The streets of South London where roots and dancehall rub shoulders with Afro beat, hip hop and dub provides the recipe for Soothsayers' organic and unique sound.

Soothsayers are a London-based collective that reach far beyond the restrictive clichés of ‘World Music.’ Blending the pulsating rhythms of Afrobeat with the sonic adventurousness of dub reggae and urban jazz, Soothsayers shook up the jaded music scene with their acclaimed debut album, ‘Lost City’. Following this came ‘Tangled Roots’, an exceptional release that defies standard classifications: the West African root that drove Fela Kuti’s rebellion is filtered through the deeply seductive dub experimentation of Lee Perry, King Tubby and Augustus Pablo, while funk, hip hop and other contemporary elements yield a complex sound firmly lodged in London’s broader musical experience.

Soothsayers have built deserved reputation as an exhilarating and inspirational live act. The heart of the band is tenor saxophonist Idris Rahman and trumpeter Robin Hopcraft, co-writers and producers of the band’s material. The pair have played with a range of African artists and reggae stars like Junior Delgado, Rico Rodriguez, Cedric ‘Im’ Brooks, and Earl 16 as well as pop acts such as Stereo MCs and Dodgy, and cutting edge jazz groups such as The Zoe Rahman Quartet. Fellow band members include the elder statesman of Afrobeat, Adesose Wallace on vocals and percussion, Kodjovi Kush on bass, Phil Dawson on guitar, Derek Johnson on guitar, Jonny Phillips on guitar, Patrick Illingworth, drums, Wesley Joseph, drums new vocalist Mellow Baku and Zoe Rahman on keyboard.  In the studio a range of special guests keep the music broadly challenging from Nigerian ‘blu funk’ advocate Keziah Jones, Maxi Jazz of soulful dance troupe Faithless, Roots Manuva’s reggae to singer Rikki Rankin.

‘Now and again an album comes out of nowhere that hits you straight between the ears.’ The Times

‘A heady sonic brew, crafted in the best jazz tradition by drawing respectfully from disparate elements…the album is full of irresistibly funky grooves, intricate percussion, virtuoso vocals, elaborate guitar lines and swinging horns, with meaningful lyrics and uncommon vocal arrangements raising the overall musical standard one level higher.’ Mojo ****

‘Thrilling harmonies…seriously infectious dance floor grooves…goose bump inducing vocals.’ The Guardian
‘An impressive mosaic of Afrobeat, dub and funky fusion…dynamic volleys of call and response…cascading horn riffs and melodies.’ Echoes

‘Tangled Roots shows how exciting and diverse things get when you hold a mirror up to London’s musical melting pot.’ Jazzwise ****

‘The eclectic blend works perfectly with the sound being organic and unique. It reflects the diverse cultural influences in modern urban Britain and you can imagine the music fitting in on dance floors in South London, Kingston, Lagos or Accra. Infectious, funky and great fun!' BBC Radio 3

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