Soothsayers (band) explained

Soothsayers
Alias:Soothsayers and the Red Earth Collective
Origin:United Kingdom
Genre:Reggae, Dub, Afrobeat, Funk, Jazz
Years Active:1998–present
Label:Wah Wah 45s, Red Earth Records
Current Members:
  • Robin Hopcraft
  • Idris Rahman
  • Kodjovi Kush
  • Julia Biel
  • Patrick Illingworth
  • Kishon Khan
  • Phil Dawson
  • Patrick Hatchett

Soothsayers[1] are a London-based band who perform and record original Afrobeat and reggae-influenced music. Formed in 1998 by saxophonist Idris Rahman and trumpeter Robin Hopcraft, they have released five studio albums and a number of vinyl singles on their own label Red Earth Records.[2]

Band history

The Soothsayers' first album, Lost City, was released in 2000. The band spent their formative years performing in south London venues and developing a compositional style influenced mainly by the music of South African township musicians such as Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela, and instrumental reggae artists such as Tommy McCook and the Skatalites. The album includes the song "Follow Your Path", which features Nigerian singer/musician Adesose Wallace and shows how the band developed their own version of Afrobeat, which would become an important feature of their later work. Lost City also features South African guitarist Lucky Ranku, as well as many London-based musicians who became part of the Soothsayers collective.[3] [4]

Their second album, Tangled Roots, was released in 2005 and was more Afrobeat inspired. It featured collaborations with Keziah Jones, Adesose Wallace, Maxi Jazz and Netsayi Chigwendere. Rahman and Hopcraft wrote, produced and mixed this album. It was a more studio-produced album than Lost City and represented a step forward in the pair's quest to combine elements of Afrobeat groove and melody with dub production and sound.[5] [6] Soothsayers released the track Blinded Souls' from this album as a ten-inch vinyl single, with remixes by Quantic and Mad Professor.

The third studio album One More Reason, was released in 2009 (under the name 'Soothsayers and the Red Earth Collective'). It featured a collection of reggae veterans such as Johnny Clarke, Michael Prophet and Linval Thompson. This album was the first to be mixed by London reggae producer and DJ Manasseh. It was also the first album to feature the harmonic vocal style that has since become an important feature of the band's sound.[7]

Their fourth album, Red Earth Dub, was released in 2010. It was a collection of dubs and remixes by Manasseh, which also included two new compositions created in collaboration with Manasseh.[8]

Their fifth album, Human Nature, was released in 2012. At the time of its creation, Soothsayers had fully developed their own three-part harmony vocal style (featuring the voices of Rahman, Hopcraft and younger band member Julia Biel) which had become an integral part of the sound of the music. The music, while still fundamentally inspired by dub, reggae and Afrobeat, now had a unique compositional and production style, bringing together the various strands of bass-heavy, groove-inspired music that had characterized their work over the previous decade.[9] [10] Human Nature has been played by DJs on BBC Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, BBC 6 Music and numerous radio stations worldwide. It was featured on Gilles Peterson's 'Best of 2012' show.[11]

Soothsayers signed to London-based label Wah Wah 45s in 2017. The label had released two EPs in 2017, 'Speak to my Soul' and Speak to my Soul Remixed' (released in July and September 2017 respectively).

Their sixth album, Tradition, was released in 2018. Tradition marked the first album to be recorded by the Soothsayers after their signing to Wah Wah 45s in 2017.

Their seventh album, We Are Many, was released in 2020.

Touring

Throughout their career, the band has predominantly performed in the UK and Europe, playing at major jazz, reggae and world music festivals Rototom Sunsplash, the North Sea Jazz Festival and Glastonbury Festival. Soothsayers have also performed and toured extensively with Johnny Clarke, Michael Prophet and Cornel Campbell,[12] performing some of their classics as well as new collaborative material.

Collaborations

Hopcraft and Rahman have also collaborated with many other musicians, including Osibisa, Mad Professor, Rico Rodriguez, Jerry Dammers, Ayub Ogada, Aswad, Julia Biel, Zoe Rahman and Arun Ghosh. in 2011, they were asked by members of the band Antibalas to participate in the London production of the musical Fela!',[13] about the life of Afrobeat creator Fela Kuti, which ran for four months at London's National Theatre. Hopcraft was the musical director and trumpeter and Rahman played the saxophone part mimed to by the actor in the title role.

Lineup

Members of the wider Soothsayers Collective

Discography

Albums

EPs and singles

Compilations featured

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-09-18 . SOOTHSAYERS – Nu Afro Beat and Dub . 2024-10-14 . en-US.
  2. Web site: taylor. angus. reggae newssoothsayers interview. reggae news. 8 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20111026101256/http://www.reggaenews.co.uk/interviews/soothsayers.asp. 26 October 2011. dead.
  3. News: Fordham . John. Jazz CD Releases. 15 October 2012 . The Guardian. 5 April 2002. London.
  4. Web site: Bacon. Peter. Cd of the Week . The Free Library. 15 October 2012.
  5. Web site: C. JJ. November 2005 . BBC AFRICA ON YOUR STREET. BBC . 15 October 2012.
  6. Web site: May. Chris . Soothsayers: Tangled Roots. All about Jazz. 10 March 2006 . 15 October 2012.
  7. Web site: Mann. Ian. The Jazz Mann Soothsayers Review . The Jazz Mann. 15 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Taylor. Angus. Red Earth Dub BBC Review. BBC Reviews. 15 October 2012.
  9. Web site: taylor. angus. bbc music review - human nature . bbc online. 8 November 2012.
  10. News: male. howard. review. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-soothsayers-human-nature-red-earth-records-8326266.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live. 27 December 2012. the independent. London. 18 November 2012.
  11. Web site: Peterson. Gilles. Gilles Peterson BBC6 . best of 2012 BBC6 show. BBC6. 27 December 2012.
  12. Web site: Katz. David. Cornel Campbell in London . United Reggae Reviews. 15 October 2012.
  13. News: Taylor. Paul. Fela! National Theatre . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/fela-national-theatre-olivier-london-2136932.html . 24 May 2022 . subscription . live. 15 October 2012. The Independent. 2012-10-15. London.

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