Fún Tony (feat. Dele Sosimi)

This summer sees the return of the unique collaboration between Ghanain xylophonist Isaac Birituro and British singer-songwriter Sonny Johns, AKA The Rail Abandon. Having created something of a buzz back in 2019 with their debut albumKalba- gaining support along the way fromGilles Peterson,Cerys MatthewsandTom Ravenscroftto name but a few - after something of a hiatus, the duo teased us earlier this spring with theLapaz EPin preparation for their new LP, entitledSmall Small, due in July.

Fún Tony, the second single to be taken from the album, features UK Afrobeat Ambassador and Nigerian Afrobeat musical maestroDele Sosimi.Having grown up under the tutelage ofFela Kuti, Dele went on to become the Afrobeat legend's musical director for his Egypt 80 band, and has since released numerous albums and collaborations, most recently with us on Wah Wah 45s.Fún Tonyis a tribute to

another musical director of Fela's band, the late, greatTony Allen. The drummer, composer and songwriter, who sadly passed away in April 2020, was not only one of Dele's greatest influences, but also a dear friend. The opportunity to write about their friendship in collaboration with Isaac Birituro & The Rail Abandon was something very special, as Dele explains:

"When I got the invitation to participate on this track, it was just what my soul needed - an avenue to give a personal shout out to Tony. Translated into the Yoruba language as 'Ikira Fún Tony'."

Small Smallis a very Ghanaian saying, a direct translation to English, which is used in a wide variety of contexts to mean 'bit by bit,' 'one step at a time' or 'slow and steady'. Sonny was first introduced to the phrase on his first trip to Ghana in 2016, when he met Isaac in Kalba, and the phrase popped up over and over ever since.

"The album is about loss, frustration and struggle, but it's also about the light at the end of the tunnel; about overcoming difficulties to find a brighter future and no matter what separates us, whether that be language, culture, continents or boarders, when we listen to each other and learn from each other, there's really not much that separates us. So from everyone involved, here's to a brighter future." Sonny Johns