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Monday, 13 October
Artist Interview
Black History Month UK
In honour of Black History Month, we’re excited to share our latest interview with the amazing Sacred Funk Quartet — a group that blends the spirit of Yoruba Orisa music with the energy of funk, soul and community.
Together, we talk about the history behind Yoruba and West African traditions, what it means for the band to share these powerful sounds with rural audiences and how they see their music evolving in the years ahead.
It’s a joyful, thoughtful conversation about heritage, creativity and connection.
Read on to find out more and check out this fantastic video.
How do you balance authenticity and innovation when bringing traditional African sounds to contemporary stages?
The authenticity is from the listening, respect and understanding of the features of the music such as the melodies, rhythms and its context. With this as a foundation, the innovation comes from each of our unique musical voices, interpretation and instrumentation. The balance comes naturally from understanding and respecting each other's musical voice.
Yoruba Orisa music is deeply spiritual and rooted in history. How does performing it today connect you to the band's heritage and Black cultural identity?
Considering the spiritual and historical roots of the music is always a reminder of the things, people and place that have made us who we are. It makes me "zoom-out" and remember that I am part of something bigger.
What have been some of the most meaningful collaborations or performances you’ve experienced together as a Quartet?
Recording the album was particularly meaningful as it was great to document the way we have collectively interpreted the music through playing together. A memorable performance was a jazz night in Birmingham where break-dancers came to dance at the front of the stage throughout our set. It put the music in a different context for us and was a pleasant change from people politely seated in rows to all kinds of different people, dancing, sitting, standing and chatting.
What does it mean to you to share Yoruba and West African traditions with rural audiences?
It means doing something different that has the potential to make someone think and feel in a different way, become curious about something they hadn't before and experience something new.
What advice would you give to young musicians who want to explore their cultural heritage through music?
Learn the music, the instruments, the history, the people, places, composers, players etc and stay open minded to where it leads you.
Play and create it whilst also being true to the sounds and things that resonate with you. Be open to or create opportunities to play and create with people who love to play, listen and learn. Learning and respecting what has come before us adds depth to our knowledge and musical sensibilities. Pairing that with our own instincts and interpretations can bring about our own voice and musical maturity.
What does the future hold for Sacred Funk Quartet?
We can never know for sure but, whatever it will be, it'll most likely be connecting with more people and places around the world.
More collaborations that explore and combine the traditional, spiritual, folk music with our own personal musical voices.
Thank you to Reuben Reynolds and Sacred Funk Quartet for this interview.
For more information about upcoming Sacred Funk Quartet performances with Live & Local, please click here.
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