Anthony Joseph returns with “James,” the first single from his upcoming album The Ark, produced by Dave Okumu. The track blends soul, dub, electronic textures, and off-the-beaten-path funk, marking a bold new phase in Joseph’s Afro-futurist vision. Following the critical acclaim of Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back, Joseph continues to push the boundaries of jazz, spoken word, and poetry, creating music that is intellectually rich, rhythmically compelling, and deeply rooted in the African diaspora.
Written about Trinidadian/Canadian scholar James Oscar, the song reflects the profound influence Oscar had on Joseph’s thinking and writing, introducing him to surrealist authors including Ted Joans, Andre Breton, Bob Kaufmann, and Edouard Glissant during their time working together in a London bookshop in the mid-1990s. “James” also recalls a late-90s night out in New York City when Joseph and Oscar imagined what might happen if a dog wandered into a nightclub—a surreal, subversive moment rooted in Caribbean party culture, where such events are ordinary. This blend of lived experience and imaginative storytelling is central to Joseph’s work, where music, poetry, and history collide.
The track demonstrates Joseph’s mastery of rhythm and poetic phrasing, layered over eclectic instrumentation that nods to both classic jazz and forward-looking electronic textures. It is a song that celebrates friendship, intellectual curiosity, and the joy of imagining alternate realities.
“James” will be released on 29 January 2026 via Heavenly Sweetness as a digital single, inviting listeners into Joseph’s unique world of rhythm, words, and Afro-futurist exploration.
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