Omotola

Head for the Hills crafts a distinctive blend of instrumental acoustic afrobeat in their track “Omotola.” The band drew influence from a story Fela Kuti’s longtime percussionist, Pax Nicholas, told about life on Kuti’s compound, the Kalakuta Republic. Nicholas cities that all of the DJs on the 24-hour dance floor were women all of which were singers, dancers, and composers in Kuti’s Africa 70 band. A name that stood out was Omotola Osaeti who became the muse that roused the band to use acoustic instruments (fiddle, banjo, dobro, mandolin, bass, and drums) to delve into textures and layers characteristic of afrobeat music. Troy Thrill rounds the track out with a countermelody on baritone saxophone. “Omotola” tips its hat in celebration of the many women whose musical contributions are sorely underappreciated.