FLY HIGHER

Soothsayers' twelfth studio album will be released on vinyl only (and via Bandcamp) in September this year - twenty-five years since they unleashed their debut LP, Lost City. The album features the very essence of the band - the vital ingredients that have been part of their sound since the outset, incorporating the diaspora, family and community that they have built along their journey.

Fly Higher blends Afrobeat, soul, jazz and dub grooves and is packed with uplifting, ear-worm melodies delivered via stirring three-part harmonies, horn hooks and mesmerising basslines. The sound is typically organic and warm, and showcases Soothsayers' original songwriting style, which in turn pays respect to a variety of influences, but avoids cliche and predictability.

The opening, and title track rocks a pumping Afrobeat bounce with growling catchy horns, touches of jazz improvisation, and call & response vocals. Soothsayers' chorus lines are answered by soaring British Nigerian songstress Lizzy Donsumu and former Fela Kuti keyboardist Dele Sosimi - long time friends and collaborators with the band. Fly Higher is a simple message that reminds us that we can control our own mindset, strive for goodness, be in the moment and fly way above the low level rhetoric that holds back progress.

Love Is Still The Answer explores the fact that although the world feels more divided and chaotic than ever, in the heart of all of us we know that 'love is still the answer'. It's a message that is delivered by beautifully warm vocalisations, written and sung by Julia Biel over a deep, bass-heavy Afro-soul groove. It's a sonically engaging invitation to dance, think and feel.

Meaning infinite in Bengali, Ashim is a deep instrumental track showcasing the band's superb musicianship at its best - combining influences from jazz with African rhythms and touches of dub production in a slow build that reaches an intense and satisfying climactic chorus.

Don't Be Silent is a funky Afrobeat driven slab of protest music that reminds us that we have the right to speak up for what we believe in, and to not fall victim to intimidation or 'cancel culture'. Soothsayers' group vocal leads the way on this one over a dynamic groove augmented by electronics and crowd voices from the band's ongoing educational community music project, Youthsayers.

Love Will Find a Way features vocalists Maia Avery and Akin Soul, both former members of Youthsayers. Mixed by Sao Paulo based producer Victor Rice, it's a stirring reggae stepper with a strong, universal message. Maia and Akin's distinctive voices blend and weave beautifully over a hypnotic groove . One to satisfy your soul!

Roots adds flavours of Jamaican icon Tommy McCook with trumpet and sax interplay alongside feelgood vocal inspirations from Kodjovi Kush, former Soothsayers bassist but evidently, still very much part of the family.

BJP (Big John Price) is another that is a testament to the goodness of community. John kindly opens his doors at The Portico Gallery in South London on a weekly basis to provide a physical base for the Youthsayers project. BJP has a stomping Afro groove with jazz improvisations from Idris Rahman and keyboardist Kishon Khan as well as welcoming a massive horn section and added rhythm section in the shape of personnel from Youthsayers themselves.

A Piece of Gold reminds us that every human has something to offer the world. Finding your passion or calling may not be easy, but there is always a way. The lyrics are based on a Yoruba proverb , "A piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire". Akin Soul delivers the lead vocals supported by Soothsayers harmonies and horns. It's another feel-good track with positivity at its heart. Music to lift the soul - sunny and optimistic. You need this!

Fly Higher closes with another stepping roots track, Nothing We Could Do. With a reflective Soothsayers vocal, it provides resolution and antidote to regret and self reproach. When things don't work out, the best thing we can do is move on. Looking forward is the only way - 'the best is yet to come'.

Soothsayers' new album, Fly Higher, will be released on vinyl (and via Bandcamp) 19th September 2025 on Wah Wah 45s, with a full digital release to follow in January 2026.