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A New Take On World
The Beatroot Road: Underground Roots
(Independent / 11 October 2024)

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Underground Roots is the very first release from The Beatroot Road, an ensemble with an adventurous sense of musicality. It's a single that hints of much more to come, written by Demmy James, ‘Apes’, (London '80s) and The Beatroot Road.

Graphic for The Beatroot Road song Underground Roots

Alternative/World is the label the release notes give for the musical genre of The Beatroot Road. It's about as good a moniker as any.

The song's bouncy and fun, with an irrepressible groove that draws from various global beats. Classic Afro-Caribbean rhythm guitar blends seamlessly with jangly riffs, over a kinetic polyrhythmic beat. 

Lyrically, underneath the danceable rhythms is a message about the resilience of roots to hold on and survive the many changes that take place during the seasons. 

“So if you wonder how the underdog can manage a grin, it’s cos the roots are underground and the blood moves within.”

Violinist Hazel Fairbairn

The Band

Mark Russell is the leader of the North Vancouver based project, alongside  violinist Hazel Fairbairn. Their plan is to release a series of singles that will lead up to their first album in 2025. 

The project was conceived during the pandemic lockdowns. All the works have beats at their core, and a mix and match attitude towards musical genres. 

Mark comments in a statement, “If asked what it is, I like to call it music for dancing, but I’ve heard it called other things, some quite kind, some not so much. That’s enough for me. 'The Beatroot Road' describes what it is; this is just where we are right now on the journey.”

Russell spent some of his early years in Khartoum in the Sudan, followed by Scotland, where he learned African and Caribbean styles of music alongside classic rock drumming. 

Hazel Fairbairn switched to Celtic fiddle from early classical training, and wrote her PhD on Irish pub music at Cambridge University in the UK. She went on to study Indian, Romani and Cajun fiddling with masters.

Russell plays percussion on the track, incorporating several traditional instruments from the African continent, such as the conga and cabassa, along with the bodhrán, a traditional Irish drum. He also plays bass, guitar and synth.

Vocalist Lucinia Karrey, photo by Mark Russell
Vocalist Lucinia Karrey, photo by Mark Russell

While Underground Roots has a distinctly African and Latin vibe, that won't be the only musical mode for the group. 

The other collaborators and contributors for the forthcoming album are seasoned international session musicians and artists with roots in Austria, Canada, China, Kenya, Korea, Moldova, Nigeria, Punjabi,  Türkiye, UK, USA, and Venezuela. ...so far. 

Kenyan vocalist Lucinda Karrey joins them for Underground Roots, along with Nigerian singer Fuki Anditi on backing vocals.

The video features 3D animation from Griang and Mesut C. from Türkiye, with live footage of Lucinia shot in Kenya.

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