On March 12th, 2013 Afrolicious is releasing their debut full-length album
‘California Dreaming’ on their own label, Afrolicious Music. The San
Francisco Bay Area-based collective released two previous EP’s on ESL
Music They are celebrating with an album release party at San
Francisco’s Great American Music Hall on March 15th and following with a
spring U.S. tour including festival dates at Wakarusa and more TBA.
On
this album Afrolicious combine soulful vocals, infectious hooks, funky
bass lines, energetic horns and tight beats, while retaining the soul
and feel of classic funk, disco, Latin, Tropical and Afrobeat
recordings. These are songs you can dance to at the club but will still
want to listen to in your house or car. The album’s title refers
to the current state of the California dream and questions the reality,
illusion and the fine line between them for people who are searching
for their dreams in California and beyond.
The
musicians that make up the Afrolicious collective come from a wide
spectrum of places and reflect the diverse make up of California.
Vocalist and percussionist Baba Duru was in the original Headhunters and
recorded on the classic B-Boy anthem “God Made Me Funky”. Freshislife
who sings lead on several of the tracks on ‘California Dreaming’ was
originally a star Calypso dancer in Trinidad and Tobago before
relocating to San Francisco. Many of the artists on the record met at
the weekly Afrolicious party at the legendary Elbo Room in San
Francisco. Founded in 2006 by real life brothers Joe and Oz McGuire, aka
DJs Pleasuremaker and Señor Oz the weekly party became a place to
collaborate with other musicians and DJs and the dancefloor became a
testing ground for original compositions and musical collaborations.
Afrolicious
released two EPs of original music produced by Rob Garza of Thievery
Corporation on their imprint label ESL Music. The EPs and their remix
work together garnered critical acclaim, radio and club support from top
DJs and tastemakers which has created excitement for their first proper
album.
