New trio Batuk drop two videos ahead of debut album and Euro tour

The eclectic new ensemble, which first performed at the African Futures closing party in Johannesburg in October 2015, is on a quest to connect the African diaspora by exchanging and sharing African rhythm culture and language while fusing it with electrifying house beats. With influences from zouk, afro/tribal house, soul, techno and traditional African music, the trio represents the spirit of proudly African youth with a global state of mind.

To date the project has completed multi-disciplinary collaborations in South Africa, Mozambique and Uganda, which have resulted in a sound that is set to capture the imagination of listeners around the globe. The group’s upcoming debut EP, Musica da Terra (Portuguese for ‘music of the earth’), is a genre-defying release that features the likes of Grupo Zore and Grupo Makarita from Mozambique; as well as Giovanni Kiyingi, Annet Nandujja and Nilotica from Uganda. The album is set for a worldwide release on 31 May.

As the trio prepares to launch the album with a month-long tour of Europe starting in Paris, France on 20 May, their fans haven’t been left wanting. The trio has released two singles, both accompanied by music videos. The first single ‘Daniel’ (along with the B-side ‘Reya Congo’) features frequent collaborator South African songstress Nandi Ndlovu. This single is accompanied by an exquisite music video, directed by acclaimed director Kent Andreasen and shot on location in Impaputo, Mozambique.

The second single, ‘Call me Naughty’, fronted by Fonseca who raps and sings in Portuguese, showcases the group’s playful side and is also accompanied by a video.

Batuk's upcoming tour will take them to no fewer than seven European countries. The dates and locations are as follows:

• 20 May: Paris, France
• 21 May: Sion, Switzerland
• 27 May: Bordeaux, France
• 4 June: Porto, Portugal
• 25 June: Pescara, Italy
• 30 June: Fusion Festival, Germany
• 1 July: Lisbon, Portugal
• 8 July: Gagnef, Sweden
• 27 July: Pinireos Sur Festival, Spain
• 30 July: Les Escales, France

Upon the band’s return to Africa after the tour, they will be looking to perform at a number of South African venues to give local fans a taste of that unique Batuk experience. Watch this space.