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Idris Elba to release “mi Mandela” album inspired by Nelson Mandela and late father 11/24 w/ UK and SA talents

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IDRIS ELBA TO RELEASE “MI MANDELA” ALBUM INSPIRED BY NELSON MANDELA ON NOVEMBER 24TH

     

PREVIEW FIVE TRACKS AND RECEIVE INSTANT GRATS VIA SOUNDCLOUD AND ALBUM PRE-ORDER

On November 24th, British actor, producer, musician and DJ Idris Elba will release mi Mandela, a tribute to Nelson Mandela and his late father Winston Elba, on his own imprint 7wallace in conjunction with Parlophone Records. The 11-track “celebration of South African music” was written and produced by Elba alongside South African and British collaborators. mi Mandela is available via pre-order at http://smarturl.it/miMandela. Tracklisting is as follows:

  1. Aero Mathata
  2. So Many People feat. Shaun Escoffery
  3. You Give Me Love feat. Maverick Sabre
  4. Thank You For Freedom
  5. One feat. George The Poet
  6. mi Mandela
  7. Tree feat. Audra Mae & Cody ChesnuTT
  8. Home feat. Maverick Sabre
  9. Nothembi Jam
  10. Hold On feat. Thabo & George The Poet
  11. Soldiers Don’t Back Down

Elba’s idea for mi Mandela was conceived while he was in Johannesburg filming 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. “South Africa has numerous different tribes and each one has a musical expression, and each one has a very unique, different sound style,” he explains. “At the time I had my studio at the apartment I was staying in while I was making Mandela – a little keyboard, a laptop – and as an experiment to myself, I vowed to keep making music.”

It would take the influence of another great man to bring the concept to fruition. In showing his dying father Winston the Long Walk To Freedom film and his enthusiasm for the music he discovered, Winston encouraged Idris to follow his new passion. Winston would pass later that year, and at his funeral, Idris would listen to a selection of his father’s favorite music that would motivate him to finish the album project. Idris’ tribute to his late father is also captured with the handwritten letter that features on the album’s cover art.

 

Recorded between Johannesburg, London and Mali, the album features an eclectic cast of contributors including Mumford & SonsJames BlakeGeorge The PoetMaverick SabreCody ChestnuTT, and Mr. Hudson who co-produced the record with some of South Africa’s most gifted yet undiscovered musical talents such as Nothembi MkhwebanePhuzekhemisi, the brass band of South Africa’s Future History and more.

“I just want to embody South African musicianship, and what I love about UK musicianship, and see what would come out of it,” Elba explained to Noisey. “Phuzekhemisi, for instance, isn’t exactly well known to us, but he’s an amazing Zulu guitarist who has sold over 30 million records to his own people. I also felt in touch with some producers who aren’t getting the light of day outside of their own townships, yet they are dope.” For example, Queen of Ndebele Music, Nothembi Mkhwebane, is featured on “Nothembi Jam” with assistance from James Blake as well as “Home” which was written by Mumford & Sons.

The lead single, “Aero Mathata” is further testament to this merging of different worlds, blending harmonies from veteran female Mbaqanga vocal group Mahotella Queens over an afro-tech concoction from producer Aero Manyelo. Last week, BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe show premiered “You Give Me Love” feat. Maverick Sabre:

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WATCH/LISTEN TO “YOU GIVE ME LOVE” FEAT: MAVERICK SABRE: 

 

YouTube player

Fans can listen to these two tracks, as well as three instant-grat songs from the pre-order of the album (“So Many People” feat. Shaun Escoffery“Thank You For Freedom” and “Tree” feat. Audra Mae & Cody ChesnuTT) via his soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/idriselba/sets/mi-mandela

 

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