Introducing: West African Art-Folk Act The Narcotix Share Debut Single “John/Joseph”
Brooklyn based West African art-folk band The Narcotix have shared their first official single, “John/Joseph,” taken from their forthcoming EP release. The five-piece will self-release the EP, titled Mommy Issues, on June 11th.
“John/Joseph” is a compilation of the group’s multi-faceted musical talents and their individual influences, thrown into a musical melting pot to produce a striking sound. Quick percussion, relaxed Congolese guitar riffs, synths, hi-hats – all rounded out by the reverb-laden vocals laid out over top. The result is captivating, a musical statement whose relationship to identity is complex and ever-changing. Painting a grim image of being lost in the desert, searching for a mother and asking for help, the track has a sense of urgency, the instrumentation transforming as the song progresses. In the bridge, the lyrics “All across the seas and the corners of my mind / I can’t help but feel like I’m running out of time” resonate, honing in on the underlying gravity and self-exploration of the track. Thanks to its myriad of layers, something new rings through with every listen of “John/Joseph.”
The Narcotix began when composers Esther Quansah (guitar, vocals) and Becky Foinchas (keys, vocals) met in elementary school chorus. The daughters of African immigrants, their influences range from choral symphonies, African wedding music and math rock. While the two attended university, they met Sierra Leonean guitarist Adam Turay, adding the influences of avant-pop and chimurenga music to their sound. As the trio began finding homes in DIY venues and house shows, the full ensemble came together a few years after they relocated to Brooklynn in 2017. New York native Jonathan Joseph brings a love of trap music, appreciation of go-go music, and gospel chops refined from playing Sunday church services. New England Conservatory alum Jesse Heasly rounds out the rhythm section, with pocket bass playing and avant-garde sensibility. The diverse influences and background is what lends to The Narcotix’s riveting sound, blending into a new creation entirely their own.
Featuring six tracks, Mommy Issues will be the band’s first release.
