Ibibio Sound Machine Share New Single ‘Mama Say’

Ibibio Sound Machine is thrilled to share Mama Say, the latest single from their highly anticipated album Pull the Rope, which drops May 3! Mama Say is an immaculately crafted electropop gem on which Eno Williams nimbly switches from Ibibio to pidgin English over an irresistible synth line that’s primed to soundtrack some memories this festival season.

Ibibio Sound Machine on Mama Say:

“This track is simply about honoring women. The main chorus vocal is sung in pidgin: “Mama say make I honor am”—in other words, “Mother says I must honor her.” It is essentially about empowering and uplifting the women in our lives. The track plays musically upon the tension between the traditional and the modern; the arpeggios in the chorus were played on a Juno 60, and the west African vocal stylings of the verse provide a contrasting feel to these electronic elements.”