WEST African AMÉMÉ channels his cultural roots and ancestry into everything he does. Born and raised in Benin, AMÉMÉ (Hubert Sodogandji) helms One Tribe Records.
A global community as much as it is a record label, the imprint is centred on positive unity, showcasing incredible afro leaning electronic music from talent across the world such as Nhii, NenaHalena, Bontan, Kosmo Kint, Don Bello Ni and ARKADYAN.
Having now called New York City home for the best part of the last decade, The Big Apple has undoubtedly played a part in the evolution of AMÉMÉ’s music, his diverse selection of percussive laden grooves on full display for BBC Radio One’s Essential Mix back in September.
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Collaborating for the first time, AMÉMÉ and Franc Fala have just dropped new single Wait For You, a track that effortlessly transports listeners to the summer even when the winter is almost in full swing.
We caught up with AMÉMÉ this week and he’s compiled a playlist of current favourites for us. Listen and read what he had to say about the music below.
AMÉMÉ featuring Mario Reyes – Power
Power is a special one to me because this is the track that kickstarted the return of my label One Tribe, after the pandemic when I was touring extensively. And it has since become my ‘anthem’ and one of my most recognized tracks globally.
Baron & Darmon – Ellora
Ellora is by Baron who has become a brother to me in this musical journey, by helping steer A&R & handling demo submission for One Tribe. This song climbed the Afrohouse chart on Beatport to the number one spot after its release, and has been supported by prominent DJs all around the world.
AMÉMÉ & Baron – Like That
When Baron and I collaborated on Like That, it was originally just using trying to show the world our sound. What we didn’t expect was this track to become such a global banger, and it can be found heating up dance floors from Egypt all the way to New York City.
NenaHalena & ARKADYAN – Kikala
NenaHalena is one of the OGs of the One Tribe crew, and Kikala was a song that had been sitting in the pipeline for a while. When we released Kikala, it was revered to as a track where the mix of Afrohouse combined with Indian flute and massive drops was everything you needed to make you feel like you’d traveled the world in less than 6 minutes.
Nhii , HARJI , Matt Brooker – Y Que Tengo (Joeski Remix)
Joeski brought it home with this one, and since its release has become one of my all time favorite tracks to both listen to and to play. If you want to know if someone can really dance, and not just throw their body around, THIS is the track that you play.
Bontan & Lazarusman – Dramatic
Dramatic is a prime example of Bontan doing what Bontan does best, and Lazarusman brings this track to life with the vocals. There’s not much I can say about this track except… BE DRAMATIC 😉
NenaHalena & AMÉMÉ – Own the Power (Lit Mix)
Own The Power was NenaHalena and I bringing back one of his classics to life, as when it originally released it was in the midst of the pandemic and didn’t truly get the recognition that it deserved as a song that was so ahead of its time. So we collaborated to bring it back as something to light up dance floors.
Augusto Yepes & Tabia – Camagu
I fell in love with Camagu at a show while Augusto was playing, and I reached out to him the next day asking him to sign the record. It has since been a constant rotation in my sets, as the emotion in this song is something that doesn’t just get the crowd moving… it gets the crowd feeling.
Jordan John – Magic (Jordan John Marang’a edit)
To summarize this song, everything you need to know is right in the title, this song is magic. The way the lyrics embrace you like a hug while the rhythm and melody dances all around you is exactly everything Afrohouse is supposed to be about.
AMÉMÉ – Kaleta
Kaleta is a special one to me because my mum sings the lyrics on it, so every time I play it it makes me feel like home. But what’s really crazy is the way the crowd reacts to it every time I drop it. Something about that and the connection to my mom really takes this home for me.
