Baaba Maal The Traveller Album Cover.

“Fulani Rock” is the lead single from Senegalese star Baaba Maal’s upcoming album The Traveller, a 12-track marriage of traditional and electronic sounds produced by The Very Best’s Johan Hugo.

Like its title implies, the song carries a message for Baaba Maal’s Fulani people. “Language is a weapon,” Baaba Maal explains, “I’m not using it to destroy but to build bridges and bring people together. I am a messenger of the people so everyone’s voice can be heard.”

For his remix, South African producer DJ Spoko makes Baaba Maal’s vocals echo of each other in a ‘bacardi house’ style reworking that injects the track with military snare drums, pumped-up bass and tweaking synthesizers.

Hear our premiere of DJ Spoko’s “Fulani Rock” remix below and pre-order Baaba Maal’s The Traveller, due January 15, on iTunes.