Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
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From Dakar, Senegal, Amadou Diagne is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who has the traditions of West Africa at his fingertips. Hailing from a Griot family line of percussionists and praise singers, his natural talent as a percussionist led to him becoming, for many years, a professional full-time member of l'Orchestre National du Senegal. Before coming to live with his family in the UK, he performed regularly with some of the top West African stars for concerts and television and was a busy session musician on the Dakar music scene.
Though Amadou Diagne draws heavily on the traditional music and rhythms of West Africa, since moving to England, he has been busy forging his own musical identity as a singer and songwriter.
Amadou writes and performs most of his songs in Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal, with some French and English in the mix. As a Kora player and guitarist, he has developed a unique and intricate style to accompany himself, which draws on his skills as a percussionist. Amadou has a love of improvisation and an eclectic musical inspiration when playing, exploring the instrument, delighting in the rhythmic possibilities within the melodies he composes.
In 2010, he won the World Music Network battle of the bands and had his first solo album 'Introducing Amadou Diagne' released on their label Riverboat Records to excellent reviews in the Financial Times, fRoots magazine, and went to number 17 in the European World Music charts. Amadou then recorded his second album 'Yakar,' which was produced by Griselda Sanderson and released on Waulk Records in 2012 to four-star reviews in Songlines and fRoots magazine's pick of the year's releases. In 2015, Amadou released his third album 'Ligéey,' produced by Mark Smulian on the Long Tale Recordings label, to great reviews and radio play. Amadou has also had tracks included in the Rough Guide to African Blues. Amadou’s music has attracted global airplay on radio stations from Australia to Israel, Denmark, and the USA, as well as on BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, BBC Focus on Africa TV/Radio, and BBC World Service Radio.
“Honey-smoked vocals… Plaintive, acoustic, and brimming with an unhurried assurance.” Jamie Renton, fROOTS Magazine no. 361, July 2013 www.amadoudiagne.com
Though Amadou Diagne draws heavily on the traditional music and rhythms of West Africa, since moving to England, he has been busy forging his own musical identity as a singer and songwriter.
Amadou writes and performs most of his songs in Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal, with some French and English in the mix. As a Kora player and guitarist, he has developed a unique and intricate style to accompany himself, which draws on his skills as a percussionist. Amadou has a love of improvisation and an eclectic musical inspiration when playing, exploring the instrument, delighting in the rhythmic possibilities within the melodies he composes.
In 2010, he won the World Music Network battle of the bands and had his first solo album 'Introducing Amadou Diagne' released on their label Riverboat Records to excellent reviews in the Financial Times, fRoots magazine, and went to number 17 in the European World Music charts. Amadou then recorded his second album 'Yakar,' which was produced by Griselda Sanderson and released on Waulk Records in 2012 to four-star reviews in Songlines and fRoots magazine's pick of the year's releases. In 2015, Amadou released his third album 'Ligéey,' produced by Mark Smulian on the Long Tale Recordings label, to great reviews and radio play. Amadou has also had tracks included in the Rough Guide to African Blues. Amadou’s music has attracted global airplay on radio stations from Australia to Israel, Denmark, and the USA, as well as on BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, BBC Focus on Africa TV/Radio, and BBC World Service Radio.
“Honey-smoked vocals… Plaintive, acoustic, and brimming with an unhurried assurance.” Jamie Renton, fROOTS Magazine no. 361, July 2013 www.amadoudiagne.com
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