Here Is a Particular Kind of Urgency Permeating the Works of British Youth
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U.K There is a particular kind of urgency permeating the works of British youth. The looming Brexit deadline and election of Boris Johnson, have sent nationwide tensions through the roof — pitting brother against brother and questioning the very nature of what it means to be British. Xenophobia runs rampant, as a common love seems seems much harder to find than widespread distrust. The younger generation of artists seek to carve out their own identity by confronting these challenges head-on. MUSIC OF It is not surprising that punk has made a resurgence across the U.K in recent years. Just as pioneers like the Clash, Buzzcocks and X-Ray Spex upended a stale and bloated corporate music scene in the first wave of punk, todays punks are trying shake music fans out of their complacency, but rather than pure chaos, they are trying to build community. Bristol’s IDLES have been at the forefront of the genre’s return, with a contagious intensity that channels dismay into an uplifting spiritual force. Their most recent release, Joy as an Act of Resistance, is an intimate response to Britain’s disoriented state. The group simultaneously attacks the deep rooted racial animosity at the heart of Brexit while celebrating Britain’s diversity, all without losing their sense of humor. Not far removed is Northampton&’s Slowthai, who fuses punk-like derangement with the THE WORLD swagger of London’s grime scene. Slowthai’s 2019 Nothing Great About Britain is a furious brigade on the U.K’s social and economic turmoil narrated by the self proclaimed “Brexit bandit.” The “outsider” is a central component in Slowthai’s story, in which the high school drug dealer takes on a superhero like character against the money hungry, prejudice state. BY HENRY MICHAELS JAMAICA A creative fire burns bright in Jamaica. The birthplace of reggae and dancehall is seeing a Five Essential Tracks: renaissance of young female artists pushing the boundaries on what it means to be a creator, as As people and music move around the world faster than ever before, young artists are en- male artists have traditionally dominated the reggae and dancehall scenes. The new crop of gaged in a real-time cross-cultural conversation, showcasing their sonic roots while ex- Rapture by Koffee artists are challenging this dynamic, picking up where female pioneers like Sister Nancy and Lady Saw left off. At the forefront is Koffee, the 19-year-old prodigy who is becoming the face of pressing themselves in new ways that can help promote social and political change. Sinners Prayer by Senseea Jamaican music. Koffee’s charisma is contagious, radiating freedom as she bikes and dances around her city Spanish Town in the music video for “Toast.” Koffee effortlessly switches between a melodic croon and emotionally dense rapping, a style referred to as “singjay” Bum Pon It by HoodCelebrityy (combining “singer” and “deejay,” the Jamaican term for MC). Don’t let her braces and short stature fool you — Koffee embodies a changing nation as a teenage woman calling out gun NIGERIA One Away by Jane Macgizmo violence and fighting for her own future through music. Music plays a complex role in Nigeria. Individual self-expression has long been viewed as coming While social norms in Jamaica are changing, the country’s storied musical history is still center in second to music’s religious, cultural and social purposes. Strong geographical, ethnic and Bit Too Shy by Sevana stage. Yellowman’s bouncy euphoria and King Tubby’s hypnotic swing can still be heard in the religious divides made establishing a musical identity difficult. The rise of Jùjú and Afrobeat work of the new generation. Shenseea and Hoodcelebrityy, two of Jamaica’s most electrifying in the ‘70s began to change this narrative. Artists like Fela Kuti transformed the idea of what dancehall talents, have shown particular versatility by blending their country’s sonic roots with a music could do, incorporating sounds from around Nigeria and abroad while striking a hip-hop pallet. Shenseea combines Western slang and Jamaican patois into a colorful swirl. politically conscious note. More recently, Afrobeats (note the “s”) has become a chart Hoodcelebrityy’s breakthrough album, trap vs. reggae, saw the artist bridge her Jamican musical lineage with her Bronx upbringing where she moved as a teenager, bringing a new chapter in the topping force around the world. Collaborations between Nigerian artists and American Jamiacan diaspora to New York’s musical world. stars, like Wizkid and Drake on their number one single “One Dance” brought Sony and Universal to Lagos. Despite unprecedented success, it can be difficult for artists to create their own unique sound outside Afrobeats and amid international competition. TANZANIA Quietly making waves in Lagos’ underground scene is a group of artists whose style and Bumping at close to 300 BPM, singeli from Dar Es Salaam sound is known as “alte.” Directly translating to “alternative,” the label is by no means just a gets the dancefloor literally shaking. MC’s hit lightspeed over fast paced, twisting beats that shoot a course of music genre, but an inventive spirit that emphasizes collaboration and cross-genre mixing. There is adrenaline through the a distinct DIY mentality, with an emphasis on self-direction and an inclusive, tightly knit circle. Alte spine. SPAIN ringleaders Santi and Odunsi act as music ambassadors, bringing in different sounds of the TANZANIAN ESSENTIALS: A country synonymous with music continues its reign Nigerian diaspora without forgetting about their country’s roots. R&B, indie and dancehall are with a new crop of artists blending Baba Aminata Natafuta Kiki by Bwax, S Kide seamlessly blended together to create a bubbly, slinky sound that can fit the club as much as a traditional styles with hip-hop and reggaeton. Kazi Ya Mungu Haina Makosa26 by Dogo Suma Lupozi romantic sunset. Odunsi’s production on Santi’s Mandy & The Jungle, and on his own singles Agaba Kibati by Bamba Pana SPANISH ESSENTIALS: Better Days/Wettin Day (both from this past year), submerge the listener in an aquatic fantasy. On Don Bet by Jay Mitta Di Mi Nombre by Rosalia songs like “Sparky,” synth chords pull you in like a hypnotic riptide with each snare snapping like Hookah by Bad Gyal a crashing wave. Vivid colors and eclectic, gender-bending styles pervade music videos and live Empezar De Cero by Yung Beef performances. Mucho by Bejo.