Planet Drum Share “King Clave” Inspired by 6,000 Person Drum Circle
Photo by Jay Blakesberg
Today, two-time Grammy Award-winning percussive force Planet Drum released a new ebullient single titled “King Clave.” The single comes off their upcoming and highly anticipated album In the Groove, which is due to release on Aug. 5.
On the track, the master musicians behind Planet Drum–Mickey Hart (USA), Zakir Hussain (India), Giovanni Hidalgo (Puerto Rico) and Sikiru Adepoju (Nigeria)–salute a 6,000-person drum circle that Hart directed in 2004, by uniting over 50 traditional drummers and dancers from around the globe.
The collaborative song’s title references one of the most universally used and referenced rhythms called the clave. The clave is the basis that serves as the spine to a skeletal rhythmic figure around which drums and percussion are played in most African, Caribbean, South American and New Orleans music.
Along with the sonic release, Planet Drum also shared a video, which was created during the pandemic, for the track created with Playing For Change. The video showcases the individuals featured on the song from their homes, creating a cinematic quilt giving a look not only at the individual playing styles and instruments but also a glimpse at their respective homes: Hussain’s brothers, Fazal Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi, and Hidalgo’s father, Mañengue Hidalgo, also joined on the unprecedented session in the midst of an international lockdown.
“King Clave” grants a look at the core of In the Groove and highlights Planet Drum’s inspiring message of unity through music and community on a global scale. It’s hard to deny “King Clave” has arrived at a much-needed time; spreading connection and joy. In a recent interview, Hart told Relix, “Music creates a virtual world outside of normal consciousness, where you find empathy and love. With all the rage and hate going on, rhythm offers an incredible musical opportunity that is the opposite of that.”
Today, Planet Drum announced the postponement of their shows at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y.
Watch and listen to “King Clave” below:
