Danish instrumental sextet Sunbörn—winners of four Danish Grammys—join forces with acclaimed Italian producer/DJ Clap! Clap! (Paul Simon, Warp) for a boundary-blurring new album: Earth Is Begging. Releasing in autumn 2025 on Wah Wah 45s, the project is a vibrant celebration of global culture and sonic fusion. It’s a place where Afrobeat grooves meet Middle Eastern textures, subtle Bossa Nova influences, jazz harmonies and clubby beats – with everything lit up by a keen Nordic sense of melody and space. Less about genre and more about energy, it’s dance music built from curiosity and connection. That’s the world of ‘Earth Is Begging’
Sunbörn says “We want listeners to feel part of something bigger: a cultural mix, a global rhythm, a shared pulse. Whether you’re dancing in your kitchen, zoning out on a train, or experiencing it live with others, the goal is connection—to yourself, to the world, and to the moment”
.The album came together as a musical exchange between Sunbörn in Copenhagen and Clap! Clap! in Florence. Sharing ideas back and forth for months, building grooves, melodies, field recordings, and textures; some tracks started as beats, others as horn riffs, and some were born on the road from voice memos recorded in airports or after gigs. The team also invited Afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi, Brazilian singer/songwriter Carolina Lelis, Nigerian trumpeter Etuk Ubong, and AfroItalian vocalist Oumy to join them in collaboration.“As musicians from Denmark, we carry a certain Nordic clarity and coolness in how we write and arrange – that kind of musical openness is a very Danish thing” says Sunbörn.
“We were also inspired by our guests on this album – each brings deep cultural knowledge and emotional range. Collaborating with them reminded us that we as musicians don’t just need to play well – we need to listen well”
.The album title itself reflects an underlying theme: the planet is calling out – for unity, for care, for attention. Through sound, they try to channel both the beauty and urgency of that message. ‘Earth Is Begging’ is a reminder that music doesn’t need a passport. It travels freely, carries stories, and connects people across distance and difference.
Known for their sunshine grooves, virtuosic horns, and genre-defying warmth; Sunbörn have performed on stages at Reeperbahn Festival (DE), Jarasum Jazz (KR), Jazz à Ouaga (BF), and Roskilde Festival (DK). Recently awarded a Grammy for “Best Live Band” in Denmark, Sunbörn describe their music as “for the body, mind, and soul – speaking to our shared humanity in a time when the world needs to come together”
.Clap! Clap! (Cristiano Crisci) is celebrated for his electrifying blend of electronic production and global field recordings. He contributed beats to Paul Simon’s ‘Stranger to Stranger’ and his music has appeared in GTA V, PES 2019, Apple TV’s Wolfboy, and more. With five world tours and appearances at Primavera, Dour, Mutek, Boomtown, and Printworks, Clap! Clap! is championed by Bonobo, Gilles Peterson, and Lefto, amongst others. His standout albums include ‘Tayi Bebba’ ‘A Thousand Skies’ and ‘Liquid Portraits’.
Personnel:
Sunbörn are Gustav Rasmussen: trombone and guitar, Michael Blicher: saxophone and flute, Aske
Drasbæk Philipsen: saxophone, Casper Mikkelsen: drums, Johannes Buhl Andresen: Rhodes
piano and Moog bass, Magnus Jochumsen: percussion
Clap! Clap! (Cristiano Crisci): Programming, synths, production
Dele Sosimi: VocalsCarolina Lelis: Vocals
Etuk Ubong: Trumpet
Oumy: Vocals
Simone Graziano: Rhodes
Reactions & Radio Play
Radio play from Huey Morgan (BBC 6 Music), Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music), Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music), Gideon Coe (BBC 6 Music), Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Tina Edwards (Bandcamp Selects & Soho Radio), Kate Hutchinson (Soho Radio), Rob Luis (Unfold Radio), DR P8 Jazz Radio (Denmark), Mark GV Taylor (Totally Wired Radio), Twisted Soul (The Leftovers), Evie Stokes (KEXP, USA), Sophie Darling / Electric Dish (Resonance FM), Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8 Nuremberg/Germany), Veronique Prebolin (Radio Krimi, France), Mark Ward (2SER 107.3FM Sydney, Australia), Nigel Wood (Dublin City 103.2FM, Ireland)
Apple Worldwide Jazz Playlist
Featured in Faze Magazine (Germany)
“A fluidly funky transglobal dance trip taking place across Africa, Brazil and the Middle East… A fun, funky and irresistibly danceable album.” Mark Sampson (Songlines Magazine)
“Fabulous album.” Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music)
“Such a good album.” Laurent Garnier (PBB / Worldwide FM, France)
“I’ve got a lot of love for this.” Tina Edwards (Bandcamp Radio)
“Right on the rhythms!” Robbie Vincent (Jazz FM)
“This is a really strong record!” Tina Edwards (Soho Radio)
“Superior stuff.” For Mankind (Pikes, Ibiza)
“Brilliant!!” Jazzcat (Ness Radio, Italy)
“Dope!” Delfonic (BBE, Germany)
“Really enjoying the mixture of Brazilian and Afrobeat on this album.” Kev Beadle (Totally Wired Radio)
“Fab!!” DJ Ritu (Resonance FM)
“Quality LP!” DJ Angola (Wonderwheel, USA)
“This is right up my street, will definitely play this one out!” Lady Jane Bongo (Mr Bongo, UK)
“Feels like travel, community, and bass.” Gerd (Ottic FM, Germany)
“A remarkable album – this is beautiful music!” Sven Thomschke (Radio Z 95.8FM, UK)
“Those singles have raised hopes very high, and they all come through here.” Mans Stromberg (Radio Helsinki, Finland)
“Yess, absolutely storming album! got double love for it cause I play in samba orchestra I can hear lots of sounds and rhythms very close to my heart, body (and hands too). Will rinse it in my sets and radio shows. Big up!” Marcin Harper (Czworka Polskie Radio, Poland)
“Great sound, beautiful album! Acareja Salmao still playing on Radio Oxigenio playlists, full support on my shows and dj sets.” Tiago Santos (Radio Oxigenio, Portugal)
“GREAT ALBUM.” Chris Ex (Black Radio Berlin, Germany)
“Super! Love their new songs!” Martijn Barkhuis (Jazz de Ville, The Netherlands)
“Adding to library and playing (played the singles!)” Jason Pulaski (KUCI 88.9FM, USA)
“Excellent!” Robert Lochmann (Radio X, Germany)
“High class project.” Lorenzo Aldino (Jockey Club Ibiza, Spain)
“Great combination.” Olivier Cavaller (De La Bonne Musique, France)
“Very inventive, original and creative music meet-up- and a lot of fun!” Derek Rath (KPFK, USA)
“Joyful and uplifting.” Jamie Groovement (Groovement, UK)
“Wow, what a slice of percussion driven summer afro jazz vibes. Huge fun!” DJ Mr Lob (Melbourne, Australia)
“Nice one!! Really love it!! Gracias.” DJ Makala (Global Funkers, Spain)
“Superb album.” Rado Tomek (Nu Spirit, Bratislava)
“Quality album!!!” Markus Milz (Radio Corax 94.9FM, Germany)
“So good!” Junior (Record Breakin’, USA)
“Nice combination.” Toby Kirsch (HHV, Germany)
“Step into a kaleidoscope of rhythm with this genre-defying sonic journey—where sunshine grooves meet dancefloor treats in a celebration of global sound. From the sun-drenched coastlines of Afrobeat to the smoky soul of jazz clubs and the fiery pulse of Latin percussion, each track is a passport stamp in a musical adventure. Whether you’re spinning it at golden hour or deep into the night, this album is pure rhythmic joy!” DJSix (Various, UK)
“Amazing album, all tracks are stunning.” Amar Kabouche (Fauve Radio, Hong Kong)
“AFROBEAT JAZZY NEW OLD!” Jean Marc Baehler (Couleaur 3, Switzerland)
“Like It!” Rino Spadavecchia (Hear Dis’, Germany)
Thank you soooo much for this! WHAT A SOUND- boom! Love it for the show.” Andre Rheaume (Vancouver, Canada)
“Jollof on the rolloff! Great cut. Going to be the cut i play the most. Wonderful album. Vibes!” DJ Expression (What’s Hot Radio, UK)
“Jus in time for my Face Radio – spinning Jolloff On The Roll Off this time – & visiting the rest of the collection in coming weeks.” Lee Bright (Tangential Music, UK)
“Fonk!” DJ Snuff (Universal Magnetic B-Bpoy, UK)
“Denmark delivers the best in global grooves. Who knew?” Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried, UK)
“This puts a smile on our faces x” Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe, UK)
“Fun fact: Sunbörn were also crowned Danish chimney sweep speed champions 1987.” Baz Hickey (45 Live, Ireland)
“When we were at the jazz dance, we dreamt of albums like this being freely available at a current album price rate – dreams do come true!” Gerry Hectic (You And The Music, UK)
“Wow, outstripping already high expectations this mellifluous, rhythm-charged set drops today. Top quality afro-inspired sounds bringing plenty to satisfy most dancefloor needs. With a solid rhythm section, all chunky beats, grooving bass and choppy guitar, topped-off by some fat horn sounds on Earth Is Begging – to quote a Vogon prison guard – resistance is futile. Looking forward to digging out a track or two to play at next weekend’s Musicport Festival.” Drummie Dave (Various, UK)
