More Moko Please; UK Diva Releases New Retro Soul-House Stunner

Prior to a couple of weeks ago, I hadn’t heard of a UK artist called MOKO. Crazy how OBSESSED I can become in a few days time but that is precisely what’s happened with MOKO. I AM OBSESSED. MOKO is 22 year-old Diane Nadia Adu-Gyamfi from London a talented singer/songwriter signed to MTA Records/Virgin EMI. Impossible to squeeze MOKO‘s sound within the parameters of a single genre, MOKO‘s style is sort of a hybrid 90s R&B + house + pop blend. Translation…dance music with an abundance of soul! Check out the video for “Your Love” below.

MOKO‘s big break came when she was featured on the 2013 Chase & Status single, “Count On Me,” taken from the British production duo’s (known for their drum and bass/dubstep/UK garage sound) third album, Brand New Machine. The song, which became both a critic and fan favorite, peaked at #5 on the UK Singles chart and took the top spot on the UK Dance chart. Following a guest spot on Chase & Status‘ UK tour, MOKO released her own solo EP, entitled BLACK (MTA/Virgin EMI) in October of 2013. Critics immediately embraced the EP, with NME calling her “London’s answer to Massive Attack,” comparing her to trip hop bands such as Portishead, Sneaker Pimps and other popular acts that dominated the UK charts in the 1990s.

The Chase & Status-produced “Your Love” is MOKO’s first single off her forthcoming second EP, GOLD, which is out August 25th (MTA/Virgin EMI) in the UK.  With a bassline reminscent of Robin S.‘s 1993 hit “Show Me Love,” “Your Love” has “SUMMER ANTHEM” written all over it. Her STUNNING BLACK EP, featuring song titles like “Freeze” and “Honey Cocaine” (listen ABOVE) is decidedly more mid-to-downtempo than the lead track taken from GOLD. According to the press release, GOLD is comprised of “four tracks of bass-heavy soul and house,” including a beautiful piano ballad called “Missing Love,” is the singer’s “most cherished moment on the EP.”

In describing the sound on her new EP, the press releases calls GOLD, MOKO‘s

“Most intricate yet…summoning all the thump of her 90s house and pop touchstones, but injecting into the darkness a mixture of what MOKO describes as ‘fun, energy, captivation and colour.”

The new EP features production from The Imposters (who contributed to BLACK) as well as Two Inch Punch (Sam Smith, Jessie Ware), Kwes as well as her label bosses (on MTA Records) Chase & Status. GOLD is meant to be a teaser of what’s to come on MOKO‘s forthcoming debut album, expected out sometime next year. With Canadian singer/songwriter (and fellow 90s music enthusiast) Kiesza starting to make waves here in the U.S., here’s hoping that this 90s music revival brings America MOKO next. I for one, would love to see her do her thing on stage. Check out the Ben Strebel-directed clip for “Your Love” below.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xai1-qT4uA]

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