Friday, 29 March

FRA! releases title track for soon-to-be-released 3rd album; 'Chale Wote'

Entertainment
Chale Wote, the title track for Highlight/Funk band FRA! from Ghana

The band FRA! has released a new song.

Called Chale Wote, the song is the namesake of the Highlife/Funk band's upcoming album.

Listen here:

Their third so far, Chale Wote is naturally the follow-up to the Ghanaian band's 2019 long play (LP) Journey which housed the radio hit Bibia Be Ye Yie (Everything Will Be Alright) featuring Dave Da Musicbox.

According to the Germany-based Delicious Tunes signee, "'Chale' (/tʃɑːleɪ/) is vernacular for friend, buddy or acquaintance in Ghana and "Wote" (/wɔteɪ/) is from Ga, a local language in Ghana, meaning 'Let's Go'.

"Naming the album is our way of telling our listeners to come along and join us have fun."

Revealing the message and sonic posture of the Chale Wote tape, FRA! also said: "What you are about to listen to is a repertoire of songs marrying tastefully vintage sounds with modern themes blended with the musical backgrounds of each band member. The songs on this album are written in our now-signature feel-good, groovy and motivational style."

Meanwhile, the Accra-based FRA! has been preparing for their tour in the United Kingdom and Europe. 

The composer and drummer for the Ghanaian international band, Joshua 'Virgen' Boateng (JVB), in an exclusive interview with Class News' Prince Benjamin (PB) said preparations started right after they returned from playing their October 2022 set at Worldwide Music Expo (Womex) in Lisbon, Portugal.

The upcoming UK/Europe tour, also called Chale Wote, will span two and a half months, Virgen revealed.

The 'Happy Yourself' hitmaker, this summer, will be taking their sound of West African roots and yet with global relevance to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Kazakhstan and cities therein.

| FRA!'s tour dates and destinations 

In Rotterdam, Netherlands, FRA! will share the stage with legends and comtemporary stars like Seal, Jill Scott, Salif Keita, Lizzo, Stormzy, Gregory Potter, Marcus Miller, Snarky Puppy, Mark Lettieri, Samary Joy, Stanley Clarke and Sona Jobarteh. 

| In July 2023, FRA! will be showcasing their acclaimed talent at the iconic North Sea Jazz Festival

Virgen plays the drums, George 'Gogoe' Ashirifie man's the bass guitar, Selorm 'Falaa' Dornyoh is on lead guitar, Ishmael 'Ayala' Kugblenu is concerned with percussions and Christian 'Osele' Prempeh fronts as lead vocalist.

The band's latest hit is a viral piece featuring singer-songwriter and cheerleader Nana Yaw 'One-Man-Thousand' Ofori-Atta and titled 'You Dey Feel the Vibe'. 

It was co-produced by JVB and Reynolds the Gentleman and originally debuted at the sixth edition of the band's annual FRA!ternity Concert which took place on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the packed Alliance Francaise amphitheatre, Accra, Ghana.

Watch a cut of the concert capturing the live performance of You Dey Feel the Vibe below:

Source: classfmonline.com/Prince Benjamin