Koko Rio by Makadem One World Records 2015 Distribution One World Records Buy on iTunes
`Koko Rio is Makadem's best album so far`
`Great sound, great production, great musicians, and above all, Makadem is back!´
The Kenyan artist Makadem is a specialist in Bengamusic. Benga Beat is the most distinctive sound to havecome out of Kenya’s 70 years of creating urban music.It spread from the shores of Lake Victoria in the westwhere Makadem was born. His music is full oftradition and full of story telling. Makadem has lived inseveral countries on the African continenet, and bothhis music and texts have the influences from his own lifeexperiences. They are written in all the languages hemasters, added with his tipical Luo-English accent.Claimed to be `Kenyas Fela Kuti´, Makadems songsspeaks of the fluid nature of modern African culture.With a deep understanding of his roots and the ongoingpolitics, he demonstrate the fusion that is at the heart inAfrican identity.This is Makadems 2nd full album, after the East Africanbest seller Òhanglman´ produced by Tabu Osusa,and released by Ketebul Music in 2006.`Koko Rio´ is recorded live in Denmark and Ghana.Makadem always stick to his roots, but he loves themusic of the world, and will take any inspiration andadd, if suiting the song. His music is contemporaryAfrican with thick traces to his own background.
The producers, Richard Plougmann and Carolina Vallejo, have worked to unify the expressions, to create the typical `Makademian´ sound he is known for. Yet the music is Kenyan, the musicians perfoming on this album, have each added their cultural spices. Strong Congolese guitars by the master John Mutombo, Ghanesian up tempo Afro Beats by Francis Kweku Osei on the drums and his cousins Gaddiel Amoah on the bass, and Carl Amoah on the keys. Cuban are horns performed by Carlos Pérez and Yuliesky Gonzalez, in the mix with Makadems rhythmic vocals. All is meant to get the listener directly to the dance floors. We are so happy to be working as an international, multicultural crowd. With all the logistic challenges of producing an album with musicians from different parts of the planet, it’s been a fun adventure. We hope that the strong energy of the album is transmitted and will make the world dance!
Take a listen of Koko Rio on Soundcloud
Makadem Vocals & Backing Vocals
John Mutombo Accoustic & Electric Guitar
Gaddiel Amoah Bass
Carl Amoah Keys
Francis Kweku Osei Drums & Percussion
Yuliesky Gonzalez Trumpet
Carlos Pérez Trombone
Patricia Oppong Kumi Backing vocals
All music Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Richard Plougmann at Juicyhalftone’s Studio A, Copenhagen Bass & Keys recorded by Francis Kweku Osei, Groove House Recording Studio, Accra, Ghana
Backing Vocals by Patricia Oppong Kumi Recorded by Michael Awuni at Gracious Studios, Cape Coast, Ghana
Arrangements by Mathew Otieno, John Mutombo & Richard Plougmann
Produced by Carolina Vallejo & Richard Plougmann
Executive producer Carolina Vallejo
The album recordings was kindly supported by The Danish Arts Foundation
.
Makadem is nominated for
THE AFRIMA AWARDS 2015
as 'Best Contemporary African Artist'
for the song 'Nipe Denda Moja' from 'Koko Rio'