“Fela Kuti for the Rinse generation” NME
Seye Adelekan will release his debut single ‘White Noise’ on Stranger Records, original home of Lana Del Rey and our first release since ‘Video Games’, on 15 April 2012, with a one track download on sale on 14 February.
Listen to the track here.
If the name Adelekan sounds familiar, it’s because Seye (pronounced Shey-ah) is Gbenga from Metronomy’s younger brother. Proving that musical talent runs in the family, Seye made a name for himself playing guitar for big name pop artists such as Paloma Faith, The Noisettes and Ellie Goulding. Now he’s going it alone and ‘White Noise’ is the first offering from a formidable and multi-cultural new talent. Born in Nigeria and now living in Bromley via Ecuador and Holland, Seye’s sound is a melting pot of colourful music and electronic beats, pulled together with a pure pop sensibility.
Referencing bands as diverse as Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer via Rihanna and a touch of fellow Nigerian born D’Banj, Seye is a truly modern pop star in the making. With strong links to his West African heritage, ‘White Noise’ fuses Afrobeat with grime and guitars, rounded off with playful electronic production. The first feel-good hit of the year, it’s a much needed ray of sunlight in these dark months of winter.
Influenced by some of the great adventurist songwriters of our time such as Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel, Seye is bringing African-fused music to whole new younger generation. Fellow Afrobeat experimentalists The Very Best have already tapped into Seye’s songwriting talent and breezy vocals, having asked him to sing on their upcoming single ‘Kondaine’ and Johan Hugo from TVB is also working with Seye on his debut album, due out later this year. Seye joined Johan and his band in Malawi recently, playing with a host of local Malawian musicians who will feature on the finished record.
Looking and sounding like nothing else around right now, ‘White Noise’ marks Seye’s arrival as a true original, a brilliant songwriter and musician, as well as a bonafide pop star.
Download a free remix of ‘White Noise’ here.
Having supported Lana Del Rey on her UK and European tour last Autumn, Seye will be joining Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs for some UK dates in February followed by a string of London shows starting at The Nest in Dalston on 3 March. More details to follow soon.