Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and artist Shabaka (a.k.a Shabaka Hutchings) announces his third solo album Of The Earth, his first solo album to be released via his own label 'Shabaka Records’, and an album entirely written and produced by Hutchings himself.
Of The Earth sees Shabaka return to his signature saxophone sound, alongside accomplished electronics and production, as well as traditional woodwind and percussion instruments from around the world, a combination indicative of Hutchings’ diverse talents and the overall sound on Of The Earth.
Hutchings is highly regarded for his work with The Comet Is Coming, Sons of Kemet, Shabaka and the Ancestors, and from his two most recent solo projects 'Perceive its Beauty, Acknowledge its Grace', and 'Afrikan Culture’. As a musician he has also worked with a wealth of prestigious artists such as Andre 3000, Floating Points, Mulatu Astatke, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Lianne La Havas, Saul Williams, and more.
Of The Earth is released on limited edition cornflower blue vinyl. The vinyl edition comes with an insert featuring Hutchings’ own artwork.
‘Of the Earth’ was entirely written, produced, performed and mixed by Shabaka. It’s a deeply personal album which establishes Shabaka as a new form of instrumentalist/producer and shows the musical range that connects his dance based work from groups Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming to the intricate textural sound world of his recent solo works (‘Perceive its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace’, ‘Afrikan Culture’) .
Beats and loops made on portable devices whilst on the road lay a foundation for choral flute melodies to soar within. Sequences of electronic rhythms outline a story of diasporic progression and words contextualise the record’s lyrical framework. Shabaka raps on the album - “I’ve never rapped before but was actually inspired by André 3000’s courage in exploring new dimensions with fearlessness and sincerity; I decided to find my voice on this album”.
A self imposed saxophone hiatus ended mid 2025 with a performance for South African drum maestro Louis Moholo’s memorial concert. This album marks Shabaka’s first recording made after a year and a half not playing the saxophone and a reckoning as to what his time on flutes primarily has shown him to be the future for his relationship with the instrument.
Shabaka says of an initial inspiration for the album - “D’angelo’s Brown Sugar was the first CD I bought and it sparked a lasting curiosity about the emotional possibilities allowed by the self produced and performed album. This record is my celebration of freedom in creative self expression. Before the pandemic I could only play the clarinet and saxophone and knew nothing about music production (or how to play the flute), so this has been a journey of learning and a reflection on the music that’s been created as a result.”
