After studying Amilcar Cabral (one of the leaders of the Cape Verdean revolution) while listening to Paco de Lucia and Seu Jorge, hip-hop and jazz fusion artist Femi weaved together From Spain With Love, a masterclass in colorful storytelling. A concept album in which each song on the album is a letter or message sent home by an emigrant from Cape Verde (former Portuguese colony), the From Spain With Love EP tells the story of building a new life and family in Spain against the backdrop of an unforgiving world economy. Blending hip-hop, jazz, flamenco and other Andalusian music, rock and folk influences, Femi has created a full musical experience that blends genre lines and explores themes that feel essential to 2018.
The album’s single, “Señorita” features the album’s most prominent flamenco influence, featuring Femi and renowned flamenco guitarist Santiago on classical guitars and recorded by Kai Narezo (himself virtuoso flamenco guitarist and author of “Flamenco Explained”) atop a West African and hip hop inspired djembe and drumset groove provided by veteran drummer Joey Heredia. With “Señorita,” Femi chronicles love letters sent from the album’s protagonist to a new lover encountered in his new home of Spain.
Listen to Señorita and check out the entire ep below.
