Orchestra Gold grew out of a collaboration between Mariam Diakite and Erich Huffaker, though the former’s Malian upbringing and dynamic onstage energy weigh heaviest in the equation. It’s Diakite’s distinct West African mindset and vocal delivery that coax the ensemble’s more conventional rock and soul attributes into otherworldly realms. For lack of a better term, the band describes its expansive sound as “Afro psych rock.” But its deep, pulsing grooves hold their share of other surprises.
Dakan, the group’s new self-released LP, was inspired by Diakite’s devotion to the Baye Fall tradition, a mystical branch of West African Islam that favors hard work and a direct communion with the divine. The title of Orchestra Gold’s latest single, “Diyanye Ko Te Sa,” translates to “pleasure is not dead” in English.
“In a culture that floods us with choices and rewards our base impulses, this song is a sacred pause,” says Diakite. “It’s a moment to ask, ‘Is this desire coming from my higher self. Or is it just another whisper from my old programming?’ Some desires are insatiable. Some desires never go away. Don’t go chasing every little pleasure.”
We’re proud to premiere Orchestra Gold’s “Diyanye Ko Te Sa.” Look for Dakan Oct. 2.
—Hobart Rowland
