Browsing Tag

African Music

From Lagos to London: 705 Delivers Afro-Pop Euphoria with ‘Time and Date’

Posted on 26 July 2025

705 locked sensuality into every groove, energy into every beat, and soul into every syllable in his latest single, Time and Date, a track that has elevated the UK Afro-Pop scene to the nth degree of transcendence.

The rising artist’s latest seminal hit is the embodiment of pure sun-bleached sonic substance; it will make more than your rhythmic pulses move, there’s just something in the way that every element becomes more than the sum of its masterfully metered parts to deliver streams of serotonin. If you want to get lost in the euphoria of sound, let this one saturate your summer.

The Nigerian-born artist and producer started laying his foundations in Surulere, Lagos, before his music journey led him to London, where he absorbed influences from King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, and Wizkid. His rise from free-styling in secondary school corridors to supporting icons at O2 Apollo Manchester, and riding the Notting Hill Carnival float as one of the first afrobeats artists to do so, tells you everything about his tenacity and ability to bridge continents with rhythm and spirit.

After gaining radio play from BBC 1Xtra and riding the iTunes World Chart with ‘Tik Tok’, 705’s catalogue continues to grow, recently notching over 700,000 plays on Audiomack. With ‘Time and Date’, he continues to prove that the best vibes always arrive when the timing and the feeling are right.

Time and Date is now available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blowing My Own Trumpet redefined the landscape of protest music with their world music single, Sama Rainbow

Posted on 18 February 2024

Sama Rainbow by Blowing My Own Trumpet

Blowing My Own Trumpet’s latest single, “Sama Rainbow,” is a striking blend of vibrant world music and poignant political commentary. The track is a rich tapestry of Latin and African rhythms, infused with the soulful essence of jazz. This musical family, led by Claude and Josephine Lamon, along with Joe Dorstal and Mattie James, has crafted a piece that is as thought-provoking as it is rhythmically exhilarating.

From the first note, “Sama Rainbow” immerses the listener in a world where the joyous beats of Africa and Latin America collide. The instrumentation is a kaleidoscope of sound, with each note painting a picture of vibrant landscapes. However, beneath this bright exterior lies a narrative of deep sorrow and frustration towards the political turmoil that taints the beauty of Africa.

The lyrics, poignant and direct, speak of the enduring pain caused by political corruption in Africa. Phrases like “Politicians still playing their games” and “Help save the broken Rainbow” are powerful calls to action, urging listeners to acknowledge and address the ongoing struggles.

What makes “Sama Rainbow” particularly compelling is its ability to balance the beauty of its musical composition with the gravity of its message. The track doesn’t just lament the state of affairs; it also offers a sense of hope and resilience. The final verses, “There are colours in the Rainbow / We have saved the broken Rainbow,” suggests a future where unity and justice might prevail.

In essence, “Sama Rainbow” is a powerful statement on the state of our world, wrapped in a melody that captivates and moves. It’s a reminder that music can be a tool for change, echoing the struggles and hopes of people across the globe.

Sama Rainbow is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Zim$inatra returns with the bouncy lovers anthem ‘Sweetie Lavo’

Posted on 8 September 2020

Zim$inatra returns with the sexy lovers anthem that has such an awesome flow to get you in the mood on ‘Sweetie Lavo‘.

Bulawayo in Zimbabwe is the home of this young singer with lots of passion to make it in this crazy music world. He sends us a fine song here that is all about love as this is an exciting release. He wants to make sure that the love of his life is happy and very comfortable with zero stress. He loves her so much and just wants to be with her and smile all day. Making babies and being together is all that matters.

Zim$inatra, born in Zimbabwe, utilities both his African roots and his European upbringing, creating a fusion of melodies and snappy raps. Zim$inatra is not necessarily a rapper describing himself as ‘songwrider’ because he frequents between catchy raps and infectious hooks. Zim studied music in Hackney (London, UK), under the expert tutelage of Phil Ramocon.

After graduation, Zim$inatra went underground for a long time, working on his craft. Zim briefly turned up to Jade Avia’s (formally of Capital Xtra, UK) open mic event in 2018 and blew the crowd away with his Alto capabilities by performing Pharrell’s ‘Frontin‘. That could have been the turning point but outside elements took control of his musical trajectory. That was the story until now, when he finally dropped his first single ‘Sweetie Lavo’. His debut single is an infectious love song with an African vibe and Zim promises that its just the beginning with his EP due later this year.

What an exciting song from Zim$inatra who sings with such heart on ‘Sweetie Lavo‘.

Click here for the Spotify link.

Head through to the Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen