Ola Onabulé announces new collaboration

The album, produced and recorded at Onabulé’s Casa Del Funk Studios, represents the culmination of a partnership that began during the pandemic through a series of livestream performances. The collaboration has resulted in a collection of ten original songs that showcase the artists’ shared vision and individual strengths.

Speaking to the origins of the collaboration, Onabulé recounts the origins of the project: “During the pandemic, I found myself hosting livestream shows from my Casa del Funk Studios when I was introduced to Nicolas Meier. From the moment we started playing together, I felt an instant musical connection. Over the course of about nine shows, it became clear that we had something special brewing.”

That said, it’s clear that Onabulé was impressed by Meier’s prolific work as a composer, which led to the suggestion of collaborating on new material. In late 2021 and early 2022, the duo began their creative journey, meeting for several half-day sessions to develop the album’s foundation.

The writing process for “Proof of Life” was characterized by a fluid exchange of ideas between Onabulé and Meier. “We threw sketches of ideas together with ease and collated the 10 songs that form the basis of the album over 4 or so half-day meetings,” Onabulé explains. Their approach involved a dynamic interplay of musical concepts. For ideas originating with Meier, Onabulé would hum into a dictaphone to capture organic and instinctive melodic and lyrical responses. Conversely, Meier would construct guitar accompaniments and arrangements around melodies initiated by Onabulé.

Onabulé’s multifaceted role in the creation of “Proof of Life” is noteworthy. As co-composer, vocalist, producer, and recording engineer, he demonstrates a level of creative control and technical expertise that is uncommon in the genre. The production process began with Onabulé developing initial demos featuring drum, double bass, and keyboard parts. Meier would then enhance these with guitar arrangements. The duo frequently met to refine arrangement details, discussing tempo, song structure, and potential modulations.

His innovated his lyric-writing technique by employing a stream-of-consciousness approach, recording vocals directly in the control room and making immediate edits. This method allowed for the capture of spontaneous moments of inspiration while maintaining high sound quality. Having heard a few tracks from the album, it would not be an understatement to suggest that “Proof of Life” promises to offer a rich tapestry of sound that resonates with themes of love and life.

Known for his remarkable three-and-a-half octave vocal range, Onabulé brings his extensive experience of collaborating with international big bands and symphony orchestras to the project. Ola’s strong international profile needs little clarification with his previous work that includes performances with Grammy Award-winning ensembles from Germany, Denmark, Mexico, and Finland speaking for itself.

Meier’s contribution to the album is equally significant. His versatility as a guitarist, particularly his work with Turkish Makam and Ayak scales, adds depth and complexity to the compositions. Meier’s background, which includes a stint as a mainstay in The Jeff Beck Group and approximately 30 albums showcasing his diverse compositional style, enriches the project’s musical palette.

The album has been mixed and mastered by renowned US producer George Whitty, creating high-quality final product that showcases Onabulé’s production skills and songwriting ability.

Following the album’s release, Onabulé and Meier plan to embark on an international tour as a quartet/quintet in 2025. This tour promises to offer audiences a captivating live experience that highlights the unique musical dialogue between these two accomplished artists.

“Proof of Life” represents a significant milestone in the careers of both Ola Onabulé and Nicolas Meier. The album promises to be a testament to their individual talents and their synergistic collaboration, offering listeners a unique blend of culturally diverse musical elements and themes of universal resonance.

In the coming weeks, our website will be publishing a full feature interview with Ola Onabulé, providing further insights into the creation of “Proof of Life” and his artistic vision for this exciting new chapter in his career.

“Proof of Life” is scheduled for release in May 2025, on Rugged Ram Records distributed through Orchard Sony distribution.

from https://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl