Kokoroko - Could We Be More (Deluxe) (2022)

Following the huge success of 2018’s Kokoroko EP’ and the sensational Abusey Junction, "Could We Be More" is an expansive and ambitious debut album that speaks to the force of Kokoroko.

"Could We Be More" is a sprawling and ambitious album that expresses the power of Kokoroko. Each song possesses the energy that so naturally underpins the heartbeat of the Kokoroko identity - deftly moving through Afrobeat, highlife, soul and funk, and drawing inspiration from a wealth of other influences from the West African and Caribbean communities the band grew up with, the album gives listeners feelings of homecoming and joy.

Band members Sheila Maurice-Grey and Onome Edgeworth explain how "Could We Be More" came about, "I think home has greatly influenced the way we write and play our music. Each of us has a different background, but what unites us at Kokoroko is that we all have a similar love and appreciation for Afrobeat and highlife, whether that's Ebo Taylor or Pat Thomas," says Sheila. "It's that feeling when you're younger and you hear something that you embrace. There was a lot of Nigerian music and soul played at my house, so I felt like I owned it. When you recreate a piece of music, it fills you with pride: 'This is a part of me and this is where I come from,'" Onome adds.

Kokoroko embody all that is London's improvisational music scene - an echo of the past that has taken on new forms, yet sounds new and original. The band is a vivid example of the future of the UK music scene: in their short career, they've released just 7 tracks (1x EP and 3x singles) and quickly built a huge following with over 60 million Spotify streams and a classic album, 2018's intimate, viral masterpiece "Abusey Junction."

As they release their similarly immersive debut album, Kokoroko's return is especially significant. Already winners of "Best Group" at the 2020 Urban Music Awards and the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, the collective has been lauded in the NPR Austin 100 list, crowned "One To Watch" by The Guardian, played around the world at Glastonbury, Meltdown Festival, Elbjazz, Jazz a la Villette, We Out Here, SIM São Paulo, and BBC6 Music Festival (to name a few), played a raucous session for Boiler Room, and made their BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall; All before their debut album, which is as progressive and musically eclectic as one would expect from the eight different personalities within Kokoroko.

Sheila Maurice-Grey, trumpet, vocals
Cassie Kinoshi, alto saxophone, vocals
Richie Seivwright, trombone, vocals
Onome Edgeworth, drums
Ayo Salawu, drums
Tobi Adenaike-Johnson, guitar
Yohan Kebede, synthesizer, keyboards
Duane Atherley, bass, synthesizer, keyboards