ZENA – Temesgen – EP – Black Vinyl [MAR 20]

Description

12 EP – Black Vinyl

ZENA, the contemporary ethio-jazz duo from London comprised of producer, keyboardist
and synth player Yohan Kebede and bassist/producer Menelik, have announced the forthcoming release of their debut EP TEMESGEN; is a six-track aural odyssey that balances uncompromising experimentation with a deep sense of home, comfort, and exploration. In accordance with the duos mission, the project is seeking to redefine and reimagine Ethiopian music for a new generation.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the EPs title, Yohan said: TEMESGEN means Thank God in Amharic, and for me, I never heard my mother receive good news without saying it aloud. After the first couple gigs we did as ZENA, we saw how people reacted to our music and how it resonated with them. It spurred in us a feeling of overwhelming gratitude, after which the EP kind of named itself.

Born out of a mutual love and respect for the music of their shared Ethiopian heritage, ZENA are charting a new endeavour where Ethiopian musical traditions meet the future. Building upon the roots and foundations laid by legendary Ethiopian musicians Haliu Mergia, Alemayehu Eshete and Mulatu Astatke, ZENA fuses the haunting spirituality and earthiness of the ethio-jazz tradition with a modernity, sensuality and sense of disruption that is distinctly London.

Following three sold-out London headline shows, plus appearances at We Out Here Festival and on NTS Radio, ZENA arrive on Brownswood Recordings with a bold debut thats equally at home across jazz-minded selectors and leftfield crate-diggers. The duos momentum is fuelled by Yohan Kebedes landmark year with Kokoroko; from the release of Tuff Times Never Last to an NPR Tiny Desk, a North American tour, and their biggest headline show yet at O2 Academy Brixton, alongside Meneliks quietly formidable reputation in Londons inner circle, shaped by time on the road and in the studio with Muva Of Earth and Bill Laurance.

Tracklist:

A1 – ZENA!
A2 – MY LOVE YOUR LOVE
A3 – KAZANCHIS

B1 – IT’S YOU (ANTE NEH) [ft. Meron T]
B2 – LONG TIME NO SPEAK
B3 – TEMESGEN