Juls' amapiano-jazz fusion track, 'Love Me' featuring Niniola

"It’s all about the global sound of Africa for me right now. It’s Africa to the world."

British-Ghanaian DJ and producer Juls just released his new track ‘Love Me ft. Niniola’, the second preview from his debut album, due later this year. The Hackney-born, international star has received a MOBO Award nomination and collaborated with Ms Banks, Pa Salieu and Kojey Radical in the past.

‘Love me’ is a mix of richness; a ferocious horn line, amapiano drum pattern and a jazz-funk sensibility that connects Juls to Afrobeat pioneers Fela Kuti and Tony Allen. The live instrumentation and electronically percussion is fused together with an infectious vocal performance from Nigerian singer-songwriter Niniola – a lady with her own armful of achievements that include participating in Project Fame West Africa in 2013, getting a nomination for the Most Promising Act to Watch at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards, and receiving a GRAMMY Award nomination earlier this year. On top of that, she’s been praised by Drake and sampled by Beyoncé.

The music video for ‘Love Me’ was conceived by Juls and directed by Ray Fiasco, who has previously worked with Backroad Gee, Shakka, M Huncho, Kojey Radical, Young T & Bugsey, and Aitch. Its narrative acts as a short piece of fiction in itself, as well as adding an entirely new dimension and tone to ‘Love Me’; it denotes a slasher-inspired story of a menacing crime of passion.

“This record is spiritual, so I’m very excited about it. Niniola is one of my favourite African artists so it’s an honour to have her bless me. I threw in some elements of South African amapiano in there too. It’s all about the global sound of Africa for me right now. It’s Africa to the world.”

Listen on your preferred streaming service here or watch the music video below.