Rye Rye
Enjoying a little light reading on the Africa Express
CELEBRATING THE SENSUOUS IN ART, LITERATURE & LIFE
posts tagged "Africa Express"
Thoughts aboard the Africa Express:
#1 BALOJI
“the Africa Express UK Train Tour 2012 was one of the most uplifting experience ever! i just stayed 2 days on the train but the atmosphère was amazing.
it’s magical because nobody came on this tour with his entourage or crew so you just have to connect and be open to the other artists…mostly some solo artist, mostly some individual, strong personality and they capable to form new musical connection
On stage I had 3 highlights 1. Rokhia Traoré and Damon duo on piano 2. Jupiter with they insane congolese rock track close to european trance and the dead prez
“hiphop” with rappers from Egypt, ghana, UK with Kano and Bashy ……that was monumental!
and backstage: as fan of Marques Toliver & Seye: plus that the guys invited me to feature on they songs so spontaneously it’s a nice recognition!
What does ‘freedom’ mean to you?
having a passport
Photo Credit: Kevin Morosky
Thoughts aboard the Africa Express #2
Terri Walker
“The Africa Express was so Surreal! It really is like an outer body experience. You get to play with the best in the game but as equals.”
“My Off-Stage highlights would be jamming in the hotel lobby with Baba Maal, Jupiter, Shingai (Noisettes) and Marques Toliver, and just letting it take us where it takes us! Obviously working out songs with Damon and just genuinely bonding with everyone on the train.”
“For the pop-up activities I went down to the Afro Caribbean centre in Stoke and lent my support there but my voice every morning would be out as I would get über excited the night before and therefore wouldn’t be able to sing!Lol! I went down with the Krar Collective, Afrikan Boy, Harry/Reeps One (beatboxer) ,Marques Toliver and I believe the horn section. There was so much going on everyday, I can’t remember it all but either way it was fantabulous!!”
What does Freedom mean to you?
Freedom to me means no compromise .Take me as I am raw and unapologetic
and the Africa Express accepted us all with leaps and bounds. We made the unbelievable, believable!
Stay up to date with Terri’s progress here:
Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express #3
M3nsa Ansah
“The Africa Express reached all my expectations and then beyond. There’s nothing like being in the same space and building with musicians that you love and truly admire. And every time we’ve been on stage the music experience alone has been something that will stay with me for a very long time.”
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the personalities and just loved the energies of all these creatives. I’m a big time people watcher so its been a field day for me just absorbing these vibes from them. Jack Steadman is one VERY unassuming dope ass producer! And Jupiter and the Okwess International are by far my favorite new band from the diaspora!”
“
I did a couple of pop-up activities, the first one was in Glasgow. We visited a school for children with learning difficulties and they were in awe! I’m sure it will inspire a few of them in more ways than one!
Then when we went to Cardiff & did a pop up with Jupiter and the Okwess International band at the Wales Millennium Centre. My God what a building! And Jupiter and his band simply blew the crowd away, I sat behind a grand piano and messed around with some chords with them; but that workshop is when they really impressed me!”
What does freedom mean to you?
“Its an idea, a magnificent concept and can be a pursuit, but it can never be absolute… therefore it doesn’t exist… in any other form but in art and music, and thought.”
M3nsa - Anaa
No.1 Mango Street (Live)
M3nsa Ansah
#4 Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express
Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers
“The Africa Express UK Train Tour 2012 was just amazing. I’ve done several
trips with them before including two to Africa but this time was different in so
much as there were hundreds of us. Its a huge learning experience, especially
with the African musicians. A lot of them are from French speaking West Africa
so the only communication is a musical one and in that way its a
purely artistic thing. The way we conceive of making music is so
different in Europe and North America.
I just love Amadou. Im reading his book at the minute. To escape a
blind school in 1960’s Mali, and emerge as a genuine superstar is a
bit of a movie isnt it ? Just chilling with him. The senagalese lads
are funny too. They kept laughing at my terrible pronunciation.
I went to a 6th form college Pop-up event in Stoke. I liked the look on peoples’
faces when a full congolese band just walk through the middle of Stoke
on a sunday afternoon Magical!
Freedom means:
The ability to do whatever you please, without hurting anyone.
Whenever you like. wherever you like. I think when your with guys from
Northern Mali who have had to flee from a militia who wont let them
play music in any form, it kind of hits home that we are quite free in
the west really arent we?”
REVEREND AND THE MAKERS
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express #5
2009 & 2010 UK Beatbox Champion
Reeps One — The Beginning
Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express #5
2009 AND 2010 UK BEATBOX CHAMPION : Reeps One
The Africa Express was Inspiring, tiring and wonderfully challenging, I played in the early hours of the day I was due to board the express from Euston. So little sleep just added to the dream-like nature of turning up and being surrounded by hand selected, talented musicians. I’ll be honest I think that feeling was the closest anyone will ever get to leaving for Hogwarts…
My instrument being so different and having so many musical places within a sound meant the whole trip I could weave in and out of different jams and vibes and it was amazing to focus on individual sounds as opposed to creating a whole sound scape like I’m used too, I even picked up some knew African percussion sounds like the talking drum. It was definitely the most musically healthy week of my life.
I think my off-stage highlight was the night after the Cardiff show. The hotel had a huge entrance hall with a bar and I remember walking in and it looking like a Greek philosophers amphitheatre. All sorts of talented individuals with arms round eachother bonding, sharing and challenging each others ideas. We had had a few nights to settle and gel but not near enough the end to feel it’s was nearly over. I said that on that night we were the most varied and resourceful band in the world. It was not about individuals anymore.
In Bristol I was sent down to a cafe in Bristol with Jupiter. They played, I played and then we collaborated. The moment that stood out for me was one of the percussionists could not speak a word of English, I could not speak any french, but when we were playing there was a moment we both made the exact same unplanned decision at the same time and we locked in to the exact same groove. His face lit up and he was looking at me with a massive grin. From then we still never had a convocation but we were definitely friends. Oh and on that Jam John Paul Jones from Led Zeplin joined us. No biggie…
What does ‘freedom’ mean to you
To be able to express anything in any way without restraint or persecution … And to be able to take in and have access to any expression without Judgement or consequence… Owning a jet pack also comes to mind.
Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express #6
Seye
The Africa Express was unreal. Seriously one of the best creative experiences i have ever had. Meeting new amazing musicians and being able to jam/perform with legends was an absolute blessing. I feel like the luckiest, skinniest, guitarist alive!
I think the hotel lobby jam sessions were some of my favourite moments. One of the best things about AE was there was no segregation between the “big” artists and us wee upstarts and no Egos. So we could all just hang out and chat about the show or any random bollocks and grab a guitar or drum stick or djembe or whatever and just be musicians having fun. Jamming with Marques, Damon Albarn, the bots, the krar collective, Baba Mal and the tempertrap? Say What!
I did two different pop-up activities. The first was at an elderly care home. I went with the horn section that were on the tour as well as a congolese percussionist. I took a banjo and we all just felt like jamming something calipso style so we did. It was wonderful, the people at the home (carers included) were clapping and having a blast. I loved it. Then i also went to a homeless centre with Marques Toliver, he had his violin and i was there as backing vocals and…uhh…foot stomping, finger clicking etc. Again it was a great experience because Marques is so awesome, everyone in the room seemed glad that we came. Those were special moments.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom means being judged fairly. If you’re gunna hate me, let it be because i did something to you, not for any preconceived idea you may have. Freedom is being able to do and think how you please!
Thoughts Aboard the Africa Express #6
Mim Suleiman
“It was such pleasure. Awesome experience. Delightful electric moment. Madagascar at it beaaaast!!!!
It will be with me always. I wouldn’t know where to begin to describe such experience. A blessed up one. I had an amazing time.
!!!!!!!! Hours of laughter!!!!!!!!!”“”“”!!!!!!
highlights off stage…all was awesome..but there are some situation thats compeletely won me over.
Marques Toliver singing and playing for me…i loved it…i couldnt watch him live as he normally reduces me to tears…..i cant do that when i have to go on…i missed him for the days he was not there..it was great to see him in Cardiff again
Jupiter Okwess…well …i could not stop dancing to their Afro Rock..Damn..i had to wear a knee bandage for a week after them..especially in London. I was like Yes …i can dance to this music..me loved it.
The temper trap..his voice what..the song..pulling to carlisle..these guys were funny.
the Bolts …well i am just proud of them…their energy reminds me of myself
Terry Walker..that girl cracks me up!! she is funny and works so hard
Jon Mclure..my sheffield brother..he cracked me up too
Mensa and Gorillaz..they made me laugh
Amadou…aw the man laughed..
BABa Maal..he got up to shake my husband’s hand for being with me…lol
I could be mentioning everyone..because i genuenly had fun, laughter with everyone
I miss them all dearly…truly
all of Africa express
I did pop-up activities in Glasgow, and Manchester , Carlisle…old people’s home of Afro carabbean descendents, train stations and The Art room.
in Glasgow…wow Kareem, Spoek, The Bots, our amazing beat boxer.
all places were different and
in Manchester..Mensa, me „Jupiter drummer, the horn sections..
carlisle…my best the whole team…i missed Marques on this one…he would have been in his element
What does Freedom mean to you?
Freedom means everything to me…freedom is life..without freedom life means nothing..love means nothing and passion would not exist.
To celebrate the launch of Issue#3 ‘Reverie’, we asked Riffi Powerz to basically neglect her other commissions for a bit and work on this beautiful behind-the-scenes footage from our shoot with the BOYS of the Africa Express.
We hope you enjoy: buy a magazine to see the finished stills
http://marquestoliver.bigcartel.com/product/love-is-the-law-magazine-issue-3
and listen to the MIXTAPE here:
https://soundcloud.com/love-is-the-law-magazine/sets/litl-mix-tape-issueiii-reverie
