Bole2Harlem

The Bole2Harlem project is the brainchild of American producer, percussionist, and musician David Schommer and Ethiopian-American Amharic rapper Maki Siraj. The collaboration takes its name from Ethiopia's main port of entry—Addis Ababa's Bole airport—and the New York neighborhood where Schommer resides.

Schommer's father helped start the first university in Addis Ababa in 1950-58, so as a kid Schommer grew up surrounded by the folklore and artwork of Ethiopia. Six years ago, Schommer decided to re-trace his father's steps, taking his first of four consequential trips to Ethiopia. He traveled with Siraj, already a good friend. The two had an amazing trip, but were disappointed to find that a fringe of Ethiopian musicians were creating mediocre hip hop emulating the West Coast American scene, and not embracing Ethiopian music and culture. Schommer envisioned a much hipper sound that integrated traditional song themes, melodies, and bass lines. The trip also inspired Siraj to start writing poetry in Amharic for the first time in several years.

These days, the duo keeps a collection of drums at a friend's French-Moroccan restaurant in Manhattan, where Saturday nights are all about celebration, dancing, collaboration between live musicians and the house DJ. A range of friends who met during these jam sessions—including the Ethiopian singer Gigi's sister, Tigiist Shibabawj, Bahia-born percussionist and Stomp cast-member Davi Vieira, cellist Dave Eggar, Ethiopian bassist Henok Tenesgen, and Malian kora-player Balla Tounkara—joined Schommer at his 123rd Street studio to create Bole2Harlem, Volume 1. The result of this spontaneous beat-driven collaboration simultaneously reveals an Ethiopian essence, a multicultural worldview, and an unprecedented modern sound.—Courtesy Calabash Music