DELE SOSIMI & THE ESTUARY 21 / YOU DON’T HAVE TO

“‘Making records is a funny thing, sometimes you work and work at it and sometimes it just falls out. That’s always the best stuff. It can also be quite stark and difficult to process, like catching your own reflection off guard.

It’s both an honour and a beautiful thing, to watch it all go from room to record, but, without wanting to sound cliche, intimate moments need room to breathe. The chords and ideas for this song are some of the very earliest sessions that took place for this record. It felt like unusual ground, so it kind of just hung around until the time was right to finish it.” Sam Duckworth

Dele explains the lyrics in more detail, with typical alacrity and zeal:

“Taking in life, with its ups and downs, right up to date, the knowledge and wisdom gained should better prepare us to be nice if we want. We don’t have to be, but it can be all the sweeter if we are.

Most reflex actions witnessed globally on various issues and aspects of life with tragic results, inspired this message. A reminder of the choice of what and how we react, irrespective of prevailing circumstances, knowledge & wisdom is the ultimate guide towards making the choice albeit right or wrong..”

The song has a very laid back, soul-jazz feel. Something that came about quite organically in the studio, as Sam goes on:

“This track feels like a ‘song’ song, written live on a piano as a drummer and bassist duo lock into the feel and swing of Dele’s fingertips. Horns weaving in and out, and deep but to the point lyrics.

A completely natural and a timeless performance from Dele, a privilege to witness and to be a part of.”

Dele and Sam were introduced at Felabration 2012, the annual commemoration of the music of Fela Kuti, and promised to work together in the near future. With many live collaborations, at Afrobeat Vibration, Kentish Town Forum and lots of hanging out and mutual love, nearly ten years passed before the two musicians connected in Sam’s hometown of Southend-On-Sea in a post-lockdown creative boom, recording the album over a burst of week-long sessions in 2021. The Estuary 21 band is completed by Callum Green (The Sleeping Souls/GCWCF), Philip Van Den Brandeler (Pocket Dragon/GCWCF), Pete Fraser (The Pogues, Field Music), Afla Sackey (Afla Sackey & Afrik Bawantu/Ibibio Sound Machine), Aby Dosunmu (Dele Sosimi), Sam Ewens (Myles Sanko) with special guest appearances from Sam Eagle and Essex Percussion legend, Snowboy.

Born in Hackney, East London, but soon to return to his parents’ native Nigeria at the age of four, Dele Sosimi was schooled and raised in Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s commune (which he now refers to as his university of life). After Fela’s passing in 1997, Dele went on to focus on developing his solo career and, honing his creative talents, and with much patience on his part, carved out his own Afrobeat crown. His last album, ‘You No Fit Touch Am’ (2015), was a critical success with Songlines writing “Afrobeat will never die so long as Dele’s around”, Clash declaring it “blistering Afro-funk from a true legend”, The Quietus calling it “so fresh, while staying true to the template”, and David Hutcheon’s four star Mojo review said it was “a deeper, moodier collection than other Shrine veterans have released lately”.

A veteran at 36 years old, Sam Duckworth has been releasing music as Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly for half of his life. A catalogue that includes four top 40 singles, two top 40 albums (including the gold certified ‘Chronicles of A Bohemian Teenager’ that recently celebrated its 15th anniversary), a German club number 1 single and collaborations with artists ranging from Shy FX, Baaba Maal, Lily Allen and Jehst. Recently, Duckworth produced Benjamin Frances Leftwich’s album ‘To Carry A Whale’ and has been working on the forthcoming album by Kate Nash.