Rusangano Family
EARLIER this year Limerick-based trio Rusangano Family won the RTÉ
Choice Music Prize for Irish album of the year. The rap/hip-hop/electro outfit won the award for 2016’s Let The Dead Bury The Dead.
We caught up with Rusangano, made up of Mynameisjohn – alter ego of Clare man John Lillis, who plies his trade in Limerick – Zimbabwean born, Shannon raised, Limerick identifying rapper God Knows Jonas and vocalist MURLI – based in Limerick, but of Togolese descent ahead of their gig at the Carlow Arts Festival.
THE BEAT: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST GIG SO FAR?
There’s been a load of highlights so far. Dolan Warehouse is like our home at this stage, and the local crowd are all champions. We did our album launch in the Kino cinema in Cork last year, and I think that was probably our favourite, most intense show. Our buddies in Southern Hospitality Board always host some great shows for us in Cork, it’s a great city with great people.
THE BEAT: TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW/LATEST RECORD?
Let the Dead Bury the Dead came out in April 2016. It’s our proper debut, although we’ve had a few other releases before that. I guess it’s a concept album, in that we were all trying to capture a certain mood and document the troubles and challenges we all face in life. We wrote and recorded it in a Clare, and self released it. We don’t really know how to describe the music, but I guess its just easier to put it in the hiphop category. The album won the RTE Choice Music Prize in March, which left us feeling pretty overwhelmed and grateful.
THE BEAT: WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?
We all love Kendrick, as does most of the world right now. So when Kenny drops a new album, you listen close. You have to take a moment to appreciate all the layers in his music and the different levels that he speaks tho people on. I got an album by Konono No 1 yesterday, and that made me dance around the kitchen while I cooked my pasta.
THE BEAT: DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC IN ONE SENTENCE.
If you’re looking for that bear-yoursoul music, look no further.
THE BEAT: WHAT IRISH ACTS DO YOU RATE?
Honestly, there’s so many amazing acts out there in Ireland, it’s incredibly inspiring. In Cork, you have Shookrah, Morning Veils, Fixity, Outsider YP, Elll and Altered Hours all pushing things forward in a big way. The new Talos record is brilliant. In Limerick, you have Same D4ence, Windings, Jonen Dekay and Naive Ted - these are our people. We love a lot of the newer acts coming out of Dublin right now - Jafaris, Mango, Melty Brains, Girl Band, Lankum, Kojaque.
THE BEAT: WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU FOR THE REST OF 2017?
We’re releasing a new track in June called I Know You Know. It’s part of a bigger project that we’re pretty excited about, and we’re collaborating with the mighty Bob Gallagher on this. We’re also off to Canada shortly afterwards to play at the Luminato festival. In Ireland, we’ll be around. You can catch us at the Carlow Arts Festival, Forbidden Fruit and Beatyard. We’ll probably drop a track here and there along the way.
Rusangano Family perform at the Carlow Arts Festival on Friday 9 June at
O’hara’s Pavilion at Carlow College St. Patrick’s. Visit www.carlowartsfestival.com for full festival details.