The success story of Mali’s Bassekou Kouyate and his band Ngoni Ba continues. After performing Later with Jools Holland in London in this October alongside the likes of Yoko Ono, Smokey Robinson, The Dead Weather and Basement Jaxx Now Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba are moving on to conquer the USA. Their award winning debute album Segu Blue (Out|Here Records/Forced Exposure) has already laid a solid foundation for Bassekous reputation with African music fans in the U.S. now leading to a sensational North America tour with more than 60 (!) dates. The tour starts out opening for nine-time Grammy winner *Bela Fleck* and goes on for three months taking them from New York’s Central Park down to the New Orleans Jazz festival (see all the dates below). Just in time for the tour Out Here Records is proud to announce a new label partner in the US: Seattle-based indie rock label Sub Pop has now licensed Bassekou Kouyate’s second album ‘I speak fula’. The album will be the first release of their newly founded sub label Next Ambiance, a collaboration between Sub Pop Records and Jon Kertzer, presenter of the “The Best Ambiance” show on Seattle-based public radio station KEXP.
“I’ve listened and learned so much from Jon’s show for half of my life,” states Jonathan Poneman who co-founded Sub Pop Records in 1988 with Bruce Pavitt. “It just seemed natural to put his knowledge, resources and remarkable taste to further use. Our first release with Bassekou Kouyate and his incredible band Ngoni ba is the perfect way to begin this new adventure. Their album I Speak Fula captures this truly original music, like nothing you have heard before.”
More about Sub Pop Records:
Sub Pop was the original home to such legendary bands as Nirvana, Soundgardenand Mudhoney, and has enjoyed more recent successes with such artists as The Postal Service, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, No Age, Foals and Fleet Foxes.
Sub Pop now welcomes Next Ambiance to its family of labels. But don’t expect many releases from Sub Pop/Next Ambiance initially. After all, it’s going to take a particularly brave artist or artists to follow Bassekou. Sub Pop/Next Ambiance will release I Speak Fula throughout North America, Australia and New Zealand. “I am very excited to be working with Sub Pop on the Next Ambiance imprint to release the best of the world’s music, innovative and ground-breaking sounds that follow new paths,” stated Jon Kertzer.
Jay Rutledge (Outhere Records), Jon Kertzer (Sub Pop division Next Ambiance), Bassekou Kouyate, Jonathan Poneman (Sub Pop Records)
The digital release on iTunes is scheduled for 1 December 2009. The CD release is on 2 February 2010.
www.myspace.com/bassekoukouyate
www.outhere.de
www.myspace.com/outhererecords
www.subpop.com
For images, interview requests, full biography, etc. please contact:
Germany: Matthias Neuefeind / +49 89 23000 975 matze@outhere.de
UK: Ilka Schlockermann / +44 79 3206 6624 ilka@ilkamedia.com
France: Stefanie Raszka / +33 6 84797807 sraszka@yahoo.fr
USA: Jenifer Shepherd / jenifer@rockpaperscissors.biz
Press quotes about Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba and ‘I speak fula’
‘This is a cracker.’**** Mojo
‘A contender for African album of the year’ ***** Uncut
‘…the best rock’n’roll band in the world.’ The Independent
‘The Malian invasion shows no sign of slowing down.’ *** The Sunday Times
‘Africa’s next major export.’ The Herald (Album of the Week)
