This new EP highlights the gravelly vocals of Kifle Mebrahtu and the Awrus Band, recorded by the Sheba Sound crew in a large barn in Hagere Selam, which is in the Tembien Region in southern Tigray, Ethiopia.
The music showcases the distinctive Tigrinya beat, with a coarse, gnarly edge of music straight out the countryside.
Also featuring Cory Seznec, who delivers studio overdubbing on krar, and the highly gifted Bubu Teklemariam on Bass krar, who both provide a rich layer of sound to the original session recording.
Mixed by dub master Nick Manasseh at the yard Studio in Notting Hill in London, with x2 drum and bass versions for the dancefloors.
You can read more about the recording and read a full interview with the band here:
shebasound.com/2015/01/awrus/
Sheba Sound tour the Ethiopian hinterlands, capturing the mesmerising sounds of local talented musicians, using state of the art pop-up recording studios.
Personnel:
Lead vocals: Kifle Mebrahtu
Kebero: Hiwot Kalayu
Krar: Berhanu Haileselassie
Bass krar (overdubbing): Bubu Teklemariam
Banjo (overdubbing): Cory Seznec
Female backing vocals: Samrawit Negash, Tirhas Gebre, Tirhas Gebre Medhin, Tigist Gebre Hiwot, Letekiros Gebre Medhin, Teamir Tesfaye
Male backing vocals: Geray Hagos, Welday Abreha, Mehari Tesfay, Mehari Gebre Tensae, Temesgen Gugsa, Kalayu Abadi, Abreha Addis, Bereket Gebre Selassie
Sound Engineer: Quino Piñero
Studio Recording: Kenny Allen
Mix and mastering: Nick Manasseh
released December 22, 2023
2023, Sheba Sound