Sons Of Kemet
Udoma Janssen

Culture

Monday Mix: Sarah Kinsley, Shannon Lay, Sons of Kemet

By Ray Gill, Jr. (OPB)
June 7, 2021 1 p.m.

Kickstart the week with three new songs hand-picked for your playlist.

Sarah Kinsley — “Karma”

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“Karma” is the first track from New York-based musician Sarah Kinsley’s upcoming EP which is set for release later this spring. It’s a laidback song infused with sparkling rhythm that accents the vocal tranquility Kinsley brings to the composition. The Columbia College music student gives credit to modern artists such as Sylvan Esso, Khurangbin, and HAIM for the influences behind her sound but you don’t have to listen too closely to catch a little Fleetwood Mac in this recipe as well.


Shannon Lay — “Rare To Wake”

With “Rare To Wake” folk musician Shannon Lay shares the first new music since her 2019 debut record “August.” The track leans heavily on vocal harmonies and it’s all the better for it. “Rare To Wake” is an ethereal sonic journey with no obstructions. Lyrically, Lay has woven together a beautiful examination of personal growth. “Wherever you are in your adventures let this song be a reminder to never be afraid to receive and accept the changes that beckon you to grow and evolve,” Lay said in a statement.


Sons of Kemet — “Pick Up Your Burning Cross”

Sons of Kemet is a British band formed by Shabaka Hutchings, Oren Marshall, Seb Rochford and Tom Skinner. The quartet’s music features a mixture of jazz, rock, Caribbean folk, and African music. For “Pick Up Your Burning Cross,” the group collaborated with two American musicians, singer-composer Angel Bat Dawid and poet-activist Moor Mother, to create a buoyant musical circus of clarinet, tuba, saxophone and drums. The uniquely effective clash of sounds on display here culminates in a frenetic chorus that’s used to great storytelling effect in the accompanying music video. Directed by Ashleigh Jadee and starring Nigerian-British actress Kelechi Okafor, the narrative expertly depicts how people of color feel while navigating a world that constantly reminds them that they don’t quite fit in.

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Tags: Culture, Music