14 July, 2023Print
Berhana Refracts His Ethiopian Roots Into A Vivid, Groove-Forward Coming-Of-Age Story On New Album Amén: የዘላን ህልም (EQT Recordings)
Shares Intoxicating Lead Single “Gone (Abebe Bikila),” A Tale Of Ill-Advised Romance & A Tribute To Ethiopian Marathoner Abebe Bikila & His Barefoot Gold Medal Finish At The 1960 Olympics
Watch The “Gone” Music Video Here
Today, Berhana — the young artist who's been praised for the “immersive, documentary-style quality” (FADER) of his music, as well as his “kaleidoscopic blend of pop, R&B, electronica and psychedelic soul” (Essence) — announces the imminent release of Amén: የዘላን ህልም, a new album on EQT Recordings.
Cinematically-paced and vividly-colored, Amén crafts a narrative arc around personal and romantic maturation while exploring Berhana's rekindled connection to his Ethiopian roots and the broader cultural diaspora of East Africa. The album heavily incorporates Ethio-jazz melodies and instrumentation while also pulling from 90s neo-soul, vintage house, modern Afrobeat, and the resurgent ongoing conversation between modern hip-hop and jazz music.
Alongside the album announcement, Berhana shares "Gone (Abebe Bikila)," an intoxicating track that follows a lovelorn youth yearning for an unsuitable love. The song's hook — "Gone off the goose, gone off tequila, Abebe Bikila I lost both my shoes'' — deftly weaves the nostalgia of drunken longing with the triumphant story of Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila, who famously won Rome's 1960 Olympic Marathon barefoot. The Ethiopian-American artist's blend of raw sounds, youthful emotion and homage to the courageous spirit of his homeland hints at the unique fusion of sound and storytelling in the forthcoming album.
The cinematic black & white video for “Gone” suggests a frenetic speakeasy as Berhana and his on-screen compatriots The Players combine classic Ethiopian style with out-of-time accessories like Walkmen and throwback Adidas. Berhana's on-screen charisma is immediately apparent.
Watch the video for “Gone (Abebe Bikila)” here.
Amén finds Berhana ambitiously carving out new sonic territory and refining his storytelling abilities. The 12 original songs on Amén pulsate with melodic immediacy and an economical command of language. From the shuffling and airy acoustic funk of “Tanuki” to the yearning Afrobeat reinvention “Don’t Go,” Berhana displays a startling versatility without for a minute sacrificing cohesion. All the while, there are Easter Eggs both lyrical (the wise spider from Akan folklore who serves as the namesake of “Anansi”) and musical (the distinctly Ethiopian-flavored synth melody that propels “Someday”) that betray Berhana’s considerable gifts for world-building.
Keep an eye out for more on Berhana and Amén coming soon.
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