Guest blog
“IBUKA is my first full-length album as a band leader and songwriter. It is a personal album, I’ve truly put my heart and soul in this music. IBUKA is a Kinyarwanda word which translates to ‘remember’. I was born in Rwanda but adopted by a Belgian family when I was 10 months old. I was very close to my adoption mother, Francine, but sadly she passed away in 2012. These are the central themes that run through every track.”
“The music is rooted in contemporary jazz, though I also took inspiration from folk and neo-soul. I endeavour to blend honest storytelling and complex chord progressions with the freedom of jazz improvisation.”
“For this album, I was very fortunate to work with musicians that truly understood what I wanted to achieve. We recorded over 3 days in January at Livingston Studios, in my opinion one of the best studios in the UK. It was gruelling but incredibly fun as well. It’s a cathartic and magical thing, witnessing your own music and story come to life note after note.”
“The official album release date is September 12th, but the first single ‘Silence’ is already out. This tune stands out as the most soulful track on the album and is essentially a love song.”
“Growing up I listened to neo-soul artists such as Jill Scott and Lauryn Hill. I wanted a tune with a similar soulful feel but placed within a traditional jazz context (live jazz quintet with improvisation).”
“Learning how to sing jazz has truly saved me. After my mother Francine passed away, it provided an outlet and the opportunity of endless discovery. You never stop learning – there’s always a different way to phrase a tune or a different emotional angle to the lyrics of a jazz standard.”
“I’m grateful for the freedom within jazz. Of course there are harmonic and rhythmic frameworks and rules you should pay attention to, but within that there’s so much you can do. IBUKA encapsulates that spirit. Working with musicians that feel the same way and want to honour your story is truly a dream come true.”
Ineza
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