Dj and production duo Ancient Astronauts have announced the release of their latest single, ‘Photoshop Reality feat. BANTU’ on the 27th of November. The single is taken from their groundbreaking Afro-European album ZIK ZAK, which will be released on the 22nd of January 2021 via Switchstance Recordings and features a variety of rising African musicians. The album was preceded by the noteworthy Kampala Fire EP. BANTU is a 13-piece award-winning band based in Lagos, Nigeria. Lead by Ade Bantu, they have won the Kora Awards for Best Group West Africa and Best Group Africa and have received support from The Guardian and Music In Africa.

BANTU pride themselves in striving to create critical social commentary with their music, sending messages via music and inspiring people around the globe. Leader of the band, Ade Bantu’s lyrics focus on the entrapment of minds within social media and how the platforms can distort our perceptions of reality. Deep, masculine vocals dominate the single, however light and modern production style prevent them from overwhelming the listener - instead entrancing them into a rhythmic joyousness. 

Speaking of the single, Ancient Astronauts tell us: “Our music always had a serious and conscious touch to it cause we believe that music can, and should, have a positive and thought-provoking effect. Ade´s lyrics in ‘Photoshop Reality’ really nail it when you think about today´s situation when it comes to social media, and Instagram in special. People trying to act like they made it, presenting themselves in the best way they can, overplaying reality, photoshoping not only their photos but their existence. It became a world of boasting and pretending things that don´t match reality. It feels as if people wanna escape reality through social media and luxury goods cause reality is too harsh for them. But then they don´t find their way back to reality. So they live in that Photoshop Reality.”

ZIK ZAK

Photoshop Reality

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Ancient Astronauts - Photoshop Reality Feat. BANTU

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SWITCHSTANCE RECORDINGS 
Quality music for advanced listeners!

"Switchstance" is taken from the culture of boardsports, meaning the skill used to change the stance (easily) by switching one's foot position. The stance in freestyle Snowboarding or Skateboarding, is either riding in "regular" (left foot forward) or "goofy" (right foot forward) position. This identifies a really skilled rider and opens up a whole new world of trick combinations.

The label's creed and therefore the style of its producers and DJs is to have ultimate freedom, whether in their musical movements or in "switching" between various styles. The aim of the label is to combine early musical influences such as Funk, Jazz, Latin, 90´s Hip Hop and Reggae with the most progressive techniques of electronic music production in order to create a new dynamic sound that pays respect to the diverse cultures it comes from. It is the soundtrack of the lives of artists that dedicate their time and energy to produce cutting-edge grooves for a conscious and openminded generation.

Inspired by the label members' and friends' lifestyles in music, boardsports, arts and travels; the sound of Switchstance is always in motion and reflects a unique vision and attitude towards modern life. 

Lagos, the pulsating epicenter of the current global Afropop movement, has always been a melting pot of musical genres constantly inspiring and feeding off one another. One of the bands that has always stood out amongst the crowd is BANTU, a 13-piece musical collective known for their rich myriad sounds and socially conscious lyrics. The list of artists who've collaborated with BANTU are a testament to the power, originality, and talent of the band. They include the likes of UB40, Tony Allen, Patrice, Akua Naru, Gentleman, Seun Kuti, Orlando Julius, Fokn Bois, Yemi Alade and Burna Boy, just to name a few.

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The Ancient Astronauts are Kabanjak and Dogu, a bulletproof production and DJ duo hailing from Cologne, Germany. The phenomenon of “ancient astronauts, “a belief that extraterrestrial beings visited Earth in ancient times to mingle and trade ideas with early human civilizations”, isn’t an alien concept to these Ancient Astronauts.  The cross-pollination and mash-up of ideas, sounds, styles, and a collaborative spirit are their modus operandi.
Although, the long-time friends are quick to admit that they are not followers of the German music scene, Kabanjak notes, “for us music is and will always be an international phenomena”, and Ancient Astronauts are certainly not afraid to draw on influences from international artists and styles.
Self described as a “mash up of the distant past and far future”; these time travelers´ music is a mystic brew born out of an eclectic mix of ideas, sounds and styles. 
Already having remixed and collaborated with AM & Shawn Lee, Nickodemus, Fort Knox Five, Ladybug Mecca (Digable Planets), Zion I, The Pharcyde, Azeem, Analogik, Subatomic Sound System & Anthony B, Bajka, Vieux Farka Toure, Raashan Ahmad, Bajka, DJ Brace and Tippa Irie, the Ancient Astronauts always link up with a quality selection of sonic collaborators. 
 “At an early stage we realized that we are both big music heads so we started running parties in our hometown together”. Those parties became the catalyst for a production team that never forgot its roots. They specialize in diversity loosely glued together by a single thread. Like a good party, you don’t just listen to the music, you experience it. 
In 2001 Dogu of Ancient Astronauts started his own label Switchstance Recordings, which was developed as a way of allowing them total musical freedom. The label soon gathered momentum and built up an impressive international fan base. Switchstance Recordings is now famous in international club circles for the integrity of its production and style.

www.ancientastronauts.de
