Songhai (musical collaboration)

Songhai was a musical collaboration between the Spanish flamenco group Ketama, Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté, and English bass player Danny Thompson. They released two albums, Songhai (1988) and Songhai 2 (1994), both co-produced by Joe Boyd.

In October 1987, Ketama played five concerts in London, where they met Toumani Diabaté and musicologist and record producer Lucy Durán, who encouraged them to work together. After the group jammed with Diabaté, they performed together at a London club and agreed to record an album for Boyd's Hannibal label. The album was recorded in Madrid in April 1988, with a core line-up consisting of Diabaté, the four members of Ketama - Juan Carmona (guitar), José Soto (vocals, guitar), Antonio Carmona (percussion, vocals), and José Miguel Carmona (percussion, vocals) - and Danny Thompson (bass), with additional backing vocals by Diaw Kouyate and Djanka Diabate of Mory Kanté's band.

The album was well received as a successful fusion of different but related styles of music, but a follow-up was delayed for six years. The core line-up which reunited for Songhai 2 in 1994 was essentially the same as for the first album, although by that time Soto was working as a solo artist rather than as a member of Ketama, and Thompson only featured on three of the tracks. The album also featured bassist Javier Colina, and Malian musicians Kassemady (vocals), Kélétigui Diabaté (balafon), and Basekou Kouyate (ngoni).

Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state that dominated the western Sahel in the 15th and 16th century. At its peak the empire was one of the largest in African history. The empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai people, the ruling elite in the empire. Sonni Ali established Gao as the capital of the empire, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Other important cities in the empire were Timbuktu and Djenné, conquered in 1468 and 1475 respectively, where urban-centered trade flourished. Initially, the empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty (c. 1464–1493), but it was later replaced by the Askiya dynasty (1493–1591).

During the second half of the 13th century, Gao and the surrounding region had grown into an important trading center and attracted the interest of the expanding Mali Empire. Mali conquered Gao towards the end of the 13th century and would remain under Malian hegemony until the late 14th century. But as the Mali Empire started to disintegrate, the Songhai reasserted control of Gao. Songhai rulers subsequently took advantage of the weakened Mali Empire to expand Songhai rule. Under the rule of Sonni Ali, the Songhai surpassed the Malian Empire in area, wealth, and power, absorbing vast areas of the Mali Empire and reached its greatest extent. His son and successor, Sonni Bāru (1492–1493), was a less successful ruler of the empire, and as such was overthrown by Muhammad Ture, one of his father's generals. He was later called Askia (1493–1528) and instituted political and economic reforms throughout the empire during his reign.

Deeper

Deeper may refer to:

In music:

In fiction:

In film:

See also

Deeper (Meredith Andrews album)

Deeper is the fifth studio album by Meredith Andrews. Word Records are releasing the album on February 19, 2016. Andrews worked with producers, Jason Ingram, Paul Mabury, Seth Mosley, Jacob Sooter, in the production of this album.

Background

The producers she chose to work with to make the music for this album was her husband, Jacob Lee Sooter, and three others, Jason Ingram, Seth Mosley, and Paul Mabury. The lead single "Soar" was released to radio in late-2015.

Critical reception

Awarding the album four and a half stars from CCM Magazine, Matt Conner states, "While already a successful recording artist, Andrews has yet to breakthrough to true stardom, but Deeper might do the trick. The songs are here, as well as the stories. It’s more of the same from Andrews, and we wouldn’t have it any other way." Jeremy Armstrong, giving the album four stars at Worship Leader, writes, "Ultimately, Deeper is a reminder of his promise to complete the work he began in those who love him. And the result is a powerful offering of praise, an offering that gathers hearts toward the arms of the Father". Rating the album five stars for 365 Days of Inspiring Media, Jonathan Andre describes, "Deeper, by all accounts, may even top Meredith’s previous album recording, in both lyrical and musical content." Amanda Brogan-DeWilde, allocating the album three and a half stars by New Release Today, says, "Deeper carries the classic worship album sound and feel. It's soft, positive and drenched in Scripture."

Ella Eyre

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Ella McMahon (born 1 April 1994), known by her stage name Ella Eyre, is a British singer and songwriter signed to Virgin EMI Records. She is best known for her collaborations with Rudimental on their UK number one single "Waiting All Night" (2013), which won the 2014 Brit Award for British Single of the Year, and with DJ Fresh on his single "Gravity" (2015). Her debut EP, Deeper, was released in 2013 and her debut album, Feline, was released in 2015. Eyre's musical influences include Lauryn Hill, Etta James, Basement Jaxx and Hans Zimmer.

Early life and education

McMahon was raised in Ealing, west London. She is of Jamaican, Maltese and British descent; her father is a chef and her mother is a cake designer. She trained as a competitive swimmer before she began singing professionally.

McMahon was educated at Millfield School and the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, where she studied musical theatre. Discovered by her management through a vocal coach in 2011, McMahon juggled school with songwriting. She signed to the publisher Warner/Chappell Music in July 2012 and a record deal with Virgin EMI followed shortly after.