Words by Justin Turford
I don’t know about you but I’ve been needing some positivity and warmth this grey January. Luckily, we are able to offer you the sunlit first single taken from South African MC & producer EMAMKAY's forthcoming album 'Love Is Energy' (to be released on Kid Fonque's STY TRU BTS label on March 31st).
'When The Sun Rises' is a radiant slice of jazz, hip hop and optimistic good vibes. Produced with a luminous clarity, the perfectly weighted laidback live instrumentation and dreamy vocals (from EMAMKAY and the deliciously soulful voice of Bokang Ramatlapeng) provide a salve for the soul. Other members of his Sounds Like U Quintet to contribute include Jeffery Mahachi on drums whose loose brushwork touches on both vintage jazz chops and Dilla type abstraction, and Michael Nkuna on subtle trumpet. EMAMKAY’s lovely meandering piano and keyboards brings the whole thing together, delivering as good an example of conscious jazzy hip hop as you’re likely to hear this year.
'When The Sun Rises' is released on 3rd Feb 2023 on STY TRU BTS!