Isaac Birituro & The Rail Abandon

Isaac’s love for the xylophone is in his blood, passed down to him by his father and uncle (Kakraba Lobi) as he heartwarmingly expresses: “My father has travelled across the world entertaining people with his music and he builds xylophones too. I’ve followed in his footsteps. So I absolutely loved making this album and I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for people and demonstrate the beauty of the xylophone–– it means everything to me.” Sonny Johns is a producer/engineer/musician who has been involved in multiple Grammy, MOBO and Mercury Award nominated projects with West African legends including Ali Farka Touré, Oumou Sangaré, Tony Allen, Cheihk Lô and Fatoumata Diawara. Their spontaneous collaboration was a thing of serendipity that started over a couple of ‘Nica Libres’ shared by Sonny and––at that specific time, recently befriended––Tim and Svenja, of Rüt’n’Rock Festivals. Fuelled by Sonny’s love for West African music and years of experience with the sounds and culture of the area, he decided to embark on what proved to be a highly significant adventure. Just one year later, guitar in hand and not really knowing what to expect, Sonny found himself in Kalba, North Ghana, building a mobile recording studio and making music with Isaac and local musicians in a church (the only place that had reliable electricity). Three days in and the album, Kalba, is born; quite an intense and special experience for everyone involved.