Kyla La Grange Collaborates With Africa Express Artists On New Version Of 'To Be Torn' - Listen Now
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
Earlier this year, Kyla La Grange joined ‘The Africa Express’ as it toured the UK throughout September, bringing together musical legends, emerging artists, vocalists, DJs, and producers from Africa and the West to play numerous venues across the country. Following the tour, Kyla went into the studio with Nick Zinner, Bassekou Kouyaté, and Richard Russell (just some of the other artists on this year's Africa Express tour) to record a new version of Kyla’s own track ’To Be Torn’ - one of the highlights on her debut album ‘Ashes’ which is out now on Sony.
Watch Kyla La Grange, Bassekou Kouyaté, Richard Russell, and Nick Zinner performing ’To Be Torn’ (Africa Express Mix), below.
Of the recording, Kyla says: "This version of the song is more minimal and spacious than the version on my album, with electronic beats and the ngoni adding elements I'd not used before. It's also slower and somehow weightier; it feels more solemn but less sad than the original. It was so nice to be able create a different version of a song I am very attached to.
"Out of all the songs I have written, 'To Be Torn' is my favourite, so it felt really special for me to be able to perform it with people as amazing as Richard, Bassekou and Nick on Africa Express. It really meant a lot to me that they liked the song, and when Richard suggested we record this version after Africa Express finished I was delighted to be able to do so.”
The collaboration wraps up a busy few months for Kyla. Following the release of her debut album, she toured the UK in October - playing her biggest headline show to date at London's Scala - and then went on a headline tour of Germany and Switzerland, before returning to the UK to support Sebastien Tellier at Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier in December. The stunning video for Kyla's latest single, 'Been Better’, is available to watch here and her debut album, ’Ashes’, is now streaming in full on Soundcloud.
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