Acclaimed Guineamusician N’famady Kouyate has played with members of Super Furry Animals and The Flaming Lips… and is headlining Aberdeen.
Talented multi-instrumentalist N’famady has wowed audiences across the UK with his modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs. He headlines The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, on Wednesday November 2 as part of his Balafo Douma tour.
In-demand N’famady has worked with psych stars including Super Fury Animals front-man Gruff Rhys and Kliph Scurlock of The Flaming Lips. The rising star is rapidly building a huge following in the UK and West Africa.
N’famady’s primary instrument is the balafon, a traditional wooden xylophone, sacred to West African culture and his family heritage of the griot/djeli.
He said: “We are really excited to be playing in Aberdeen for the first time. People can expect a high-energy show with songs from my EP I released last summer. I enjoy the great connection with the audience.”
Working with a Super Furry Animal
Originally from Guinea (Conakry) N’famady formed trad modern group Les Héritiers du Mandingue that toured extensively in West Africa.
In 2019 he relocated to Cardiff, Wales and soon began working with Super Furry Animals legend Rhys. During 2019 and 2020 he toured with Rhys to promote the Super Furry Animals frontman’s Pang! album.
N’famade explained: “I first met Gruff at the Welsh national festival as I had relocated to Cardiff. “One of my friends mentioned to Gruff about me and that I was a that I was a balafon player.
“He invited me to the studio where he was recording the soundtrack for the festival, and asked me to play balafon on it. “I started playing on the song Bae Bae Bae and he loved it.
“After the festival Gruff wanted to make that into an album and the next year asked me to record on songs for his album Pang! “When that was released I went on tour with him across the UK.
“That was where I met Kliph who was his drummer and Lisa Jên Brown (9Bach) was the backing backing singer.”
Recording at legendary Rockfield Studios
N’famady’s arrangements are a fusion of Mandingue African with western jazz, pop, indie and funk. It is a vibrant, intoxicating, truly unique blend.
Debut four-track EP Aros I Fi Yna was released in July 2021 on the Libertino label.
The EP was recorded at the legendary Rockfield studios in the beautiful Wye Valley, near Monmouth in Wales.
Looking forward to my 1st UK tour starting 29th October to 25th November 2022. It’s going to be a great high energy show where I will be playing songs from my EP Aros I Fi Yna and many more! Go to https://t.co/s5huZB5KVT to find out how to get tickets. The band and I can’t wait! pic.twitter.com/aJlGm7Gmkb
— N’famady Kouyate (@nfamady_kouyate) October 13, 2022
N’famady recorded at Rockfield with a full band line up, including guest appearances from Rhys (Super Furry Animals), Scurluck (The Flaming Lips) and Lisa Jên Brown (9Bach).
The EP features mash-ups of traditional Guinean songs with modern and traditional instrumentation.
N’famady said: “Recording at Rockfield was great as I had Gruff from the Super Furry Animals and Lisa Jen from 9Bach. Kliph from The Flaming Lips also worked on it and we had a great time.
“It was my first time at Rockfield which is a fantastic, historical studio.
South by Southwest Festival slot
Also recorded at Rockfield was N’famady’s recent single Dere Ma in July this year.
He aims to have an album out next year and is set to play the prestigious South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in March.
He said: “I am working on releasing an album next year and I have already recorded the single, at Rockfield studio again. That was a few months ago.
“I am really looking forward to playing South by Southwest. I am also looking to tour Canada.”
For more information and tickets on N’famady Kouyate at the Lemon Tree go to aberdeenperformingarts.com
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