Seckou releases video for Kouma
Seckou has released a video for Kouma, a track from his excellent CD "Miro" ahead of its full release in France. Click to watch the video. Appropriately, since the song is about communication and interpretation/misinterpretation, it is also one of the few videos that features signalling for hard of hearing viewers (something Seckou was very insistent should be included).
A translation of the song reads
Please tell him. Tell him not to misinterpret my words. I'm talking to those who listen carefully. A mentor gives advice; a griot sings his truth. Someone who speaks likes his words but must remember that those words will be repeated many times. Please tell him not to misunderstand what I am trying to say. Please do not destroy their meaning. A griot will choose they words carefully; I send my words to you but you will try to hear what I am not saying. I know you are clever but that not my intention .Do not read between the lines or choose what you want to hear. A trouser with only one leg full of words will fall over. You must get the other side of the argument and fill the other leg. We have two ears two eyes. But one mouth Listen with Both ears, watch with both eyes but speak only once When you say something, be careful and make sure you only have to say it once. For goodness sake let's not re-interpret the truth. Don't make it up. Sometimes words have different meanings so be careful that you understand correctly. It is not always easy to see the good in someone and what they do until much later. Don't make me say something I didn't say or suggest I did something I didn't do You might not fully understand what I am saying now. So wait until you do before you speak
Seckou featured in Dancetag app
Seckou has a track featured in the new dance craze app Dancetag... (Twitter for dancers!)
Anyone with a smartphone can play. Download the app, choose one of the 30 second pieces of music (including Seckou's) and then tag interesting places by filming yourself dancing there, and then share your video. You can choose to play just for fun or you can challenge others and become dance champion of your favourite place.
For more info go to http://www.dancetagapp.com/
Guardian: "Seckou Keita provided the most hypnotic instrumental work of the night"
From the review by Robin Denselow in the Guardian of Salif Keita at the Barbican (London) April 2014 with Seckou supporting.
"Seckou Keita, who opened the show, is a British-based kora player who recorded one of the finest albums of last year with the Welsh harpist Catrin Finch. Here playing solo, he sang well and provided the most delicate and hypnotic instrumental work of the night."
Seckou rocked it!
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/09/salif-keita-seckou-keita-review
Seckou and Catrin WOMAD, Cambridge and Shambala Festival Update
It has just been announced that Catrin and Seckou will be playing:
Thurs 31st July. Click for details
21 - 24 August Click for details
Catrin and Seckou related titles reduced on iTunes
We have a special offer on itunes at the moment for the following gems from our back catalogue (for a limited period only):
Catrin Finch & Cimarron ‘Yn Byw’ £4.99, https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/quitapesares/id337659212?i=337659458&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Seckou Keita SKQ ‘The Silimbo Passage’ £4.99, https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-silimbo-passage/id307759635
Seckou Keita ‘Mira’ £5.99 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/hino/id563834349?i=563834484&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Seckou & Catrin New Tour Dates
Seckou and Catrin will be out on the road again. Firstly couple of dates in March:
- March 01 Rasa Harp Festival Utrecht NL
- March 14 Queen Elizabeth Hall (FRoots 35th Anniversary Show) London
Then it is a tour in May:
- May 02 Wyeside Arts Centre Builth Wells
- May 03 Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea
- May 04 Theatr Mwldan Cardigan
- May 08 The Roses Tewkesbury
- May 09 The Sage Gateshead
- May 10 Royal Northern College of Music Manchester
- May 11 Usher Hall Edinburgh
- May 13 St Davids Hall Cardiff
- May 14 Bush Hall London
- May 15 Borough Theatre Abergavenny
- May 16 The Welfare Ystradgynlais
- May 17 MOMA Machynlleth
See you there!
Two Keitas for the price of one! Seckou supports Salif.
Seckou will be playing a solo show supporting Salif Keita at the Barbican Centre, London on 8th April. For tickets and info go to https://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=15337
Rootsworld Review for Catrin & Seckou
Alex Brown writes in Rootsworld magazine the month:
"While these two musicians come from different backgrounds, the music of Wales and West Africa have long been passed down over generations through oral history. Throughout Clychau Dibon, fragments of Welsh and Manding melodies intersect to form dynamic interpretations of traditional tunes, in addition to original compositions written by Keita.
While the kora and harp sound strikingly similar, their playing styles are quite different. Thanks to John Hollis’ production, the subtleties of Finch and Keita’s techniques are easy to hear and distinguish. Both instruments are soothing to the ear, but don’t think this is background music. To hear all of the intricacies, take some time to sit down and absorb this beautiful music. The strings roll in and out like waves, cascading plucked majesty through the speakers.
Finch and Keita seem to accomplish everything they set out to capture on this recording. The interplay between both musicians is fascinating and remarkable. When one performer takes a lead, the other offers support with vibrant arpeggios and harmonies. Through slow, delicate passages or quick, jaunty embellishments, Keita’s bass string rhythm brings balance to each song, setting the pace through slight alterations of tempo. The cultures of Wales and Senegal may differ, but these artists share their musical histories with honesty and enthusiasm"
For the full review go to: http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/finch-keita-14.shtml
Ceffylau on Desert Island Discs
Ceffylau from the album Clychau Dibon was played on BBC Radio 4's Desert Islnd Discs over the festive season. Kirsty Young's castaway that week was Gillian Clarke.
Wales's National Poet, she has received the Queen's Gold Medal for her work. She writes about everything from dinosaurs to suicide, but the potency and power of nature is a recurring motif.
We are in the Guardian Top 5!
The Guardian's Robin Denselow has named Clychau Dibon in his the top five album picks of 2013. "This is an intriguing fusion project in which Catrin Finch, the celebrated Welsh harp player, teamed up with Seckou Keita, an exponent of the West African harp, the kora. The result is an elegant instrumental set that mixes tranquil, hypnotic passages with rapid-fire improvisation, as the melody lines constantly switch between the two instruments."
A good start to the New Year!
CLYCHAU DIBON WINS ALBUM OF THE YEAR!
Congratulations Seckou, Catrin and the team and thanks to everyone who feels the force!
Catrin & Seckou Financial Times Review
By David Honigmann
A royal harpist from Wales teams up with a kora player (which is to say, another court harpist) from Senegal.
Finch and Keita swap tunes from both traditions, one taking the lead while the other fills and improvises around the edges, then seamlessly trading places.
‘Robert Ap Huw Meets Nialing Sonko’ is the centrepiece: 16th century harp tunes playing off against the blissful melodies of the Casamance.
Catrin & Seckou London Evening Standard Review
CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA
Clychau Dibon
(Astar Artes)
★★★★★
Welsh harp and Senegalese kora – a sublime duo of two artists who are masters of their instruments. Yet it might not have worked, because both instruments are plucked and often it’s better to have more contrasted textures. But just listening to the way the opening track builds up, you can feel a sense of musicality and architecture at work with both artists drawing on the traditional repertoire of their respective cultures. Both of them are no strangers to collaboration, but this is their most seductive. The overall effect is of a rich web of sound, but they bring moments of drama when necessary. I also suspect that it’s something that will get more intriguing and appealing the better you get to know it.
Simon Broughton
Seckou Keita Belgian Dates in August
Seckou Keita has announced some Belgian dates in August as part of the Zomer Van Antwerpen festival. http://www.zomervanantwerpen.be/2013/.
The dates are:
21/08/13 Hof De Bist, Ekeren
22/08/13 De Coninckplein, Antwerpen
23/08/13 Dageraadplaats, Zurenborg
24/08/13 Botermarkt, Zandvliet
25/08/13 Park Roosendael, Merksem
Catrin and Seckou Autumn Tour Announced
We are please to announce (and very excited too) that Catrin and Seckou will be touring again in the Autumn.
20/10/13 TRURO Hall For Cornwall
30/10/13 BURY ST EDMUNDS The Apex
01/11/13 SALISBURY Salisbury Arts Centre
02/11/13 BROMSGROVE Artrix
06/11/13 Brecon Theatr Brycheiniog
07/11/13 FELINFACH Theatr Felinfach
08/11/13 LLANELLI Y Ffwrnes
09/11/13 MILFORD HAVEN Torch
10/11/13 HARLECH Theatr Harlech
13/11/13 PONTARDAWE Arts Centre
14/11/13 NEWTOWN Theatr Hafren
15/11/13 BANGOR Neuadd Prichard Jones
16/11/13 PWLLHELI Neuadd Dwyfor
17/11/13 HOLYHEAD Ucheldre
20/11/13 NOTTINGHAM Lakeside AC, Djanogly Theatre
21/11/13 KENDAL Brewery Arts
22/11/13 HULL Hull Truck Theatre
The full details can be found in the "Live" section of the website.
Catrin & Seckou: New Videos
We are proud to announce the release of two new live performance videos from Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita:
Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita: New Show and Album.
This is something special!
Seckou and Catrin on stage in Wales recently in a week of pre-production for their first album.
Touring follows in the autumn.
An Astar Artes-Theatr Mwldan Co-production with support from Arts Council Wales.
Looking forward!
Photo by Josh Pulman
Seckou's track Hino nominated for an IMA
Astar are very proud to congratulate Seckou Keita on being nominated in the World Traditional Song Category for "Hino" in The 12th Annual Independent Music Awards..
The Judge-determined IMA Winners will be announced in May.
In addition to industry-determined Winners, fans from around the world have until Friday, July 19, 2013 to cast their votes at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners. So please visit http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/12th/Song/World-Traditional and register your vote!