Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics: Jaiyede Afro
Orlando Julius and The Heliocentrics continue their ongoing collaboration with a new album, titled Jaiyede Afro, set to release.
Since the 1960s Julius has been producing Afro-pop, supporting the growth of the genre as he merged it with soul, R&B and pop. The Nigerian artist became widely known throughout his home nation with his 1966 track, Super Afro Soul, which also gained significant presence throughout the USA. The Heliocentrics hold a more diverse sound, bringing together psychedelic pop and jazz.
Jaiyede Afro brings elements of the two together in one vibrant fusion of African rhythms. The leading track, Buje Buje, was inspired by Julius’ youth in Nigeria.
“My parents used to tell us stories, folk tales and there were a lot of different stories involving tortoises – they often made tortoises sound like human beings. There was one about a tortoise who had a farm and I always thought, ‘how could a tortoise have a farm? I made the story into a song and brought human nature into it – good people and bad people. The song teaches us not to copy something that is bad, fake or deceptive,” said Julius.
Jaiyede Afro is available from Monday 8 September 2014 via Strut Records.
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