Maajo | “Better Days (feat. Gilbert K & Waina)”

Finnish-African group Maajo makes their debut on Brooklyn’s Wonderwheel Recordings with “Better Days,” an old school, upbeat disco cut with nods to balearic, reggae and funk. Featuring the soulful voices of two new band members, Mauritian drummer-vocalist Gilbert K and Zambian singer Waina, “Better Days” pays homage to 70s African and Caribbean Disco. Fusing a dance-floor-ready beat with live horn arrangements and uplifting vocals, the track is both ready for the club or a Sunday morning session.In addition to English, the lyrics are sung in the vocalists’ native Creole and Nyanja; the “Kumba” chant pleads for the strength to get through the bad times.

Hailing from Finland, Maajo is a tropical breeze from the cold north; their musical explorations lead from equatorial soundscapes to the woods and moods of their native Scandinavia. African influences, electronic beats and organic rhythms, ethereality and the sounds of nature all make up the patchwork sound of Maajo. Not only is Maajo’s music a way of traveling to faraway places, the songs themselves have traveled all over the globe.

Maajo has evolved from a sample-based electronic music project to a full-sized band, including African vocalists and musicians. The group has put out two full-length albums and three EP’s on Queen Nanny records, in addition to releases on German label Permanent Vacation. Additionally, Maajo has received the remix treatment from artists such as Luke Vibert and Call Super, and toured festivals and clubs around the world. The band has built a dedicated international following, and has been championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson (Worldwide FM), Tom Ravenscroft (BBC Radio 6), and Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) amd featured by KEXP (Song of the Day), Resident Advisor, Ransom Note, and Pan-African Music.

“Better Days” is out on Brooklyn’s Wonderwheel Recordings May 20th, with an album due Fall, 2022.