Listen To Abel Selaocoe’s New Track ‘L.B Files: Igiul’
South African cellist, composer, improviser, and vocalist Abel Selaocoe has unveiled a fresh preview of his forthcoming album Hymns of Bantu set for release on February 21 through Warner Classics. L.B Files: Igiul is Selaocoe’s interpretation of the Sicilian cellist Giovanni Sollima’s own cello concerto, L.B. Files. You can hear it below.
Selaocoe greatly admires Sollima’s open-ended exploration of the instrument, and as such, his fresh recording shines a spotlight on the cello. It’s a deeply emotional passage intended to melt away and create a profound sense of calmness.
“This piece from the wonderful Giovanni Sollima, a role model of mine, is a moment of pure, lyrical beauty, a timeless journey that invites you to pause, reflect, and simply be” explains Selaocoe. “It’s a departure from the rhythmic energy of the album, a space where emotions flow freely and the music takes on a life of its own.”
Selaocoe has previously shared two previews of Hymns of Bantu with beautifully shot companion music videos for each. For Emmanuele, Selaocoe transformed a traditional South African hymn, typically sung in church in four-part harmony that he reimagined for working people, set to an ecstatic, upbeat groove that illustrates how many different musical worlds the album explores. Sarabande is a yearning new take on the piece from Bach’s Sixth Suite, arranged for cello and string orchestra by Fred Thomas.
Delving into the unique modal scales and overtone harmonic systems of South African music before Western four-part harmony was introduced, Hymns of Bantu explores how cultural histories evolve. Across 12 tracks written for ensembles varying from his own Bantu Ensemble with African percussion to orchestra, solo cello and electric bass, Selaocoe interprets traditional Bantu music alongside compositions by Bach and Marais, highlighting the synergies between musical legacies rather than their differences.
“The crux of the album is about celebrating those that have come before us, and how we are all connected,” he says. “It’s allowing classical music to again sit in the same space as where I’m from – allowing Bach to sit next to overtones and the world of throat singing.”
Exploding onto the music scene in 2016 with the formation of his genre-breaking ensemble Chesaba, Selaocoe has since established himself as a unique talent fusing the throat singing and instinctive vocalizations of his South African heritage with a distinct, forward-thinking approach to the cello. Straddling the musical worlds of classical, Global and beyond, Selaocoe finds himself equally at home for his 2021 solo BBC Proms debut as he is onstage at mainstream music festivals, and now gives his personal cultural exploration its fullest expression on Hymns of Bantu.
While his 2022 debut album Where is Home (Hae ke Kae) had a restless, searching feel, Hymns of Bantu feels more like a homecoming in that it “speaks of an idea of celebrating those that have come before us,” says Selaocoe. While Selaocoe’s formal training was studying western classical in the UK, his work challenges classical archetypes and has led to profiles with the NY Times and the Guardian.
Ultimately Hymns of Bantu is an album aiming to highlight the shared universalities of people, the healing power of song, and allowing one to draw constant inspiration and understanding from those who came before us. With voice and cello as a vessel, Hymns of Bantu characterizes a vast array of human beings and invites a freeing, deep listening experience.
Abel Selaocoe: Upcoming UK Performances:
Sat 8 Mar 2025 – Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre – London (w/ Aurora Orchestra)
Wed 26 Mar 2025 – Troxy – London (Album launch)
Tue 13 May 2025 – Wigmore Hall – London