The album Bole 2 Harlem Vol. 1 represents a bridge between these two worlds, mixing up break beats, hip hop and a club-friendly ambience with traditional Ethiopian songs and rapping in English and Amharic Ethiopia's 'official' language. There's a sprinkling of other influences in the mix too. Kora, funked-up keyboards and horns, West African percussion, various Latino flavours, gospel shouts and even a spot of tabla all vie for ear space, thus reflecting the diverse street sounds of one of the most cosmopolitan places in the US.
The project was masterminded by producer-musician David Schommer, who once twiddled knobs for the likes of Donna Summer. Inspired by a visit to Ethiopia five years ago, but dissatisfied with the ropiness of much of the local hip-hop he'd heard there, he got together with rapper Maki Siraj and singer Tigist Shibabaw on his return: 'I was interested in taking traditional Ethiopian song themes and traditional sounds and mixing them with what is in Harlem right now, because Harlem is the gateway to African music in New York City.'
Bole 2 Harlem is what coalesced out of their late night jam sessions. Fans of that other New York-based Ethiopian singer Gigi will hear something familiar in Shibabaw's voice; she's Gigi's sister. Having provided backing vocals on her sibling's albums, Tigist has now stepped into the spotlight, and her urgent, charismatic vocal presence is one of the group's biggest assets. If travelling without moving is what you look for in music, this group will appeal.
'Bole 2 Harlem is about being from Ethiopia and living in Harlem, in America, around the world, explains Siraj. It's a journey, one album that takes you thousands of miles from one place to another.
Jon Lusk
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