Angelique Kidjo reimagines Talking Heads 'Remain in Light' ft. Ezra Koenig, Blood Orange, more

March 22, 2018

You may recall that Angélique Kidjo performed a reimagined take on Talking Heads’ seminal album Remain in Light last summer as part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and she’ll be releasing the studio version on June 8 via Kravenworks Records. The album was co-produced by Angelique and Jeff Bhasker, and features appearances from Ezra Koenig, Blood Orange, Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, Antibalas Horns, Angelique’s touring guitarist Dominic James, and percussionist Magatte Sow. The album will feature the album’s eight classic tracks with Angelique’s unique vocal inflections, dramatic horn sections, and altered lyrics from her home country. Angelique described her initial reaction to hearing the album in a new interview with Rolling Stone:

I remember vividly every time the music came in, I said, ‘There’s something African to it.’ Some of my peers [at jazz school] said, ‘Aw, come on. Shut up. This is not African. It’s too sophisticated for you.’ I’m like, ‘OK, whatever you say. It might be rock & roll, but there’s something African to it.’ I’m a very rhythmic person. Music is part of my heartbeat and every part of my body. This had an African touch to it.

The first single from the record is a fresh take on opening track “Born Under Punches,” which spins the original on its head, complete with a heavily synthetic groove and additional backing vocals. You can hear that, along with the original track, below.

Angelique will also be bringing this ambitious project on the road later this year, in addition to a few solo shows. There are no NYC dates at the moment, but there will be a Westchester show at Katonah’s Caramoor Center for the Music and Arts on July 28. Tickets are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile, actual Talking Heads frontman has a new album and is on tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8xdsZhfrcA

Angelique Kidjo – 2018 Tour Dates
Mar 23 – Birmingham, AL @ University of Alabama
Apr 04 – Saint Brieuc, France @ La Passerelle Scene Nationale#
Apr 05 – Rennes, France @ Opéra de Rennes#
Apr 06 – Saint-Martin-Des-Champs, France @ Le Roudour#
Apr 07 – Queven, France @ Les Arcs
Apr 13 – Cambridge, MA @ Sanders Theatre
May 02 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall*
May 04 – Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre*
May 05 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel*
June 01 – Warzberg, Germany @ Africa Festival, Talavera Mainwisen
June 08 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall*
July 11 – Arles, Fr @ Theatre Antique
July 26 – Vic-Fezensac, Fr @ Tempo Latino CC%
July 28 – Katonah, NY @ Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
August 6 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia*
August 7 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap*
August 9 – Denver, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens*