Photo: Travys Owen.
"MDR," the third single from Petite Noir's forthcoming album La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful, is a love song that takes off from a post-punk influenced guitar riff and patiently unfolds into a sparkling chorus backed by girl group vocals. The track, which follows the striking music videos for "Best" and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-shot "Down," comes out a few days after the Cape Town-based 'noirwaver' tore it down at this weekend's Afropunk Festival in NYC .
La Vie Est Belle / Life Is Beautiful, due September 11 on Domino Records, looks to expand on Petite Noir's concept of 'noirwave' — a new, forward-thinking African aesthetic influenced by the likes of Fela Kuti, Tabu Ley Rochereau and Yasiin Bey. “It’s just the story their music tells and the sense of freedom,” the Congolese-Angolan artist adds, “It’s about seeing the positive in dark times." Pre-order the album and listen to "MDR" below, plus check out Petite Noir's upcoming tour dates and some of our snaps of him at Afropunk underneath.
Petite Noir Tour Dates
Tues September 15 || London, UK || Lexington
Wed September 16 || Glasgow, UK || Stereo
Thu September 17 || Manchester, UK || Deaf Institute
Sat September 19 || Nurnburg, Festival, Germany || Melt!
Mon September 21 || Paris, France || Badaboum
Tues September 22 || Brussels, Belgium || Botanique/Witloofbar
Thu September 24 || Amsterdam, Netherlands || Melkweg
Fri September 25 || Hamburg, Festival, Germany || Reeperbahn Festival
Happy Birthday, @petitenoirkvlt! #NOIRWAVE #AFROPUNK
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