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Cover of Laugh Out Loud

Album · 2017

Laugh Out Loud

by Zuri Bell

The breakout record: eleven sunny, laugh-in-the-chorus afrobeats songs made with friends around one microphone.

Tracks

  1. 1. Neighbour's Radio Wake-UpMy neighbour's radio is my alarm clock and my best writing partner. I just kept the wall humming.playful afrobeats, highlife2:33
  2. 2. Rooftop Rain DanceRain is a reason to climb up high and dance. We recorded the stomps on a real roof, much to the neighbours' joy.rain-dance afrobeats, groove2:19
  3. 3. Mango Seller's MegaphoneThe mango seller has the loudest voice in my street, so I gave him a megaphone and a chorus.street-party afrobeats, highlife2:23
  4. 4. Barefoot on the Warm TilesA gold square on the floor and nowhere else to be. It is the calmest groove on the record.cosy afrobeats, warm groove2:05
  5. 5. Jollof Pot Dance PartyJollof pot, loud kitchen, everybody has an opinion. The shouted backing vocals are all my cousins.party afrobeats, gospel-tinged2:14
  6. 6. Sunroof Sing-Along SaturdayThis is the Laugh Out Loud feeling in a car. Sunroof open, sunglasses on, grin as wide as the road.sunny afrobeats, anthemic pop2:46
  7. 7. Fresh Bread FootstepsSandals, tap tap tap, and fresh bread under my arm. Sunshine sat on my shoulders like a cap.groove, highlife-pop2:04
  8. 8. Clap Along CalabashSomebody found a gourd and a spoon and the whole yard became a drum circle. The call-and-response is straight from choir.call-and-response afrobeats, gospel-tinged2:05
  9. 9. Bus Stop Bubble WrapPopping bubble wrap on a bad morning is genuinely therapeutic. You can hear me giggling at the end of the take.playful afrobeats, bright pop2:24
  10. 10. Headwrap Sunday StrutFold it once, fold it twice, and the day is yours. A headwrap is a crown you tie yourself.confident afrobeats, highlife2:13
  11. 11. Gold Hoop Earrings MorningLittle gold hoops that catch the morning. It is the title-track energy in a smaller, shinier song.sunny afrobeats, groove2:32

Liner notes

This is the one where I finally stopped trying to sound serious. We put six people around a single microphone and told jokes between takes, and every laugh you hear on the record is real. The title song went further than I ever imagined, and I still get messages from strangers who say it got them out of bed. I wrote about mango sellers, calabash drums and headwraps because that is the world that made me laugh.

Zuri Bell