London based afrobeat group Ibibio Sound Machine have just dropped ‘Give Me A Reason’, the first track from their forthcoming album Uyai. In addition to the irresistibly funky backdrop, the band’s frontwoman Eno Williams delivers some politically-charged lyrics inspired by the heartbreaking kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in 2014. In response to the attack, Williams asks “Why can’t we just be free to be who we want to be? Why can’t children just be free?”. This empowering message is surrounded by toe-tapping basslines, whistles, frantic percussion and the catchiest of beats. Melding jazz, hiphop, afrobeat, funk and soul, Uyai is set to be another fantastic delivery from the Ibibio Sound Machine - make sure you catch them on their short UK tour in March. ‘Give Me A Reason’ is out on March 3^rd 2017 via Merge Records. -HM