Release Date: 07/08/26 - What Does It Take To Bloom?
This record will be released
What Does It Take To Bloom? Is her ninth album overall and her first collection of original songs in six years. Musically, it also represents a new chapter in collaboration. During sessions in Lagos, Somi connected with Benjamin James, whose partnership would become pivotal. As one-half of the Nigerian duo The Cavemen., James brings a contemporary approach to heritage-centred sound.
Artist: Somi
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Label: Salon Africana
Jazz, Soul, Highlife and spoken reflection co-exist without apology on 13 new songs co-produced with Benjamin James and featuring his group The Cavemen as well as saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin.
For the Grammy-nominated vocalist/songwriter Somi, each new album is an act of place-making. The catalogue of the Rwandan/Ugandan-American artist reads like a map of migration and memory, with records rooted in Lagos, in Harlem, and in the spirit and political inheritance of Miriam Makeba.
'What Does It Take To Bloom? Is her ninth album overall and her first collection of original songs in six years. Musically, it also represents a new chapter in collaboration. During sessions in Lagos, Somi connected with Benjamin James, whose partnership would become pivotal. As one-half of the Nigerian duo The Cavemen., James brings a contemporary approach to heritage-centred sound. The collaboration proved so seamless that Somi invited him to co-produce the full album, with moods and rhythms ranging from upbeat Highlife-Soul-Fusion ('Aiwah'), via jazzy statements ('Throw Something'), to soulful reflection ('What Does It Take To Bloom?').
Tracklisting
1. Throw Something
2. Sometimes Love feat. The Cavemen.
3. What Does It Take To Bloom?
4. Mama on Blooming
5. So You Want To Be A Woman feat. Lakecia Benjamin
6. Aiwah
7. Sugar
8. Mama on Tradition
9. Ngayaya
10. Lay It Down
11. Interlude: Skin to Skin
12. We're All Falling
About the artist
Laura Kabasomi Kakoma, known professionally as Somi or Somi Kakoma, is a Grammy-nominated American-born singer, songwriter, playwright, and actress of Rwandan and Ugandan descent. Somi is the first African woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award in a Jazz category.
This Vinyl product is a:
- Standard Pressing
If this album is something you would like to buy when it's released, drop us a line on chat@capsulerecords.co.uk or let us know when you are next in store.
