Kokoroko share new single ‘Age of Ascent’

“Kokoroko have sketched out their own unique creative cosmos.” Clash

“a vital example of not only jazz’s new form but the shape of things to come 

for British music.” The Guardian

“Kokoroko are harnessing the transformative nature of Afrobeat for a new generation” Crack

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Fresh from a triumphant return to the stage at a packed Brixton Electric, Kokoroko announce their new single ‘Age Of Ascent’.

Whereas their previous single ‘We Give Thanks’ was full of uptempo hi life energy, Age Of Ascent sees the London innovators in a more reflective mood, a laid back instrumental with a vibe fit more for a reflective sunny afternoon than jumping at the club. It’s four minutes of timelessly grooving magic. Both tracks come from the long-awaited debut album Could We Be More, due for release on August 5th 2022 via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings.

Introducing ‘Age of Ascent’ today, Sheila Maurice-Grey explains: “‘Age of Ascent’ is a song that we’ve had in the bag for years. It’s one of our original tunes and we’ve never been able to capture it in the best light until now. We recorded it at the seaside at night and the moon was so big and shining on the sea in Eastbourne. We stood in silence and then went back to the studio to record it and you can hear that within the music: the sounds of the water, the sound of stillness and peacefulness. We try to connect spiritually to all our music and you can really feel that in ‘Age of Ascent’.”

Could We Be More is an expansive and ambitious album. The 15 tracks share a heartbeat born out of London’s diaspora of West-African and Caribbean communities which were so influential to the band’s identity. From the congressional energy of ‘We Give Thanks’ to the psychedelic, funk-laden single ‘Something’s Going On’, the band move deftly through afrobeat, highlife, gospel, jazz, soul, and funk, taking inspiration from a plethora of other influences along the way. The band hopes to share this feeling of homecoming, and spark joy in the listener.

Kokoroko have come to represent all that is blissfully sweet about afrobeat and improvised music in London – an echo of the past that has taken on new forms while still sounding new and entirely original. Led by Sheila Maurice-Grey and Onome Edgeworth, the band are a vibrant example of the shape of things to come for British music: having released just 7 tracks (1x EP and 3x singles) in their short career, they have quickly developed a huge cult following with 60Million+ Spotify streams to their name and a classic record already under their belt in 2018’s intimate viral masterpiece ‘Abusey Junction’.

Kokoroko – Could We Be More

Tracklist
1. Tojo
2. Blue Robe I
3. Ewa Inu
4. Age of Ascent
5. Dide O
6. Soul Searching
7. We Give Thanks
8. Those Good Times
9. Reprise
10. Home
11. War Dance
12. Could We Be More
13. Something’s Going On
14. Outro
15. Blue Robe II

Musicians:

Sheila Maurice-Grey – Trumpet, Vocals
Cassie Kinoshi – Alto Sax, Vocals
Richie Seivwright – Trombone, Vocals
Onome Edgeworth – Percussion
Ayo Salawu – Drums
Tobi Adenaike-Johnson – Guitar
Yohan Kebede – Synthesizers, Keyboards
Duane Atherley – Bass, Synthesizers, Keyboards