Mangoseed
I was blown away from the first track. The prologue to the titled album Dreamers, lets the audience know that Mangoseed have something serious they want to address and I was instantly drawn in to this very harsh and bold perspective. The content of the album merely scratches the surface to what's really going on in the world.
Each track presents a powerful message about equality and the struggles of oppression. The final track brings the album full circle and calls back all the songs in a very conclusive and eye-opening way. It allows the listener to understand what the album is really about.
Mangoseed use this album as a catalyst to their frustration, anger and sadness toward a world without care or compassion for ethnic minorities, shedding light on the fact that this is still happening across the world even to this day. They're here to share their voice and speak up against injustice.
I caught up with Mangoseed's lead singer, Nicholai La Barrie who gave me a better insight in to the band and what they stand for.
"We were friends first; Karlos and I worked together at a small theatre in South London, we met Richard through a mutual friend and then, when we were looking for a drummer, another friend introduced us to Sam. 'We started a group and here we are kicking it just for you'"
The tracks on this album feature some very powerful and moving lyrics, what is your writing process, lyrically and musically?
"Great question, with the lyrics, it starts in a couple of different ways; I have an idea, a question I am playing with in my head, or something really makes me angry or sad or happy and spins into a line and then, into a song.
Other times the guys are working on a riff, or an idea and I start singing something, and if it feels good it might turn itself into a song. But also, there are hundreds of those that don’t go anywhere, we have hundreds of voice notes of things that could’ve been songs that just didn’t make it anywhere."
As restrictions for COVID have gone up and down, how has this affected things for you as a band?
"It meant that we couldn’t do the thing that we love most in the world - play live.
But it’s also given us time to write new things and sit with the music a little bit and reflect on what we want to do with it. Some good, some bad, life you know."
Where is your favourite place to play live?
"The Finsbury in north London, the white lion in south London and the attic in Bristol… fire."
What music do you listen to when you're on the road?
"When we are driving back from playing, we stick on magic and sing loud. Try it, I dare you not to sing - magic at like 4 am, brilliant."
What is your set up for live music and has it changed over the years?
"In the early days it was a bit different but now it’s Bass, Guitar, Drums, Samples and Vocals."
Your theme for this album in particular carries a lot of weight, one example is the Black Lives Matter movement. How important was it for you to address this issue?
"I mean for us it’s addressing an issue we are going through, you know. To watch someone that looks like being lynched, and especially when it’s seemingly for no other reason than the colour of his skin, that’s maddening, scary and frustrating. What would you do about that? You sing your truth, you tell it like it is, you go out in the street and fight for your right to breath, your rights to exist in the west without fear of being killed."
If you could collaborate with any other musicians, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
"I think Prince, Hendrix, Fishbone, Rick Rubin - we would love to sit with them and make some tunes."
You have the word "mango" in the name of your band, and it also features specifically in the song "Water", what is the significance of the mango for you?
"I grew up in the Caribbean, a mango is the fruit of the gods, it tastes amazing, it grows everywhere, you can make about 1000 different things with it. It’s simple and nourishing."
Final word: Mangoseed take the mic
"Mangoseed are playing live @ Off The Cuff on 26th of January at 7:30pm with new music and the huge energy of their live performances.
Tickets are £5 each.
Don't forget to head over to the links below for more info."
Absolute pleasure catching up with the band, wishing them all the best for their gig and their new album, Dreamers.
If you would like an opportunity to take the mic, drop me an email at stewjones22@gmail.com
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