Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Kevin Cole, co-host of Drive Time on KEXP, is "Esukey (feat. Ismaila Sané)" by Maajo, from the 2020 album Kuru Kuru on Queen Nanny.
Though hailing from Tampere, Finland, Maajo find influence in traditional African music, combining it with modern electronic sounds. They continue to explore this fusion on their second LP Kuru Kuru, released earlier this year on Queen Nanny Records, and on today's Song of the Day, they team up with Senegalese vocalist Ismaila Sané for this infectious groove. Sané began his career in the '70s as a percussionist and also as a solo dancer/choreographer of African ballet. He relocated to Finland in 1999, winning the "citizen of the year" prize in 2003, marking the first time an emigrant knowingly recevied the award.
