Ch! Nonso pairs ‘Kola Nuts & Chardonnay’ with the release of his debut EP
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland, New Zealand) based AfroSoul artist Ch! Nonso is set to release his debut EP Kola Nuts & Chardonnay on Friday, 31 March. The seven-track conceptual project seamlessly pulls together different sounds, music traditions and cultures, reflecting the symbolism of kola nuts and chardonnay as the meeting of diverse musical and cultural influences.
Traditionally, kola nuts are a symbol of hospitality and are the first thing offered to guests as a sign of welcome in Igbo culture. Paired with Chardonnay, Ch! Nonso welcomes listeners to sit in on an intimate conversation about straddling different cultures and the impact that has on the individual and nation’s identity.
The offering of kola nuts and chardonnay begins with How Many Times, a track peppered with a hand drum by Mavs Adegbite, a local drummer of Nigerian descent, and rifts of a Ghanaian Highlife style guitar, played by USA based Theophilus Akai.
From How Many Times we journey into Site Taa, a declaration of the urgency to reclaim and embody all of who you are, featuring saxophonist Thabani Gapara. The EP then transitions into Forever O’Clock, a love letter of sorts to the physical places we might call home and the people there. The theme of home echoes through into Liar, a glimpse into why people might leave home and flows into Ka Home, Ch! Nonso’s reflection on the fluidity of home.
The project concludes with But Do They Know (Remix), a track that opens with a blessing of kola nuts by the artist’s uncle. Although the blessing of the kola nuts is usually at the start of the occasion, the blessing concludes the EP signifying what the artist says is a welcome to the beginning of the end.
Produced by Unchained XL Kola Nuts & Chardonnay is Ch! Nonso’s debut release and a homecoming for the artist.
Photo Credit: Samuel Richards
