Beats and loops made on portable devices whilst on the road lay a foundation for choral flute melodies to soar within. Sequences of electronic rhythms outline a story of diasporic progression and words contextualise the record’s lyrical framework. Shabaka raps on the album - “I’ve never rapped before but was actually inspired by André 3000’s courage in exploring new dimensions with fearlessness and sincerity; I decided to find my voice on this album”.
A self imposed saxophone hiatus ended mid 2025 with a performance for South African drum maestro Louis Moholo’s memorial concert. This album marks Shabaka’s first recording made after a year and a half not playing the saxophone and a reckoning as to what his time on flutes primarily has shown him to be the future for his relationship with the instrument.
Shabaka says of an initial inspiration for the album - “D’angelo’s Brown Sugar was the first CD I bought and it sparked a lasting curiosity about the emotional possibilities allowed by the self produced and performed album. This record is my celebration of freedom in creative self expression. Before the pandemic I could only play the clarinet and saxophone and knew nothing about music production (or how to play the flute), so this has been a journey of learning and a reflection on the music that’s been created as a result.”
Tracklist:
1. A Future Untold
2. Those Of The Sky
3. Go Astray
4. Step Lightly
5. Call The Power
6. Dance In Praise
7. Ol’ Time African Gods
8. Marwa The Mountain
9. Light The Way
10. Stand Firm
11. Space Time
12. Eyes Lowered
