"use to feel a little broken hearted / when I found you in the middle..." [photo courtesy of erik pousette]
The fertile alt pop persuasions of "Sooky Sooky" by the collaborative Stockholm Sweden duo of Afro grunge phenom Boko Yout (Paul Adamah) and producer extraordinaire boerd aka Bård Ericson inject pure dreaminess in my veins, and I could use that at this time, let me tell you. Their previous collabs in totality pushes and pulls at you with hard to define panoramic sounds that (for me) recounts a lot of things, 90's post grunge guitar / production movements against sun spot flickers ala a bevy of disparate attitudinal shifts like an amalgam of artists like Lupe Fiasco conscious hip hop, Portishead's scratchy post rock retro-isms, Kendrick Lamar bloodletting subversions, Yard Acts' soft dystopia. You might be thinking that I am struggling to define Boko Yout's and boerd's sounds and you would be correct but that almost always means I am enamored with these artists and I am. In the end, "Sooky Sooky" feels deliciously chill while emotionally dramatic and feels like it would fit perfectly within one of my favorite 90's soundtracks- 1996 "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture".
LINER NOTES:
Boko Yout and boerd releases the EP "Griot" with focus track "Sooky Sooky"
Stockholm-based producer boerd (Bård Ericson) and Afro Grunge pioneer Boko Yout (Paul Adamah) are set to release a collaborative EP titled "Griot" on March 15. The EP includes previously released singles "All My Life" and "Lavendel" along with the new tracks "Sooky Sooky" and "Dédévi". Release via boerds own label Blunda. All tracks are produced by boerd and written by Boko Yout.
In January, we were treated to the musical fusion of producer boerd and artist Boko Yout, alongside their solo careers. With the single "All My Life" they showcased their ability to blend their love for trip-hop beats with boerd's beautiful Rhodes arrangements, and Boko Yout's powerful melodic language. The song climbed Spotify's list of the 50 most viral songs in Sweden and gained immediate rotation on National Radio Station P3.
February saw the follow-up single release, the insomnia-infused piece "Lavendel", which presented a more delicate side of the duo's collaboration, sung in Swedish. "Lavendel" intertwines sensitive strings with acoustic guitars and melodies consistent trip-hop influences alongside elements of electronica, pop, and ambient music, evoking the sounds of the 90s.
Boko Yout and boerd releases the EP "Griot" with focus track "Sooky Sooky"
Stockholm-based producer boerd (Bård Ericson) and Afro Grunge pioneer Boko Yout (Paul Adamah) are set to release a collaborative EP titled "Griot" on March 15. The EP includes previously released singles "All My Life" and "Lavendel" along with the new tracks "Sooky Sooky" and "Dédévi". Release via boerds own label Blunda. All tracks are produced by boerd and written by Boko Yout.
In January, we were treated to the musical fusion of producer boerd and artist Boko Yout, alongside their solo careers. With the single "All My Life" they showcased their ability to blend their love for trip-hop beats with boerd's beautiful Rhodes arrangements, and Boko Yout's powerful melodic language. The song climbed Spotify's list of the 50 most viral songs in Sweden and gained immediate rotation on National Radio Station P3.
February saw the follow-up single release, the insomnia-infused piece "Lavendel", which presented a more delicate side of the duo's collaboration, sung in Swedish. "Lavendel" intertwines sensitive strings with acoustic guitars and melodies consistent trip-hop influences alongside elements of electronica, pop, and ambient music, evoking the sounds of the 90s.
“I’ve long been inspired by 90s trip-hop from the UK, such as Portishead and Massive Attack, which probably comes through more on this EP than anything I’ve done before. My collaboration with Boko Yout is, for me, an introspective and reflective collection of lyrically and musically songs.”, says boerd about the collaboration.
"Griot" dropped on March 15th, and the title alludes to the West African term for a kind of oral storyteller, poet, and/or troubadour. The exact connection between the concept and the songs on “Griot” remains open to interpretation, but here’s how Boko Yout describes his work on the lyrics:
"Griot" dropped on March 15th, and the title alludes to the West African term for a kind of oral storyteller, poet, and/or troubadour. The exact connection between the concept and the songs on “Griot” remains open to interpretation, but here’s how Boko Yout describes his work on the lyrics:
“In writing, I’ve been honest and vulnerable. It’s a documentation of a larger grieving process. I delve into issues of addiction, relationships, and contemplations of death. It was never the plan; it just happened. The music becomes a way to reflect on and process the weight of it all."
-Robb Donker Curtius
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THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/bokoyout/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bokoyout
https://www.facebook.com/boerdmusic
Paul Adamah (b. 1998), also known as Boko Yout, is a Stockholm-based artist who has placed himself in the top tier of Swedish musical promises with international potential. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he is already a rumored live phenomenon.
At the beginning of 2023, he shared the stage with punk rock giants Viagra Boys on their Scandinavian arena tour, followed by a performance at Brilliant Minds (founded by Daniel Ek, founder of Spotify), alongside festival gigs like Storsjöyran, Way Out West, and Powerpose FM Festival, to mention a few.
With a musical style that he dubs afro grunge and a creative palette encompassing music, fashion, design, and performance art – he seeks to explore identity as an ever-growing journey towards self-acceptance.
“Earlier in my life, shame, religious values, and internalised homophobia prevented me from creating sincerely. Only when I recognized the impact of black masculinity ideals on me could I break free. Today, my creative work rebels against the shame tied to being queer. I explore this to control my narrative and tell the stories I lacked growing up.”
Boko Yout is part of a generation that came of age alongside internet culture, social media, and hip-hop, leading him to approach art from diverse angles.
“My creative work, fueled by desire, satire, lust, and facets of my identity, encompasses black culture, internet culture, TV tropes, afro-surrealism, and hip-hop. I express myself visually through performance, video, and music.”
In 2023, Boko Yout released his debut EP “AS SEEN ON TV” [Hoopdiggas Recordings] – a project where eight songs represent channels on a fictional TV network called Boko Communications. Paul sees this network as a metaphor for his life experiences adapted for entertainment. The project is based on sociologist Stuart Hall’s ideas about representation in the media and how drama, reality TV, and news producers are drawn to stereotypical narratives. Something that Paul very much relates to.
“Being a black man in Sweden, TV and entertainment served as an escape from the reality of being racialized. This project celebrates and critiques the culture shaped by stereotypes. The TV network (Boko Communications) allows me to curate what I want to see – a manifestation of a younger version of myself and the stories I wish I had heard. It’s a way to look up to myself in retrospect.”
Despite dealing with complex issues, Boko Yout’s music and persona are remarkably accessible, perhaps owing to the intriguing blend of playfulness and seriousness. He’s constantly exploring new paths without losing his originality and with a strong determination on where he’s heading.
In early 2024, Boko Yout returns with new music – a collaboration with the Swedish artist, producer, and double bass player Bård Ericson, aka boerd. The EP “Griot” will be released on March 15th.
Paul Adamah (b. 1998), also known as Boko Yout, is a Stockholm-based artist who has placed himself in the top tier of Swedish musical promises with international potential. Despite being in the early stages of his career, he is already a rumored live phenomenon.
At the beginning of 2023, he shared the stage with punk rock giants Viagra Boys on their Scandinavian arena tour, followed by a performance at Brilliant Minds (founded by Daniel Ek, founder of Spotify), alongside festival gigs like Storsjöyran, Way Out West, and Powerpose FM Festival, to mention a few.
With a musical style that he dubs afro grunge and a creative palette encompassing music, fashion, design, and performance art – he seeks to explore identity as an ever-growing journey towards self-acceptance.
“Earlier in my life, shame, religious values, and internalised homophobia prevented me from creating sincerely. Only when I recognized the impact of black masculinity ideals on me could I break free. Today, my creative work rebels against the shame tied to being queer. I explore this to control my narrative and tell the stories I lacked growing up.”
Boko Yout is part of a generation that came of age alongside internet culture, social media, and hip-hop, leading him to approach art from diverse angles.
“My creative work, fueled by desire, satire, lust, and facets of my identity, encompasses black culture, internet culture, TV tropes, afro-surrealism, and hip-hop. I express myself visually through performance, video, and music.”
In 2023, Boko Yout released his debut EP “AS SEEN ON TV” [Hoopdiggas Recordings] – a project where eight songs represent channels on a fictional TV network called Boko Communications. Paul sees this network as a metaphor for his life experiences adapted for entertainment. The project is based on sociologist Stuart Hall’s ideas about representation in the media and how drama, reality TV, and news producers are drawn to stereotypical narratives. Something that Paul very much relates to.
“Being a black man in Sweden, TV and entertainment served as an escape from the reality of being racialized. This project celebrates and critiques the culture shaped by stereotypes. The TV network (Boko Communications) allows me to curate what I want to see – a manifestation of a younger version of myself and the stories I wish I had heard. It’s a way to look up to myself in retrospect.”
Despite dealing with complex issues, Boko Yout’s music and persona are remarkably accessible, perhaps owing to the intriguing blend of playfulness and seriousness. He’s constantly exploring new paths without losing his originality and with a strong determination on where he’s heading.
In early 2024, Boko Yout returns with new music – a collaboration with the Swedish artist, producer, and double bass player Bård Ericson, aka boerd. The EP “Griot” will be released on March 15th.
Boko Yout, boerd, afro grunge artist Paul Adamah, producer Bård Ericson, Romeo + Juliet, deliciously chill and soulful, subversions of "Sooky Sooky", diverse EP "Griot", amazing collaboration,
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