Apex Zero's latest project is ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller’. The multi-layered visual album aspires to embody Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s perception of storytelling; the Drummer calls the people, the Warrior fights the war, the Storyteller recounts the events, creating history, memory and meaning for those who survive. Centring African Caribbean perspectives, the album explores personal experiences of oppression and liberation of diasporic, migrant and marginalised people in London and beyond through music, film, dance, photography, painting and immersive listening/performance, engaging audiences through multiple mediums in the form of an installation exhibition.

The film premiered screening at Breakin’ Convention 2021, followed by sold out events at The Hackney Social on August 22nd 2021 (aligned with the 230th anniversary of the Haitian Revolution) and Bernie Grant Arts Centre. The film also won the Short Focus Film Festival 2022 Audience Award, and will be released in Nov 2022, alongside this music that runs throughout it. Watch the trailer here: 
https://youtu.be/6MzorqMXsVM

Drummer Warrior Storyteller (Part 1)

Apex Zero's latest project is ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller’. The multi-layered visual album aspires to embody Nigerian author Chinua Achebe’s perception of storytelling; the Drummer calls the people, the Warrior fights the war, the Storyteller recounts the events, creating history, memory and meaning for those who survive. Centring African Caribbean perspectives, the album explores personal experiences of oppression and liberation of diasporic, migrant and marginalised people in London and beyond through music, film, dance, photography, painting and immersive listening/performance, engaging audiences through multiple mediums in the form of an installation exhibition. 

The first half of the project will be released as an EP and short film. The film premiered at Breakin' Convention 2021 at Sadler's Wells and won the Short Focus Film Festival Audience Award.

Live Free (On Insurrection)

This Riddim (On Ancestors)

Manifest (On Freedom)feat. Crazy Haze & Mazzi

Stand And Fight (On Violence)

Anthills Of The Savannah (On Memory) feat. Nilotika Cultural Ensemble

Live Life (On Livity) feat. Elia-Naa and Micall Parknsun

You (On Love) feat. Micall Parknsun

‘Seventh Dimension (On Perspective)’ is the latest release by Apex Zero, as he continues to develop his living visual album ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller’. Collaborating with brilliant, multidisciplinary artists, the album is made (so far) of films, paintings, metalwork, photography, costume design, drum circles, immersive theatre productions and more. The track features Malian singer and master Kora player Moussa Dembele and poetically expresses Apex’s perception shifting journey as he strives to focus less on the obstacles and struggles of life and appreciate the beauty of existence in all its forms. 

‘Seventh Dimension (On Perspective)’ is the first track released from ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller (Part Two)’ – set to drop May 19th as an EP and film. Both the track and EP symbolise a significant change in the ideas and style expressed in the albums first part. The Kora is a traditional West African storytelling instrument, and Moussa Dembele’s virtuoso musicianship and atmospheric vocals build the perfect vibe for Apex Zero to channel the traditions of the Griot and Djeli, the story keepers of African oral histories. 

The lyrics of ‘Seventh Dimension (On Perspective)’ were largely inspired by Apex’s journey to the Venezuelan Amazon, where he experienced the sacred Yopo ceremony of the Piaroa people under the guidance of Great Shaman Rufino Ponare. Apex documented this life changing experience in his film ‘Release the Fear: The Sacred Journey’ built around the album of Roots singer Natty. In ‘Seventh Dimension (On Perspective)’ Apex reflects on how his worldview has developed in the years since in creative, expressive lyricism that shows his skill as both an emcee and spoken word artist.

In the spirit of ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller’, the creativity inspired by ‘Seventh Dimension (On Perspective)’ is not limited to music. Apex worked with two long standing collaborators, Chiba Visuals and Slim Yearwood, to create stunning visuals that signal the next phase of the living album’s visual element. The world built by the filmmakers, who have all undertaken similar rituals with plant medicines, contains powerful symbolism and visual effects to capture the feelings, emotions and Spiritual insights the experiences endowed them with. Shot between Venezuela, Peru, Barbados and London, the visuals work beautifully with the music and lyrics to celebrate life, honour Ancestors and The Most High, and express gratitude and appreciation for existence and creation.

'Drummer Warrior Storyteller (Part Two)' will be released May 19th 2023 as the second film and EP in the series, alongside more exhibitions, screenings and live performances. Other tracks on the EP - ‘You (On Love)’ and ‘Live Life (On Livity)’ - were made with legendary UK Hip Hop producer Micall Parknsun and Ghanaian songstress Elia-Naa. As well as those people and places mentioned above, the film was made with visionary filmmakers Alicia Warner and Ekua McMorris, and contains footage from Uganda and Sheffield featuring pioneering metalsmith Roxanne Simone, cultural polymath Muti ‘Mutivation’ Musafiri, jewellery from rising star Lucie Gledhill, Ugandan traditional drummers Nilotika Cultural Ensemble and footage from Break Fast Jam 2018 and Afri-cans Street Art Fest 2018 . The film also contains deeply personal photographs and footage of Apex’s immediate family across four generations. 

‘Seventh Dimension’ (On Perspective) will be released on April 7th 2023 on all streaming platforms, with ‘You (On Love) dropping on May 5th 2023, followed by the ‘Drummer Warrior Storyteller (Part Two)’ on May 19th 2023. All visuals will be released on Apex’s new official artist channel.

Seventh Dimension (On Perspective) feat Moussa Dembele

Apex Zero's debut solo album 'Reality Provoking Liberation' released in October 2013. Mostly self-produced, with additional production from OMeziah and DJ fortune and with features from Iron Braydz (aka Da Fly Hooligan), Amy True, Hasan Salaam, Invincible Armour, OMeza Omniscient,  Seapa and Kyra.

Reality Provoking Liberation Featuring OMeza Omniscient

Growth (Slay The Basilisk)

Spray The Roof Featuring OMeza Omniscient And Invincible Armour

A Meeting Of The Continents Featuring Hasan Salaam And Iron Braydz

Chaotic Revolt

Everything Must Change

Obtain Bearing

Three Children (Us And We)

Don't Follow The Image Featuring OMeza Omniscient and Amy True

Walk On Water featuring Seapa And OMeza Omniscient

Our Times featuring OMeza Omniscient and Kyra

Power Source (War At Night)

Absolute Zero

Shackled By The Pound

Head Vs Heart (Intro)

'All and Nothing', released on September 11th 2017 by Design Chaos (UK) and DB Bros (China), captures the artistic growth inspired by Apex's recent travels in Africa and Asia, both lyrically and sonically. It features collaborations with pioneering Chinese Hip Hop/Reggae artist MC Webber aka Raddam Ras, New York emcee Jackson Turner, Cameroonian/French Reggae singers UBC and fellow First and Last member OMeza Omniscient. Production comes from OMeziah, Frank Freeman, GI and In:Theory. The EP was mastered by Chemo and will be accompanied by videos from Global Faction and Simon Yu.

05. Apex Zero - The Way

Emcee / Beatmaker - Global Faction, I Am Hip Hop, End of the Weak, The Syndicate (London/Beijing)

Apex Zero

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