coast, Ghana and Aarhus, Denmark, the band was able to play several shows and even record the debut album in both countries over the past year, highlighting the unique and growing international collaboration. To deepen the cultural diversity, the band engages with talented local musicians while traveling. This allows the musical experience to remain organic - constantly developing and transforming.
Their debut album, Queens & Kings, was released on the German label Sounds of Subterrania on March 30, 2018. A tour in Europe is being planned for October 2018.