Amsterdam-based DJ, producer, and guitarist Ginton continues to push sonic boundaries, effortlessly mixing his distinctive guitar riffs with the globally resonant rhythms of Afro home. As the following milestone in his evolving musical journey, the Dutch expertise joins forces with two of his longtime idols – Richard Bona and Salif Keita – to reimagine their iconic 2003 launch, “Kalabancoro,” for a brand new era. Launched amidst a backdrop of battle and unrest, the unique monitor is a reference to the suburb of Bamako in Mali, the place it was additionally recorded and carried deep emotional weight, which Ginton approached with reverence. On this 2025 rework, he breathes recent life into the track whereas honoring its narrative soul, whereas the highly effective, timeless vocals stay untouched, forming the center of the brand new model. Round them, Ginton weaves an up to date musical tapestry: barely quickened tempo, vibrant grooves, deep basslines, and his unmistakable guitar work that infuses the monitor with a delicate Afro-Latin aptitude. Having co-produced for international names like Drake, and Gordo, and launching his personal label, Woody Bushes, Ginton is carving out a path as a boundary-breaking artist. With this new launch, he continues to champion music that bridges cultures, eras, and genres – proving that innovation, custom and timeless messaging can coexist. The discharge of “Kalabancoro” sees Ginton using the wave of his current significant collaborations with the likes of MoBlack, Francis Mercier, Ape Drums, Maz, and extra.

“I’ve appeared as much as Richard Bona for so long as I can bear in mind. As a younger, aspiring musician, his bass enjoying, musicality, and the emotion he pours into each be aware made a big impact on me. So once I was invited by the label to remix a monitor from a collection of legendary African artists, and I noticed Richard‘s title on the record – I didn’t must assume twice. It was an instantaneous “sure.” And once I noticed that the monitor was ‘Kalabancoro,’ I obtained goosebumps. The unique track, launched in 1998, options the unimaginable Salif Keita – one other icon whose voice carries a lot depth and soul. ‘Kalabancoro‘ was written throughout a time of battle and unrest, with the intention of giving a face and voice to the individuals who have been struggling in silence. That message, that spirit, nonetheless feels extremely related at present. I needed to honor that message and emotion whereas additionally bringing the monitor into the now. I didn’t need to “flip” it only for the sake of a remix. My objective was to breathe new power into it with out shedding its essence. Clearly, I saved the vocals untouched as they’re completely timeless. The bones of the monitor got here collectively in about an hour. That’s how proper it felt. It simply flowed. Absolutely the spotlight of this complete journey was getting to satisfy Richard in individual after his present in Amsterdam. We talked about music, staying impressed, touring life, and simply the center behind creating. Sitting throughout from somebody who formed a lot of my musical path – and sharing this mission with him – was surreal. It felt like a full-circle second. A dream I didn’t even know was doable once I was beginning out. This mission means the world to me. It’s a tribute, a thanks, and a dialog with the voices that paved the way in which – whereas including my very own to the combo.”

– Ginton

Ginton

DJ/Producer and guitarist Ginton emerges as a sonic trailblazer, destined to weave his signature guitar riffs and extensively interesting beats into the worldwide tapestry of music. His journey started as a younger prodigy, immersing himself within the intricate world of Jazz Guitar on the famend Conservatorium in Rotterdam. Drawing inspiration from musical legends like Santana, Jimi Hendrix, and The Wailers, Ginton launched into a particular course. He garnered consideration by co-producing “Tie That Binds” for international celebrity Drake. The track turned a standout characteristic of the licensed platinum and Billboard‘s #1 ‘Actually, Nevermind‘ album. Persevering with this success, Ginton produced songs for esteemed artists Lojay, Rico Nasty, and Ape Drums (Main Lazer). Ginton moreover contributed to Gordo‘s achievements by co-producing Candid Zone (feat. Leon Bridges), which options on the DIAMANTE album and peaked on Billboard‘s acclaimed Prime Dance/Digital Albums chart at #3. Quick ahead, Ginton has crafted a blended signature that resonates with audiences far and broad. His collaboration with Stonebwoy – “JEJEREJE“, shortly turned a viral sensation on TikTok, racking up over 300 million views and reaching the #1 spot on Shazam’s International Worldwide Chart. To propel his inventive imaginative and prescient, he based his label imprint, Woody Bushes, a platform devoted to exploring sounds that blur the traces between digital and acoustic music. Since its inception, Woody Bushes has turn out to be a driving power in Ginton‘s profession, housing high-profile collaborations with trade leaders like MoBlack, Francis Mercier, Maz, and Antdot, in addition to Afro-pop stars Tekno and Mr. Eazi. Ginton‘s potential to attach cultures by way of music highlights the ability of sound as a really common language.

Richard Bona

Richard Bona is a Grammy-winning musician and one of the achieved worldwide bass gamers, composers, and multi-instrumentalists. Together with his distinctive sound and vocal present, he’s constantly representing his African origins. Bona‘s music addresses the continent’s traditions, tradition, magnificence, and points. His objective and the way in which he connects along with his viewers have turned him right into a staple title on this planet of jazz and Afro-pop music. Richard Bona has toured, composed, recorded, and created musical types of artwork with the best: Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Steps Forward, Quincy Jones, Chick Corea, Buena Vista Social Membership, Cesária Évora, Sting, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Stevie Marvel, Bobby McFerrin, Chucho Valdés, George Benson, Oumou Sangaré and plenty of extra. Together with the various notable collaborations, Richard has additionally taught Jazz Improvisation at NYU and is continually educating and mentoring younger skills all through the world. He’s additionally a TED speaker and ambassador for numerous non-profit initiatives. He’s extremely concerned in creating higher music enterprise practices and ethics. Always touring world wide and exploring new musical instructions, Richard continues to redefine his sound whereas nonetheless performing reside. He’s presently engaged on new Afrobeats, Afropop, Latin, and Flamenco initiatives all through Europe, the US, and Latin America.

Salif Keita

One of many African continent’s best-loved artists, Malian afro-pop singer/songwriter Salif Keita discovered preliminary success within the Nineteen Seventies as a member of each the Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs earlier than shifting to Paris and launching a high-profile solo profession within the mid-’80s. Culturally rejected as a toddler for being an albino, Keita‘s expertise and dedication finally led him to turn out to be often called the “Golden Voice of Africa.” Albums like 1987’s “Soro,” 1990’s “Amen” (for which he was nominated for the Grammy Award), and 2002’s “Moffou” (thought-about Keita‘s most interesting work thus far for which he obtained one other Grammy Award nomination) have been important and business successes that mixed Western sounds of jazz, funk, and pop with West African traditions and noticed Keita working with collaborators as various as Joe Zawinul, Carlos Santana, Toumani Diabaté, and Cesária Évora. Keita remained a artistic power within the studio, returning with late-career highlights like 2010’s “La Différence” and 2018’s “Un Autre Blanc,” after which he introduced his retirement from recording. Born to royal lineage, with ancestral roots going again to Soundjata Keita, the founding father of the Malian Empire in 1240, Keita suffered a tough childhood; he was ostracized by his group for his albinism and disowned by his father when he selected to pursue a profession as a musician. Following his goals, he moved to the capital metropolis of Bamako in 1967, the place he spent a interval working as a avenue musician and enjoying in nightclubs with one in all his brothers. Inside two years, he was invited to hitch the Rail Band. A preferred, government-sponsored group that performed repeatedly on the Buffet Lodge de la Gare, the Rail Band featured influential Malian guitar participant Kante Manfila. Keita‘s soulful singing quickly introduced the band to a a lot larger plateau. In 1973, Keita and several other members of the Rail Band relocated to Abidjan, the capital of The Ivory Coast. Naming their new mission Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux, the group continued to draw consideration with their vigorous fusion of Cuban, Zairean, and Malian influences by way of the early ’80s.

Ginton‘s forthcoming dates:

Jun 20 – Levity – Bratislava, SK
Jun 21 – Magnifik Open Air – Antwerp, BE
Jul 05 – Down The Rabbit Gap – Ewijk, NL
Jul 06 – Heat – Barcelona, ES
Jul 19 – Rhythm Rise Invitations – Malaga, ES
Jul 26 – Sunny Facet Up – Den Burg, NL