Reading about UK via NYC artist Baba Ali, you come across a lot of artist comparisons. He’s like FKA Twigs. He’s like Arca. He’s recorded alongside Jamie Hince of the Kills. These comparisons aren’t surprising. I see where they come from. He has the slightly punky British style of rock that the Kills are known for. He’s also something totally unique.
In the self produced performance video for his new single “All These Wires”, we see Baba Ali bounce along and groove with his microphone, wearing a set of tight pants and a slim T shirt that says “Pleasure”. In these easy, elastic moves, we see where the David Bowie comparison comes into play. His voice is totally natural, rhythmic and smooth, and the easy, danceable beats of the single evoke Iggy Pop flawlessly.
But it does a disservice to make all of these comparisons ( I know, a little hypocritical to say — I have just made at least five comparisons). Baba Ali is his own brand of rock music. A little bit flirty, a little bit sensual as he sings about desire and missed connections. But also totally earnest and naturalistic. His voice sings to you from the video as if he were crooning straight into your ear. He evokes 80’s nightclub music and even his dance moves seem to be a hybrid of a bygone era, and something that could only exist now.
The single comes following the recording of his Rethinking Sensual Pleasures mixtape which he placed online to support the Afrotecopia Organization on Juneteenth last month. Baba Ali reminds us of so many of these well-loved rock musicians from before, but make no mistake, Baba Ali could only exist in the here and the now.