Nigerian highlife sibling duo The Cavemen—Kingsley Okorie and Benjamin James—join LootLove via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about their latest track, “Stranger.” They also discuss their new album, Love and Highlife, the immense influence of Fela Kuti on their musical upbringing, collaborating with Buju, and other artists they’d love to see embrace their highlife-fusion sound.
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The Big 5
LootLove shares the 5 hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Omah Lay; Koffi Olomide & Tiwa Savage; Karyendasoul & Zakes Bantwini feat. Nana Atta; Tanasha Donna; and Soa mattrix and DJ Maphorisa feat. Nkosozana Daughter & Mas Musiq.
Africa Rising
Nigerian rapper and singer-songwriter SGaWD—Apple Music’s latest Up Next: Nigeria cover star—is the latest artist featured from the Africa Rising playlist, a campaign that shines a light on the next generation of African superstars, and this week’s show features her two singles, “Rude” and “Figure It Out.”
Loot Loves
Each week, LootLove chooses her favourite track, taken from one of Apple Music’s African playlists. This week she features South African DJ and house producer Jullian Gomes and his single, “1000 Memories (feat. Sio),” from Apple Music’s Summer Waves playlist. Listen HERE—and find a roundup of all LootLove’s selections on Apple Music’s LootLoves playlist, HERE.
The Cavemen. on ‘Love & Highlife’ as an extension of their debut album
This album is definitely an extension of ‘Roots.’ Most of the songs were made in lockdown and what I personally noticed is that with ‘Roots’ we went into a space where we wanted to find ourselves, you know? Self-awareness and all that. What we realised is that we as The Cavemen., have to give this world really is spread love and highlife, and that’s what has brought about the second album. It’s been beyond our expectations ever since.
The Cavemen. on working with Made Kuti on their album
For you to know where you’re going you need to know where you’re coming from, and studying Fela was part of that for me, so trust me we spent time listening to his music, spent time learning about him and reading about him, so the influence on our music is really immense. We are glad to live at a time where we can actually combine that history with his grandson, and make highlife and afrobeat the forefront of what you’re hearing now.
It’s very spiritual, very spiritual because now we’re very certain that the ancestors are backing us. Everything is connecting together.
The Cavemen. tell LootLove their dream collaborations
LootLove: So which artists would you like to bring into your sound? Which artists do you want to bring into your world?
The Cavemen.: There are a lot, but we’ll give you a few of them…
LootLove: Give me 4.
The Cavemen.: Salif Keita, Angélique Kidjo…
LootLove: Yoooooooo!
The Cavemen.: We’d like to do Wizkid, and Fatoumata Diawara.
LootLove: Oh nice, nice. That’s dope.