An enigma, an anomaly, an exception to the rule, Yinka Oyewole exists as much in spite of the world as a part of it – and the same could be said of his band SABATTA. Born in Romford, Essex, UK of Nigerian parentage, educated in the North of Scotland and resident in South London, Yinka’s life has been nothing if not eventful!
Originally having dreamt of being a fine artist Yinka switched to music early because he felt he could reach more people than ‘putting work in a gallery’. Musically Yinka was exposed to so many forms of music: rock, hip-hop, hi-life, Afrobeat and he calls the music his band produces – Grunge Soul!
Formed around 2006 Sabatta includes Zoltan Toth on bass and Ricky Castellani on drums. The band has released two critically acclaimed albums – Princess Raw and Emperor’s New Clothes. The group has played in the UK, France and the US and has shared bills with artists including Peter Doherty, Slaves to Gravity in 2009 they played the AfroPunk festival in Brooklyn, New York alongside Saul Williams, Zoe Kravitz, and Janelle Monae and in 2010 they played Les Printemps Des Nefs Festival in Nantes, France.
With the new album – tentatively titled Sex Power Death, Yinka moves his musical unit into new territory – not so much expanding the sound with extra instrumentation (on the first two albums there were already keys and strings and percussion) as much as emphatically bringing it to the fore but never losing that sharp Sabatta edge!
Yinka: ‘I’ve always had a lot of sounds in my head – getting them out of there seems to be the smartest thing to do! I’ve lived in a few different places, mixed with different types of people, and had many experiences – I want to share that. Where I live right now I see worlds collide – you go in Elephant & Castle shopping centre or the pub over the road and it’s like the bar scene from Star Wars literally! I think as a musician or an artist, to not reflect your environment in your work would be dishonest – for me at least, so with my new songs I really want to explore that.’
As a live band SABATTA has always been captivating but expect upcoming live shows to be turned up a notch – Yinka: “Anyone who comes to see us play will get more than 120%. Everybody wants to perform these days but we feel it’s a privilege not a right. We want the audience to hear the music they’ve downloaded, live but BETTER and with a jaw-dropping performance to go with it. It’s hard work but what’s really great that isn’t?”
PRESS AND HYPE
“Live their garage blues comes across as a male fronted Bellrays. Messy, over-driven and raucous, there's a spirit of abandon that shines through!"
Kerrang - KKKK
“Sabatta are a British-Nigerian Grunge-Soul band. I know. I was excited by that combination of ingredients too!”
A New Band A Day blog
"70’s fried guitar licks...soulful vocal acrobatics...that peculiar driving Queens magic...& a dreamily high-pitched title track – Emperor’s New Clothes!"
Rock Sound - 7/10
Living the Life ...it’s a pretty cool track with a whole load of swagger...they have a SoundCloud full of other tracks that are just as great (check out Supa Nastee). I’m excited, you should be too!
Hey Man Check My Band blog
"Emperor’s New Clothes’ is, simply put, brilliant. Sabatta have shown the future of rock; time to jump aboard before everyone else beats you to it!"
Room Thirteen - 11/13
"Sabatta is a kick ass 3 piece rock n roll animal & I became an instant fan after the first minute of listening to this band... with the power of Black Sabbath mixed with the energy of Motorhead & Thin Lizzy!"
Rock 'n' Roll Experience - 6/6
"Didnt C It is a soul/rock classic...Watch out for these, they’ll soon be dominating Kerrang and most likely the radio!"
The Beat Surrender - 4/5
“Awesome stage presence, catchy vocal melodies …one of London’s hottest new bands!"
Metal Hammer
Read more...