By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-26 15:51:49
Blinky Bill has released a 16-track collection, available for streaming and download on major digital platforms. Mostly made in Nairobi during the COVID pandemic, the album continues in the exploratory and experimental nature of previous projects while incorporating traditional tribal drum sounds, electronic music, hip hop, and jazz, and capturing a variety of themes.
“We Cut Keys 2” possesses a signature bounce that marks a departure from the previous project, “Everyone’s Just Winging It and Other Fly Tales,” thanks to being mixed by legendary engineer Gordon ‘Commissioner Gordon’ Williams and mastered by Tony Dawsey. The album’s opening single, ‘Dracula’, is an urgent call for people to unite and stand up for their rights, while the second single, ‘Get That Paper,’ is a cocktail of funk, hip hop, and jazz.
Blinky Bill describes the creative process behind some of the songs, such as “Ajigo Township Funk,” inspired by his favorites Stevie Wonder and Daft Punk, and “Bon Voyage,” a song about being misunderstood featuring rising Kenyan singer Kasha and production by Ghanaian electro producer Rvdical the Kid. “Boss” came about after a night of drinking, where Blinky Bill was inspired by a traditional Luo music drum pattern during a cab ride home.
With a career spanning more than a decade, Blinky Bill has proven himself as a leading experimental artist, contributing to three albums with the Kenyan electronic music and arts collective Just a Band. His talent has allowed him to work with notable artists such as Nneka, GoldLink, Sampa the Great, Childish Gambino, and Chance the Rapper.
His latest project is an evolution of his sound, blending traditional and modern influences to create a unique listening experience. The album can be experienced through his latest music video for the single ‘Dracula.’ Check it out for a taste of Blinky Bill’s diverse and innovative musical style.
