Check out the visuals for AWATE’s “Jewels” off his debut album Happiness, a soulful reflection of council estate life, triumph and battles with the police and court systems.
The Turkish produced album, AWATE’S characteristically intricate lyrics over crips drums, warm bass and psychedelic melodies. With dextrous wit and the ability to pack a line with tremendous depth, AWATE was praised by Idris Elba in the making of the record for the attention to detail.
The Camden emcee is generating mounting buzz and backing from Matt Wilkinson (Beats1), DJ Semtex (BBC 1Xtra), Charlie Sloth (BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra), DJ MK and Shortee Blitz (KISS), Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music) on radio and Noisey, Record of the Day, The Line of Best Fit, Complex, AFROPUNK, OkayAfrica and Huck Magazine online.
On the longlist for Best Urban at 2018’s Unsigned Music Awards, AWATE and Turkish’s sound for the record is a fresh and funky wall of sound with space for the themes of refugee life and dealing violence to resonate.