LIVE FROM A ROOFTOP IN THE INDONESIAN JUNGLE (AND JUST BEFORE THEIR AUS HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF), COME SOAK YOURSELF IN THE STUNNING SONIC SURROUNDS OF AFRO-AUSTRALIAN TRIO TRUE VIBENATION AND THEIR BRAND NEW VIDEO RECORDED LIVE FOR THEIR TUNE RADIATE PREMIERING RIGHT NOW ON THE SOUNDCHECK!
With dreamy dollops of soul, afrobeat, brass and more, the soothing tones of True Vibenation (aka Vuli Mkwananzi, Bheki Mkwananzi and Gabriel 'Klue' Clouston) erupted from cosmic inspiration from shared African heritage and an initial taste of stardom onstage at a Western Sydney Arts Centre. Fast-forward just over a decade and this fanciful trio have carved up multiple releases, stellar local and international tours, plus a coveted stint onstage at the UK mecca for festival-heads around the globe: Glastonbury Festival.
Comprising three eminent multi-instrumentalists, with all three members producing beats and playing horns live at their increasingly dynamic shows, the ongoing True Vibenation knack for crafting modern afrobeat sounds with traditional Sungura music finds itself in utter glossy bliss, not just on their previous releases but also on their upcoming single You Don't Love Me (You Love My Guitar) which drops this Friday January 31, featuring Sylent Nqo doling out some sinfully smooth guitar.
But this week doesn't just bring a brand new tune from this dazzling bunch, with True Vibenation also kicking off a headline national tour this Saturday February 1, starting in Sydney and winding around to some metro and regional towns before jumping over to Amsterdam ahead of the announcement of more Europe dates on the very near horizon.
Recorded in a DIY studio in Harare, Zimbabwe, the upcoming You Don't Love Me is as energetic as its predecessors, and captures the billowing joy and triumphant clout bubbling over in the True Vibenation cup. But to tide you over until the new track and tour comes to life later this week, the True Vibenation gents are gifting something extra-special with a live sessions video for their hauntingly soulful 2019 tune Radiate getting you in the summer zone in silky smooth fashion. With their Indonesian debut fittingly closing out their 2019 tour for Radiate, it's fitting that the live session was recorded on a rooftop in the Indonesian jungle - and it's nothing but slick beats and dewy visuals as the guys bust out their glowing charm amid swapping vocals for horns and a lush jungle backdrop.
There's quite simply nothing like a True Vibenation live experience, whether you're a hip hop diehard or just need to move your feet. So be sure to pop along to one of their upcoming shows and check their brand new tune this Friday - but in the meantime, go get in the spirit of things with a sneak peek at their live video for Radiate below. Tour info and more HERE.
BY TIANA SPETER