Fôli Kadi (feat. Fatim Kouyaté) by Mawimbi

Support by Pan African Music, Ben Gomori, Nick V, Quinton Scott (Strut Records), Folamour, Village Cuts

Following up on their collaborative single with Colombian trio Ghetto Kumbé, released in November 2020, Parisian collective and record label Mawimbi unveils another extract from their debut album, to be released in June, 2021.

Although it definitely sounds like “afro electro”, a genre Mawimbi has been championing since their debuts as a DJ collective, “Fôli Kadi”, their second single in collaboration with Malian artist Fatim Kouyaté (Midnight Ravers), offers a more intimate and melodic profile, drawing in the inherent melancholy of Mandingue music and the power of contemporary pop music.

“Fôli Kadi” has some of the essential features found in Mawimbi’s debut album. In its musical content on the one hand, as it plays on a subtle balance between a dance beat and emotional melodic content, which gradually rises and ends in a cascade of kora and cymbals.

In its history too, because more than any other tracks on Mawimbi’s LP, “Fôli Kadi” owes a lot to the meetings and opportunities gleaned by the collective over the last five years. Their collaboration with kora player Chérif Soumano and singer Fatim Kouyaté was made possible by Lyon-based producer Dom Peter, leader of Franco-Malian project Midnight Ravers and manager of Blanc Manioc. “Fôli Kadi” was made “here and there”, through chance encounters and the sharing of musical vibes – for example, Soumano’s kora line was recorded in one take as he was passing by the studio to send his greetings.

“Fôli Kadi” translates to “music feels good” in bambara, a language widely spoken in Mali!
credits
released March 10, 2021
Drums by Romain Vignaud, recorded at Red Bull Studios
Percussion by Yannick Van Ter Beek
Kora by Cherif Soumano
Vocals by Fatim Kouyaté
Bass, keys & production by Adrien Colle (Mawimbi)

Written by Adrien Colle, Chérif Soumano & Fatim Kouyaté.
Produced and arranged by Adrien Colle.
Mixed by Nicolas Taite.
Mastered by Cem Oral @ Jammin Masters.
Artwork by Michaël Sallit.