Exclusive Premiere: Onipa feat. Mamadou Saar and Luke Wynter “Walato”

MIMS is incredibly excited to premiere “Walato” an irresistible call to dance from Onipa, one of our favourite groups, weaving Senegal grooves with a modern electronic pulse. Featuring Senegalese percussionist, Mamadou Saar and Nubiyan Twist, Golden Mean and LCSM bassist, Luke Wynter.

“Walato” is the first single from the forthcoming Music Halls compilation, ‘Forest Sound Archive’, a collection of music recorded in collaboration during lockdown by some of the best musicians, instrumentalists and music producers living and working in the borough of Waltham Forest. An endeavour supported by the London Borough of Waltham Forest and Arts Council England.

Earlier this year, more than a dozen musicians found a way to overcome the challenges of lockdown to create collaborative pieces in reaction to their isolation and the pandemic. Diverse local talents contributed, such as singer/songwriter and producer Charles Watson, award winning composer/singer/songwriter Paul Mosley, and violinist Emma Smith of the acclaimed chamber group Elysian Quartet.

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Lead single, “Walato”, is born from a collaboration between neighbours Mamadou Sarr and Onipa’s Tom Excell. Hailing from Dakar, Senegal, Mamadou is an exceptionally talented percussionist, and has played for many years with the legendary Baaba Maal. Musician, producer and Onipa and Nubiyan Twist founder Excell, struck up a strong musical connection with Mamadou whilst both playing with Africa Express earlier this year. They are joined by Onipa vocalist K.O.G. and multi-instrumentalist Luke Wynter of Nubiyan Twist, Golden Mean and IG Culture’s LCSM.

The compilation is mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer, Frank Merritt, whose magic touch has helped create acclaimed releases for the likes of Bonobo, Quantic, Soundway, Strut and Bixiga 70. Frank lives and works in Waltham Forest and as part of the process gave mastering masterclasses to local Sixth Form students. The whole project is curated and directed by Sam Jones, music producer (Collocutor, Siti Muharam) and artistic director of Waltham Forest’s Music Hall, for whom this compilation is the just the beginning of a significant redevelopment of Waltham Forest’s public space and support for local musical artists.

The full compilation, released December 18, sheds light on so many different creative paths being carved across Waltham Forest, and is a delight to listen to from beginning to end. Pre-order now and download “Walato” immediately.