IFULKI, “Something Greater”

The debut single from London group IFULKI is a compelling introduction. The experimental group, which draws influence from Gnawa, electronic, and jazz music, delivers a rich first offering with their song "Something Greater." It's a collage of ominous trip-hop textures, soulful piano embellishments, anxious percussion, and soaring vocals.

IFULKI, which means “beautiful” in the Amazigh language, is a trio of musicians led by Queen Kaltoum, who moved to London as a teenager to study Moroccan customs. The group also features Charlie on bass and synths, an English-born musician with Irish and Ghanaian roots, and percussionist Ayman, whose background is Sudanese.

Kaltoum shared a quote about their debut that vividly captures the song’s complex tones:

An unsettling and mysterious atmosphere is present in the music, and thematically matched by the lyrics. This energy never leaves, but combines with tones of positivity and hopefulness brought in by dancey rhythms, with the piano ending the song with a bittersweet melody, contrasting the dark and brooding intensity found in the bass and drums.

The week's most important music stories and least important music memes.