Kokoroko – Abusey Junction

Song

'Abusey Junction' is a ballad written by guitarist Oscar Jerome (fast making a name as an artist in his own right). It was written on the roof of a compound in Gambia where the band spent time last year immersing themselves in the soundscapes of the region.

Una recensione del concerto dei Kokoroko al Monk nel 2019 la potete trovare qui.

Artist

A primer on London’s bright-burning young jazz scene, this new compilation brings together a collection of some of its sharpest talents. A set of nine newly-recorded tracks, We Out Here captures a moment where genre markers matter less than raw, focused energy.

Surveying the album’s running order, it could easily serve as a name-checking exercise for some of London’s most-tipped and hardworking bands of the past couple of years. Recorded across three long, fruitful days in a North West London studio, the results speak for themselves: they’re a window into the wide-eyed future of London’s musical underground.

KOKOROKO (meaning 'be strong' in Urhobo), are a collective of young musicians brought together by a love for Afrobeat led by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey. They specialise in a soul shaking, horn fuelled sound with West African roots and inner London hues.

I am you and you are me
Why’s that such a mystery?
If you want it you got to believe
Who are we? We’re who we are
Riding on this great big star
We’ve got to stand up if we’re gonna be free, yeah

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself
Cause it’s all just a game
We just want to be loved

The Son of God is in our face
Offering us eternal grace
If you want it you’ve got to believe
Cause being free is a state of mind
We’ll one day leave this all behind
Just put your faith in God and one day you’ll see it

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself
Cause it’s all just a game
We just want to be loved

The future’s in our present hands
Let’s reach right in
Let’s understand
If you want it you’ve got to believe, yeah

If you want it you got it
You just got to believe
Believe in yourself yeah
Cause it’s all just a game
We just want to be loved

Io sono te e tu sei me
Perchè è un tale mistero?
Se lo vuoi, devi crederci
Chi siamo? Siamo ciò che siamo
Cavalcando questa grande stella
Dobbiamo alzarci se dobbiamo essere liberi, yeah

Se lo vuoi, lo avrai
Devi solo crederci
Credi in te stessa
Perchè è tutto un gioco
Vogliamo solo essere amati

Il figlio di Dio è sul nostro volto
C’ha offerto la grazia eterna
Se lo vuoi, devi crederci
Perchè essere liberi è uno stato d’animo
Lasceremo tutto questo alle spalle un giorno
Metti la tua fede in Dio e un giorno lo vedrai

Se lo vuoi, lo avrai
Devi solo crederci
Credi in te stessa
Perchè è tutto un gioco
Vogliamo solo essere amati

Il futuro è nelle nostre mani del presente
Raggiungiamo subito
Cerchiamo di capire
Se lo vuoi, devi crederci, yeah

Se lo vuoi, lo avrai
Devi solo crederci
Credi in te stessa, yeah
Perchè è tutto un gioco
Vogliamo solo essere amati