Africa Express Sound System 2011

It is always a great honor, being asked to get involved with Africa Express. Here's a promo video filmed by Mark Maclaine which features our rehearsal and headline show at Standon Calling Festival earlier this year. BOOM!!

Following the success of the Standon Calling show, AESS was nominated for "Best Headline Act" in the UK Festival awards.

For more info, be sure to check out AE Online.

Pauli, The PSM x

Africa Express Sound System

Being invited to play with africa Express is always an honour. Followed by this feeling of honour, is the feeling of anxiety and  fear.

Anxious to discover who else has been invited to play and fear of the fact you will have to learn around 90minutes of new music in three days..!..

This was the first AESS live show of the year and it was a big one as we prepared  to headline the Standon Calling festival in Hertfordshre.

The AESS line up was lead by: Jesse Hackett and Remi Kabaka. 

Vocalists: Terri Walker, Jon McLure, Fatou, Mic Righteous, Baloji, Mensa, Tor and Kate Tempest.

Musicians: Richy Pitch, Musa M'boob, Diabel Cissokho and PSM

Stage design by: Roland Hamilton and Matt Waterfield all Managed by: Lauren Roth de Wolf.

Keep upto date via the AE website and blog.

Pauli "The PSM" x

Make Fufu Not War

Yesterday I attended Direction Africa presented by Fri-Koka. I arrived at the event after being invited by Kwabena from Kayobi Clothing and wasn't sure of what to expect. After wandering around for a moment, I started recognising some familiar faces from my most receent trip with Africa Express. It was a bit like a reunion after bumping into Richy Pitch, Stephen Budd and Phoenix to name a few friendly faces. I was then informed that Wanlov (Fokn Bois) would be performing alongside M3NSA for the live launh of his album, No.1 Mango Street.

After checking out the performance, catching up with some friends and constantly being reminded that it was Nigerian indepenence day, I settled down for a moment where I was able to catch up with Kayobi, who kindly gifted me a "Make Fufu not War" tee.

PSM, Kwabena & Kola Bello

I first met Kwabena when we struck up a conversation, talking about Africa Express and UK street fashion at Street Fest earlier this year. We've since been friends and on this occasion, even though he was super busy, Kwabena still made time to have a little chin wag where we discussed the fine details and messages he was putting out through his brand. Subsequently I discovered the brand motto is, "Seek Eternity," which really inspired me, seeing such a meaningful message wrapped up in his brand.

Check out Kayobi Clothing online, and remember... Make Fufu Not War!

ps - if you're not sure of what 'fufu' is see wikpedia link for some detailed info, until next time..

"Seek Eternity" PSM x

The PSM x Africa Express

Late last month, I was honored to be asked to play at the Africa Express gig in Galicia.

I got a call from Remi two nights before the show asking what i was doing over the weekend.. Before I could even answer he explined that my flight was being booked... So we flew in for the second day of rehearsals which also happened to be show day!

As you can imagine, there were a lot hi-lights, after all this was five hour musical extravaganza, performing to near 100 thousand people! The show featured a bunch of legends, young and old. And was genuinely one of the most incredible musical experiences of my life.

One incredible moment was when the whole stage was covered with musicians from around the world playing along to Rock the Casbah with John Paul Jones, Mick Jones , M.anifest and Damon Albarn.

Another incredible experience was playing a remix of M.I.A.'s Paper Planes with Afrikan Boy, John McClure, Kano, Ghetts and Wanlov; featuring CocknBullKid, Spanish Brass, Jesse Hackett, Rachid Taha and Fyfe Dangerfield. See the video below for a teaser of me behind the kit getting involved in the action.

This was my second show with Africa Express, after playing at their Christmas Party at the end of last year. I can't articulate how much I enjoyed it, and am thoroughly looking forward to the next encounter!

For more information on Africa Express check out the website.

Love is Love, PSM.