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Publication date: July 10 2007
2 HOURS WITH FOUR KORNERZ...
THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE STORIES THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 4K IN A
ROUND ABOUT KIND OF WAY. SAY HELLO TO JAMES BEATT, FOUR KORNERZ's
ACE BASS PLAYER (above, with DEJI)...
ROUND ABOUT KIND OF WAY. SAY HELLO TO JAMES BEATT, FOUR KORNERZ's
ACE BASS PLAYER (above, with DEJI)...
In May 2007 at the Albany in Deptford, South London, a large group of friends, supporters
and well wishers gathered for the Goldsmith College music students final year live
performance exam. The full FOUR KORNERZ complement had turned up to support one of
their own. YINKA AWOJOBI was there...
and well wishers gathered for the Goldsmith College music students final year live
performance exam. The full FOUR KORNERZ complement had turned up to support one of
their own. YINKA AWOJOBI was there...
As I type this into my phone/PDA, there are exactly
five days until the launch of SOULECTRIC, the long-
awaited (some might even employ words like 'long
overdue', but I'm a fan so I won't ) debut album
release from FOUR KORNERZ.
It's a late summer's evening on May 30th, 2007, but
it's not yet dark. I'm on an airconditioned train, heading out of London, on my way back home. I've just finished checking out the pictures I took on the camera (instant gratification:
one of the unbridled joys of digital photography), and there are a few there I'm happy with.
About an hour ago, DANIEL handed me a box of FOUR KORNERZ's 'GONNA MAKE IT' singles from their label, UB1 MUSIC, for UKG Shop.com. Pick up a copy if you want one.
five days until the launch of SOULECTRIC, the long-
awaited (some might even employ words like 'long
overdue', but I'm a fan so I won't ) debut album
release from FOUR KORNERZ.
It's a late summer's evening on May 30th, 2007, but
it's not yet dark. I'm on an airconditioned train, heading out of London, on my way back home. I've just finished checking out the pictures I took on the camera (instant gratification:
one of the unbridled joys of digital photography), and there are a few there I'm happy with.
About an hour ago, DANIEL handed me a box of FOUR KORNERZ's 'GONNA MAKE IT' singles from their label, UB1 MUSIC, for UKG Shop.com. Pick up a copy if you want one.
The trip home...
Final prep: James takes everyone through the playlist...
Ten minutes before that they had just come off stage at the Albany Theatre, London (interestingly enough the same venue SIANI used to record their Unplugged CD/DVD).
It was their bassist JAMES BEAT's final performance exam at University and - as part of his live show module assessment - the boys were on stage with him for the gig.
With the upcoming buzz about the new album launch gathering momentum on the UK scene, I thought it was a good idea to just hang with the guys for a couple of hours and get a feel for the preparation behind SOULECTRIC's release.
It was just me, my camera, FOUR KORNERZ: DEJI (vocals), TJ (keys) VIDAL (drums), DANIEL (vocals), plus JAMES BEATT (bass) and CURTIS CUMBERBATCH (guitars), hanging around
with three other bands/artists that also had their exams at the same time...
It was their bassist JAMES BEAT's final performance exam at University and - as part of his live show module assessment - the boys were on stage with him for the gig.
With the upcoming buzz about the new album launch gathering momentum on the UK scene, I thought it was a good idea to just hang with the guys for a couple of hours and get a feel for the preparation behind SOULECTRIC's release.
It was just me, my camera, FOUR KORNERZ: DEJI (vocals), TJ (keys) VIDAL (drums), DANIEL (vocals), plus JAMES BEATT (bass) and CURTIS CUMBERBATCH (guitars), hanging around
with three other bands/artists that also had their exams at the same time...
Afterwards...
I had forgetten how exciting a live 4K show was. I hadn't been to any live events for quite a while, and this excellent intimate venue, full of good natured, rowdy students out for nothing but a good time, showing up to support their various friends' final perfomance exams, made it that bit more enjoyable. Even though there were three separate acts appearing (including JAMES and FOUR KORNERZ) everyone seemed to know everyone else.
The guys were last out, and the serious set list included CLAP CLAP and YES I KNOW.
JAMES was on form on bass (which was rather a good thing seeing as this was HIS exam).
The guys were last out, and the serious set list included CLAP CLAP and YES I KNOW.
JAMES was on form on bass (which was rather a good thing seeing as this was HIS exam).
Also rolled out was CAN'T TAKE MY JOY AWAY, a straight up
church number written by JAMES, with LYANNA AUSTIN on guest
vocals.
LYANNA's effortless style - perfectly complemented by DEJI and
DANIEL's charged and infectious performance - had the student
crowd in pure Sunday morning mode.
Two things struck out for me: FOUR KORNERZ have always insisted they are a live band, being as much about performance as they are about studio and musical ability. Any one of the countless people that has seen them live would most emphatically attest the validity of that intention.
Secondly (and much more importantly): gospel music - in all its diverse traditional and contemporary forms - most definitely translates extremely well, subject (obviously) to the
church number written by JAMES, with LYANNA AUSTIN on guest
vocals.
LYANNA's effortless style - perfectly complemented by DEJI and
DANIEL's charged and infectious performance - had the student
crowd in pure Sunday morning mode.
Two things struck out for me: FOUR KORNERZ have always insisted they are a live band, being as much about performance as they are about studio and musical ability. Any one of the countless people that has seen them live would most emphatically attest the validity of that intention.
Secondly (and much more importantly): gospel music - in all its diverse traditional and contemporary forms - most definitely translates extremely well, subject (obviously) to the
DEJI and LYANNA do 'Can't Take
My Joy Away'...
My Joy Away'...
skill of the artist. It might be a cliché, but people truly ARE open to the message we're carrying, if presented with intelligence, sensitivity, understanding and excellence...
I'd like to believe that among the beer swilling, the couples kissing and the general footloose and fancy free atmosphere of a typical university student event, God sowed a highly potent seed tonight... And surely that's what it's about...?
In a few days' time I'm off to London again to see the boys' album launch. I know one thing for sure - it's going to be a blast. Hip-hop, Funk, RnB, Soul and even their native South Western Nigerian vibe form the constituent elements of SOULECTRIC.
It's been a few years in the making - let's go see what it's all been about.
And finally: James: great show mate, don't know how your lecturer will mark you, but you're getting an A+ from me...
I'd like to believe that among the beer swilling, the couples kissing and the general footloose and fancy free atmosphere of a typical university student event, God sowed a highly potent seed tonight... And surely that's what it's about...?
In a few days' time I'm off to London again to see the boys' album launch. I know one thing for sure - it's going to be a blast. Hip-hop, Funk, RnB, Soul and even their native South Western Nigerian vibe form the constituent elements of SOULECTRIC.
It's been a few years in the making - let's go see what it's all been about.
And finally: James: great show mate, don't know how your lecturer will mark you, but you're getting an A+ from me...
2 HOURS WITH FOUR KORNERZ
LAST MINUTE: DANIEL and DEJI warm up - JAMES has more important things to take care of...
LEFT AND ABOVE: DANIEL and I got chatting - he told me he didn't
really have that many pics where he's on his own - so I took a few...
really have that many pics where he's on his own - so I took a few...
FROM BOTTOM LEFT:
On stage: TJ on keys. Backstage practice: CURTIS
CUMBERBATCH (guitar)...
Never got any decent pics of VIDAL on drums - he was
always tucked behind the band. Backstage, I got him
to point his drumstick at the camera.
TJ and his deck go EVERYWHERE together...
JAMES: on stage, and backstage...
DEJI and TJ discuss a song arrangement on the mac...
On stage: TJ on keys. Backstage practice: CURTIS
CUMBERBATCH (guitar)...
Never got any decent pics of VIDAL on drums - he was
always tucked behind the band. Backstage, I got him
to point his drumstick at the camera.
TJ and his deck go EVERYWHERE together...
JAMES: on stage, and backstage...
DEJI and TJ discuss a song arrangement on the mac...
LINKS/CREDITS
FOUR KORNERZ - MySpace FOUR KORNERZ - offical website JAMES BEATT - Myspace
Buy FOUR KORNERZ music - UKG Shop.com Back to FOUR KORNERZ UK Gospel.com Special
WORDS AND PICTURES: Yinka Awojobi
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