Baaba Maal announces new album ‘The Traveller’

“To all fellow journeymen and women, I am sharing with you these sounds, smells, and colours that are so vital from the desert to the savannah and beyond. “

Senegalese music star, cultural warrior, United Nations Ambassador and Grammy nominee Baaba Maal releases his much awaited 11th album ‘The Traveller’ via Marathon Artists on January 15th 2015.

‘The Traveller’ was recorded in both London and Senegal and was produced by Johan Hugo from The Very Best. The record includes Winston Marshall of Mumford & Sons, who met Baaba Maal at his annual music festival ‘Blues Du Fleuve’ in Fouta, Northern Senegal.

The album is a blend of African roots and more contemporary electronic influences all beautifully woven together at varying tempos, and carrying different messages for the listener. ‘The Traveller’ opens with the raucous Fulani Rock, underpinned by dark throbbing drums, intricate guitars and Baaba Maal’s distinctive vocal soaring overhead, carrying messages for his people: ‘Language is a weapon. I’m not using it to destroy but to build bridges and bring people together. I am a messenger of the people so everyone’s voice can be heard. Other standout tracks are the beautiful ‘One Day’ and ‘Gilli Men’, both resplendent with glistening guitars, velvet-sounding tom-toms, soft strings and Baaba Maal’s voice gently echoing against a backdrop of rapturous, layered backing vocals, which tell us to both ‘Pursue your own excellence,’ and ‘Feed your soul’. Unsurprisingly, for an artist who uses music as a medium to spread important messages to his people and beyond, the album closes with two songs ‘War’ and ‘Peace.’ Both feature powerful spoken word poetry by Lemn Sissay, official poet of the 2012 Olympics and recently appointed Chancellor of The University of Manchester.

‘Working with Johan, I feel we have achieved a new mix of sensibilities and sounds that can’t be put in a box. The Traveller defines how I feel about the planet, that despite its many problems, there is a lot of inspiration, and hope and beauty’.

The release of ‘The Traveller’ on January 15th 2016, is complemented by a six-piece band that will be touring the UK early next year complete with a headline date at The Royal Festival Hall on January 20th 2016.

Other UK/European Dates:

• Wed Jan 13th Berlin, Kesselhaus
• Thu Jan 14th Hamburg, Fabrik
• Fri Jan 15th Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
• Sat Jan 16th Paris, Alhambra
• Tue Jan 19th Norwich, Waterfront
• Wed Jan 20th London, Royal Festival Hall
• Thu Jan 21st Bristol, Colston Hall
• Fri Jan 22nd Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall Celtic Connections
• Sat Jan 23rd Manchester, Academy

‘The Traveller’

1. Fulani Rock
2. Gilli Men
3. One Day
4. Kalaajo
5. Lampenda
6. Traveller
7. Jam Jam
8. War
9. Peace