#afropunk 2017

[1000sassa1000]

AFROPUNK Fest Brooklyn 2017

photo by Mark Elzey

[drjcowboys]

Dean Rodney Jr and the cowboys first ever article.

The emotive synthesised strings of "The man with the golden suit transport me back to supernormal festival in Oxfordshire,August 2022.

Dean Rodney Jr's metallic gold boots glint in the sun as the band take to the appropriately saloon like shed stage and begin to play. Hearing Rodney and his cowboys for the first time and feeling the collective charge of joy they generate among the crowd is a festival experience I'll never forget.

I didn't know there was a term for what was happening at the time, but have since discovered that it was what some call a yeehaw moment..

A year later, the London based ensemble have captured that moment in album form.

With added spoken word interludes, rich production and engaging sequencing. The Yeehaw moment is another deep dive into the unique world of artist, musician and rapper Dean Rodney Jr, with support from trumpeter Robyn rocket, bassit Rosie Ridgway, synthesist Tom Hirst and Drummer Jack Barraclough.

Rodney has produced many ambitious and immersive projects over the years through his work Deptford based arts charity Heart N Soul, has toured extremely as the Afropunk band the fish police and is also an intensely prolific solo bedroom producer. In lockdown he recorded 54 albums under Dean TV umbrella, a name which refers to the autism informed way that he sees the world, sometimes as if it were a TV show.

The Yeehaw moment sees Rodney expanding on some of his ideas forged during that intensive period of working alone or online, now reinterpreted with his new full band.

The album contains many characters and storyline some of which are taken from real life scenarios and observations, such as eating a seeded burger bun (food is a recurring theme in Rodney's work) while others spun from more fantastical visions, such as a visit to Easter Island where Rodney meets the talking statue bro bro man.

Rodney has cited 1980's electronic music, Daft punk and earth wind and fire.

As influences.

Indeed, throughout the album we're treated to flashes of funk, disco, lo-fi hiphop, synthpop and more, sometimes recalling the spirit of Gary Numan, talking heads or Grace Jones. In She said no problem in which Dean remembers an online conversation he had with a friend during lockdown. Ridgway's cool and measured bassline works with Barraclough's restrained drum fills to underpin a tight synth funk feel, and Rocket's echoing trumpet melody adds an apt pensiveness to Rodney Jr's musings on that strange and isolated time.

New photo begins with daft punk like arpeggio from Bunaiger affect.

Dean Rodney Hirst, with the brigde and chorus akin to Numan or Kraftwerk in its stripped back synthpop glory.

"Every time I see that picture it looks so good, it's a new photo" raps Rodney Jr in his direct, downtempo style. Rodney reflects on the joy of a fresh perspective, and through the brilliant simplicity of the lyrics we share in his smooth, measured vocal delivery contrasts against the rocking, reverberating backing screams of the formidable Robyn Rocket.

There is much humour in Rodney's observations too with comedic grace, Ahh what was that riffs on the subject of noisy farts, and Boing appreciates the jiggling body parts of moving party goers.

Sometimes a Rodney chorus will feature quick repeating lines that will feature quick repeating lines that will subtly adjust in unsual ways, as in the off beat tonuge twister Sesame bun.

Much like an epic TV series, Rodney's extensive discography features characters that linger and develop and motifs that reappear after long stretches of time. During the yeehaw moment's opening track the man in the golden suit Rodney declares its like a mystery here and I'm reminded of the prophetic penultimate track of his 2017 debut solo album The buzzard degree, in which the chorus repeats its like a cowboys in here.

Like fully realised broadcasts direct from his mind, Rodney's output makes it possible for him to display and share the unique way he perceives his surroundings.

His ultra catchy songs are open invitations to partake in his creative fun they didn't know existed.

This article was written by Meg Woof.

From page 59 of wire magazine issue 474.

[thug-yoda]

- afropunk 2017

[bee1ne]

Untitled: 24x36 aerosol & acrylic in canvas. March 2017 . #pinup #pinupgirl #pinupart #nsfwconcepts #hips #illustration #painting #pink #pinkaesthetic #afroart #afroartist #afropunk https://www.instagram.com/p/CnPXHYpLE9K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[soulflwremix]

On a lawn, surrounded by black people, waiting for Solange’s set 💜🌻

[arievogues]

DAY 1 Afropunk 2017 looks Pants custom made by yoko.xuna on insta Photos by BreezyVisualz,Common.Conduct,Lebolukewarm

[blkctncdy]

BLACK GIRLS ARE MAGIC 2018

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

[tarellspartistry]

Ain’t nothing on the prolific style of a Black Person! (Set) Her (IG): @ayeprahl_badu Him (IG): @isaiahalan 📷: @tpa.raw

[derwinking]

derwinking & deray

[darlablovesichabbie]

I commissioned the very talented @solaihzie​ to created fanart for me based on  THIS post. I’m so happy with how this turned out. Thank you so much!!! 💜

[heiseren]

i had such a good time at afropunk! being around blackness in multitude is healing and calming

[bitch-puddin]

When it's black out and you pulled a nice lil glo up for summer 17 ✨

[itsallafacade-lifeisatest]

💕🔮

[oheyafricana]

I belong to nobody Hope it don’t bother you You could mind your business -SZA

#afropunk was everything ♥️🌹

[lenacamci]

The Nova Twins at AFROPUNK Paris, 2017

@lenacamci

[blkctncdy]

ORORO MUNROE

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