New Song: Amayo’s “Amen-Awon”

The Fu Arkistra is the solo project of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra frontman, Abraham “Duke” Amayo. I produced and mixed this recording called Amen Awon. It is a prayer for healing to the river Goddess, Ja-Mo Ya. It’s Afrobeat featuring a potent twist…the Sweet Plaintains string quartet.  Check it out if you like Antibalas, Fela Kuti, Afrobeat, Kung Fu, World Music, Funky 70′s Soulful, African, Nigerian, Strings, Curtis Mayfield, Spiritual.

SONG: “Amen Awon (Part II)”

Album: Thought – Politics For Kids

 

I first saw Thought at a Halloween Party in 2007, and I was blown away.   Nevermind the dance party that erupted with their first note, nevermind their crazy Goth looks (which were just halloween costumes, sadly); it was the songs, the musicianship, the blend of SO many influences into something simple and ferocious.

My first thought was that they sounded like a combination of Maceo Parker and Nirvana.  I’ve thought of a million other references since then.

Honestly,  these guys are uncategorizable.  Funk, Pop, Jazz, Rock, Punk, Jamband.   They literally blend it all seamlessly into something utterly unique, and utterly unclassifiable. If someone out there can come up with a good description of this band in a couple of sentences, I’ll give you a $100.  Email me.

It turned out that these guys were from Buffalo (I love all people from Buffalo), and tight with Eric Biondo, so it wasn’t long before I was recording and producing their record. It was the first time I ever produced a full-length album of someone else’s music. Success I think.

Since then, we’ve become best of friends and continue to collaborate.  They don’t know it yet,  but they’ll be providing the funk in the rhythm section with the FunkeyMonkeys this Fall.  It’s Politics for KIDS, yo.