 After listening to soul singer Siji’s latest project, “Ade-Siji”, it’s no wonder the British born Nigerian is the music epitome of the term “African-American”. Siji, a worldly traveler, living in such cities as London, San Francisco, Lagos, Baltimore, and New York, this time drew on his observation of the African-American experience and intertwined it into his African musical culture and came away with what will be one of the best albums of 2008-09.
And that’s saying a lot considering how good Siji’s first album, “God-Given”, was.
Set for release at the end of September, “Ade-Siji” explores old ground with a new twist in the soul music world by bridging the gap between African rhythms and soul, jazz, blues, and gospel in ways that Sade started 20 years before with her signature sound, but with a more spiritually organic vibe blended with stronger percussion rhythms.
Produced mainly by the man himself, Siji also collaborated with producer/DJ extraordinaire and former BBE Records label mate King Britt on a few choice songs. The result is a search for sound on both parts that was found, harnessed, and completed in a sublime package.
“We share a common ground, so it was only natural for us to hook up at some point,” Siji says. “I also have a lot of admiration and regard for King’s work and his approach to sound, especially electronica. We were able to create something magical for the album.”
Siji takes the percussion rhythms a bit deeper this time, however, using the classic 6/8 polyrhythmic African “Talking Drums” groove into his music. Where those rhythms were incorporated into his first project, Siji allows the 6/8 polyrhythmic groove to dominate and ultimately, define the album. The soul, gospel, jazz, and blues are all woven around the rhythms in a way that’s both exciting and refreshing.
“I’d always wanted to fuse African musical styles with modern day soul, blues, jazz, gospel, and electronica, as well as express myself in my native tongue,” says Siji, who sang on a few of the tracks entirely in the Yoruba language. “I was able to do that on this record, and I intend to further explore music in this vein for some time to come.”
The album gives you a bit of everything, including a full rhythm horn section, to go along with some masterful keyboard and string arrangements. Siji’s experience of living in Baltimore added a special consciousness to the album. On songs like “Eniyan Dudi” (Black Masses), “Room Full of Noise” and “Fantasy”, Siji expresses his observation of a pocket of African-American society that endures while seriously suffering from the slings and arrows of a racially unjust society.
“Baltimore revealed real life, inner-city America to me in a way I never could have imagined,” Siji says. “The level of neglect, disrepair and marginalization really bugged me out…and to see our black youth with little or no outlets upon which to vent save for the bottle, drugs or violence inflicted upon each other was, and still is, quite disheartening.”
From the opening intro, “Dawn” to songs like “Musak”, “Irinajo”, and “Abide”, “Ade-Siji” hits home musically, lyrically, and socially to give the listener insight on all levels. If you really want to understand the soul experience from Siji’s Afro-soul perspective, or you’re really into great music, this album is a must-have for you.
Rating: 9/10
Gabriel Rich for Soulinterviews.com
Siji's Official Site
Siji on MySpace
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