SEKOU KOUYATE
FAYA

Songs

by Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate
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Brilliant album that depicts our troubled world from the heart of a man in love. Gorgeous melodies mixed with lyrical genius- every tune- absolutely phenomenal.

“He doesn’t speak any French, and I speak no English… but through music, we understand.” Sekou Kouyate

In the port city of Marseilles, home to many a nomadic soul, Joe Driscoll first met Sekou Kouyate. The two were paired up to collaborate at the French festival ‘Nuit Metis’ (Nights of Mixed Race), and though they shared no common spoken language, they encountered no obstacles communicating through their music. After a few weeks of improvising and jamming, they had found a spiritual and musical bond of kindred spirits.

Sekou Kouyate, originally from Conakry Guinea, was raised in a large family with a strong musical tradition. Yet, it is not only his traditions, but his ability to transcend them that has set him apart. In France he is known as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the kora’, because of his unique style of playing with various effects, in a variety of genres, and with an extreme intensity. He has toured the world over with the band Ba Cissoko, comprised of his cousin and brothers.

Joe Driscoll, the man Cee-Lo Green labeled ‘the gangsta with an iron lung’ has been touring steadily for years, spreading his unique fusion of folk and hip-hop. The modern day take on the one man band, he uses live looping to create soundscapes full of beatbox, guitar, harmonica, percussion, didjerido, and just about anything else he can find. A ground breaking and totally genre- defying live act, he has been in high demand the world over- performing at Glastonbury Festival, Electric Picnic in Ireland, and Lake of Stars in Malawi, Africa.

After just a week of jamming together, these two musicians from opposite ends of the earth knew that they had found a special type of musical brotherhood. The resulting album is a mad fusion of afrobeat, hip-hop, folk, and reggae, that defies any simple tags or description.

In July 2012, UK session musicians; John Railton (bass) and James Breen (drums), were added to the live show to give power and depth to the sound. The 4 piece band have become firm friends and have been touring Europe ever since to rapturous reception from audiences of all flavours.