In anticipation of his forthcoming album MartyrLoserKing, New York-based rapper Saul Williams has released his first single “Burundi,” featuring Emily Kokal of Warpaint. The album is scheduled for release July 2015 via FADER Label.
With an epic 45-second instrumental intro, the track immediately delves the listener into an atmosphere of energy. Williams emphasizes his dominance and authoritativeness throughout the track, as Kokal’s layered vocals provide hints of an influence from Lykke Li’s haunting voice.
Williams said of the track in an interview:
Burundi is one of the 1st songs I recorded for MartyrLoserKing. I initially recorded it in Paris after returning from a month of travel thru Senegal, Swaziland & South Africa. I focused on [the country] Burundi as I was studying the coltan trade & black market networks. Also because of the role of the drum/tambour in Burundi & how those drums became the backbeat for new wave… Adam Ant etc.
I’m a huge Warpaint fan. Justin [Warfield] mentioned that he knew Em when I was playing him my demoes and I asked him to invite her to the studio. From there, she just sang along.
Also listen to Williams’ song “All Coltrane Solos At Once,” in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Listen to “Burundi” below.
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