Ibibio Sound Machine

The London-based Ibibio Sound Machine is a DJ/live music collective that combines sounds inspired in equal measure by the golden era of West African funk and disco, post-punk, and modern electro.

The band was started by producers Max Grunhard, Leon Brichard, and Benji Bouton, who were all enthusiasts of African grooves from the 1970s and '80s. This trio began creating bass'n'drum tracks around the voice of frontwoman Eno Williams. Though London-born, she was a first-generation citizen of the U.K. of Nigerian origin. Her mother's native tongue was Ibibo, and she recounted numerous folk and children's stories from her own heritage to her daughter. Williams crafted lyrics from these sources and married them to modern themes. After the rhythm tracks were created, the three producers first enlisted Ghanaian guitar legend Alfred "Kari" Bannerman (from the band Konkoma), Brazilian percussionist Anselmo Netto, and synth/horn men Tony Hayden and Scott Baylis as a way of illustrating Williams' singing.

Though its inspirations are from an earlier time, Ibibio Sound Machine's approach is distinctly modern; the band's music holds equal appeal on-stage and on record. The band's first single, "Let's Dance," was issued by Soundway in January of 2014, and became a dancefloor smash in London clubs. It was followed by a self-titled album in March.