The Busy Twist Friday Night EP

Produced in London but recorded in Ghana, the ‘Friday Night’ EP by The Busy Twist transcends borders with its energetic and feel-good vibes, effortlessly mixing influences from the London bass scene and Ghanaian highlife and hip-life. Released on digital and 12” vinyl, the physical release comes with a bonus 12” featuring The Busy Twist’s debut ‘Floor Excitement EP’ release.

21 year-old London producers Gabriel Benn (aka Tuesday Born) and Ollie Williams (aka Ollie Twist) have spent the last 3 years travelling back and forth to Ghana to work with musicians from around the country who have come to make up The Busy Twist family.

The lead track “Friday Night” showcases the two older members of the family Yaga Yo and Daniel who take the lead vocals in a typical West African highlife style with a song about money grabbing women and men’s willingness to hand over the cash. On the flip, ‘Auntie Fatty,’ Malaika, a singer and toaster from Northern Ghana adds a different flavour on the same rhythm. East London producer Drum talk rounds it off with a signature remix bringing in elements of Detroit techno and old-school analogue house music.

The EP was recorded along with other material during the Easter of 2011. Over three weeks Gabriel and Ollie lived with the musicians at Yaga Yo’s house, eating West African food and drinking Ghanaian liquor.

With the accompanying video The Busy Twist wanted to capture the energy and vibrancy of Ghanaian life and music culture on camera. The two Londoners ventured around the streets of the capital Accra and a local rural school (in which they were working) with a rented boom box to shoot some of their friends and any passers-by who wanted to get involved, by cutting shapes in the street to the single.

The ‘Friday Night’ EP highlights the ever-decreasing gap between London and modern African music – in doing so they have managed to create a track that captures the vibrancy of both places.