Amayo (Formerly of Antibalas) Releases First Official Single as Solo Artist
GRAMMY-Nominee Inspired By Late Mother and Kamala Harris Becoming Presidential Candidate
Listen To “Madam President”: https://ffm.to/x5lbqqe
Feat. Members of Antibalas + TV On The Radio
“Credited with introducing Afrobeat to a global audience” - Soundcheck, WNYC
“Duke Amayo walks convincingly in Fela’s footsteps, balancing politics against mighty, crosshatched horn squalls and kinetic grooves” - Rolling Stone
A NEW BEGINNING: Madam President!
October 4, 2024 - - Amayo - the Nigerian musician, composer, singer, GRAMMY nominee and former longtime frontman of Antibalas - released his first official single as a solo artist recently. The timely song, “Madam President,” was composed and performed by Amayo, and the single art illustration was also done by him.
The song was initially released on August 22, 2024, the day Kamala Harris gave her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Amayo invited some of his former bandmates and friends from Antibalas and TV on the Radio to track the album in the studio in NYC over the course of two days. The track will be featured on a forthcoming album, with more details to be shared soon.
“‘Madam President’ was inspired by my late mom, the first female bank manager at First Bank in Nigeria. I had written the music a few years back and had played with the vocals. The timing was ripe when Kamala became the presumptive nominee. It lit a fire within me. Within a week I gathered friends and former musicians from Antibalas and TV on the Radio in a studio in NYC to track it. The next day I tracked the vocals and mixed. ” - Amayo
Listening Link: https://ffm.to/x5lbqqe
Amayo goes on to describe the lyrics: “The Nigerian Ibo chant in the song, ‘Hayimba,’ is a call to action, and the response, ‘Hayin,’ is ‘We're ready.’ ie: ‘Who’s ready?,’ ‘I am!’ Then, ‘Hayshobay’ is ‘Let’s go!’ The lyrics in ‘Madam President’ say ‘Fight for Kamala and she’ll fight for us! When she wins, freedom wins!’” “We hope this song inspires the country to vote for Kamala and win this election,” says Amayo. “Former President Bill Clinton called Kamala the ‘President of Joy.’ And this song is joyful. It makes you want to get up and dance, call your friends, and go Vote! Michelle Obama just told us to, ‘Do something!’”
Amayo is a GRAMMY-nominated musician credited for bringing Afrobeat to a global audience, leading it to become a genre of itself. As the former lead singer and spirit of Antibalas for 23 years, he has solidified his place among the greats, captivating audiences around the world. His final recording with Antibalas - 2020’s Fu Chronicles - earned the band, and Amayo, a first-ever GRAMMY nomination. Amayo conceptualized and composed the album, and also hand-illustrated the cover artwork.
Raised in Nigeria, Amayo came to America to attend Howard University on a football scholarship at age 17 and majored in medical illustration.
“Madam President” Album Credits:
Duke Amayo – Keys, Voice, Conga, Claps, Composer & Writer
Giancarlo Luiggi – Shekere, Claps & Background Vocals
Dende Macedo - Agogo Bell
Raja Kassis – Guitars
Vince Chiarito – Bass, Engineering and Mixing
Tosin Aribisala – Drums
Jordan McLean – Trumpet
Stuart Bogie – Saxophone
David Smith Smoota – Trombone
Eddie Venegas – Violin and Trombone
Vincent Chiarito Recording Inc.
Mastered by Colin Leonard at SING Mastering, Atlanta, GA using SING Technology® (Patented).
Cover Illustration by Amayo.
Produced by Duke Amayo and Jen Mazer
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