Koichi Sakai Wono EP

For our 7th release, we present our first 12” EP featuring music by London based producer and DJ Koichi Sakai, a well-known head in London music circles thanks to his role in co-founding the legendary Afrobeat Vibration nights alongside Dele Sosimi. In collaboration with Ghanaian percussionist and singer Afla Sackey (Afrik Bawantu), this project sees Koichi mixing African percussion instruments and themes with synths and drum machines.
The A Side features the dancefloor workout ‘Jingo’, a fresh take on Babatunde Olatunji’s original featuring vocals and percussion by Afla Sackey and guitar by Mao Yamada, with Koichi on synths and drum machine.
On the B Side, ‘Wono’ the title track from Koichi’s debut LP gets the remix treatment by Osunlade (Yoruba Soul) who takes Afla’s lead vocals and a few percussion elements and turns it into a stripped-down, hypnotic dancefloor monster. On B2, Venezuela producer Pocz aka Carlos Mayoral creates a funked up, latinized version of the original featuring a brand new bassline and jazzy synths.
This EP comes as a lead up to Koichi’s first LP, ‘Wono’,released towards the end of 2019, It comes housed in our 12” company sleeve designed by Ese in Mexico and is mastered by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt at The Carvery.