Electric Circus
& 
Sahel Roots

On Est Ensemble
 

On est ensemble is a project born from the meeting of Electric Circus, an Italian based  funk band, and Sahel Roots, a duo from the north of Mali. The two bands are composed by young musicians who are exploring in their own way new sounds. Electric Circus are inspired by experimental funk-psych western music while Sahel Roots uses traditional Malian instruments and melodies in a modern way. The purpose of the project was to encounter these two realities in the name of brotherhood besides borders and distance.

The project began in 2021 but its roots sprouted earlier, in 2019. Electric Circus was then engaged in the making of the soundtrack for a documentary series (Contrecourant by Andrea de Georgio), shot in Senegal and Mali. This first direct approach to west african culture and Mali in particular marked the band deeply. Thanks to Michele Cattani, an Italian movie-maker based in Mali and engaged in the contemporary Malian music scene, the band reached out to Sahel Roots, who at the time were inflaming club stages in Bamako and Ségou. 

With a strong desire to share and create, Sahel Roots enthusiastically agreed to participate in the collective project proposed by Electric Circus. It all took place remotely: Sahel Roots recorded in Bamako (Mali), while the Electric Circus in Turin (Italy). Each of the two bands proposed two compositions that the other one completed. The musicians worked hard to get the right balance for the tracks, but in the end, differences were not a problem. While speaking different languages, through music they felt at ease and they comfortably understood each other.

The bands shared this experience wholeheartedly and the final sound flows as if arising from afar. On est ensemble! We’re Together!
 

TRACKLIST
On est ensemble - 03:09
KG - 04:15
Ladi Doupi - 03:30
Faro - 05:29

CREDITS
Composed by Electric Circus and Sahel Roots
Arranged and produced by Electric Circus
Recorded in Torino (Italy) and Bamako (Mali) 
Mixed by Marco Sirio Pivetti @ MetròRec (Riva del Garda, TN, Italy)
Mastered by Mauro Andreolli @ das Ende der Dinge (Trento, Italy)
Artwork: Stefano Grisenti

MUSICIANS
Alassane Samaké - calebasse, percussion, voice
Adama Sidibé - soukou, djourou kelen, voice
Gabriele Perrero - guitalele, bouzouki, electric guitar
Paolo Pilati - classical guitar, electric guitar
Paolo Urbani - drums
Federico Bevacqua - percussion, vibraphone
Giuliano Buratti - sax, flute
Francesco Cretti - bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Tommaso Santini - violin