afropunk premiere: new music from idris elba’s album ‘mi mandela’ – ‘so many people’ ft. shaun escoffery

We recently told you about Idris Elba’s mi Mandela, “a celebration of South African music inspired by Nelson Mandela.”
Today we’re premiering music from the record! ‘So Many People’ is an infectious ode to freedom featuring Shaun Escoffery and GSI Choir on vocals. It was written by Idris Elba, Shaun Escoffery and Mr Hudson.
mi Mandela was inspired by Idris Elba’s role as Nelson Mandela in the Long Walk To Freedom movie. It will be released on November 27th. You can pre-order it here.

Credits:

‘So Many People’
Written by: Idris Elba / Shaun Escoffery / Mr Hudson
Produced by: Idris Elba
Published by: Copyright control / Copyright control / Imagem
Choir by GSI Choir
Drums by Michael Buchannon
Guitar by Dan Muir & Rory O’Donoghue
Keys by Oke
Vocals by Shaun Escoffery
Shaun Escoffery appears courtesy of Dome Records ltd

More info about mi Mandela from Idris Elba’s camp:
“The eleven-track album seamlessly blends exuberant South African talent alongside established British artists. The former category includes veteran female vocal harmony group the Mahotella Queens who front the opening track ‘Aero Mathata’; Nothembi Mkhwebane, the Queen of Ndebele Music, who features on her ‘Nothembi Jam’ as well as ‘Home’ which was written by Mumford & Sons; the brass band of the South African collective Future History heighten the atmosphere of several tracks; while the inimitable style of maskandi pioneer Phuzekhemisi is central to ‘Thank You For Freedom’.
In addition to Mumford & Sons, the accompanying British roster includes the album’s co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Mr. Hudson; vocals from Maverick Sabre on ‘You Give Me Love’ and ‘Home’; London-based spoken word / recording artist George The Poet (‘Hold On’, ‘One’); and Mercury Prize / Ivor Novello winner James Blake (‘Nothembi Jam’). Also featured is Atlanta’s neo-soul / funk / R&B creative force Cody ChestnuTT on the track ‘Tree’ and Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Audra Mae provides vocals.”

Idris Elba photo by James Dimmock