Asher Gamedze is a South African drummer, composer, scholar, and activist who explores themes and tethers between black roots music and improvisation. Now fronting a band of his name, Asher’s band brings percussion, synths, bass, and trumpet to create a sound that nods to African heritage but pulls from black communities from around the globe.
His new single ‘War’ is an instrumental rhythmic slinky that gallops and marches on with some funky bass lines and trumpet motifs that could be perceived as either celebratory or slightly antagonistic depending on your mood. It’s the innate groove of the track that called to me. It conveys a sparring journey and dramatic narrative whilst keeping you moving at all times. The music was created with room for the band members to insert improvisations, but the song is well-framed and doesn’t feel unstructured or loose.
‘War’ is the second single taken from Asher Gamedze’s forthcoming album ‘A Semblance: Of Return’. The album is due for release on 27th February. It will feature rhythmic musical segments like ‘War’, but also poetry and group readings. The band calls the album a “gathering place” to live, rehearse, study, and call home. The highly political album will explore themes of Pan-African liberation and a call to arms to assemble and work together, rather than struggle alone.
For more information on Asher Gamedze’s work, including his political essays and activism, explore Asher’s Linktree.
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