When Smoke Rises

Last updated
When Smoke Rises
When Smoke Rises.jpg
Studio album by
Mustafa
ReleasedMay 28, 2021
Recorded2020
Genre
Length23:42
Label Regent Park Songs
Producer
Singles from When Smoke Rises
  1. "Stay Alive"
    Released: March 10, 2020
  2. "Air Forces"
    Released: September 21, 2020
  3. "Ali"
    Released: March 30, 2021
  4. "The Hearse"
    Released: May 26, 2021

When Smoke Rises is the debut studio album by Canadian musician and poet Mustafa. It was released on May 28, 2021, through Mustafa's Regent Park Songs imprint. The album was produced by frequent collaborator and executive producer Frank Dukes with contributions from James Blake, Jamie xx, and Sampha, among others. The songs "Stay Alive", "Air Forces", "Ali", and "The Hearse" were released as singles prior to the album's release. The album is self-described as 'inner city folk music' and is thematically centered on Toronto's Regent Park community. [1]

Contents

The album was shortlisted for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize. [2]

Production

Mustafa began working on demos in the late 2010s. [3] Formal songwriting for the album began in 2019 in London with Swedish producer Simon Hessman also known as Simon on the Moon. [4] [5] Following the songwriting process, frequent collaborator Frank Dukes came in to produce the album. [5] His production was inspired by the Smithsonian Folkways anthologies of Sudanese and Egyptian music which he samples throughout the record. [3] Additionally, tracks on the album were produced by London-based musicians James Blake, who contributed to "Stay Alive" and "Come Back", and Jamie xx, who produced "Air Forces" and "The Hearse".

Mustafa has noted that the songwriting of the record was influenced by Richie Havens, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen, [4] [6] as well as Sufjan Stevens' 2015 album Carrie & Lowell . [3]

The album's name is in reference to Smoke Dawg who is featured on the cover art alongside Mustafa. [3]

Release and promotion

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [7]
Review scores
SourceRating
Evening Standard Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Exclaim! 9/10 [9]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [11]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]

When Smoke Rises was released on May 28, 2021, fourteen months after the first single "Stay Alive" was released. It was released independently by Mustafa under the name Regent Park Songs and distributed by Beggars Group. [13] A limited edition of the album pressed as different color vinyl records was released by a number of independent record stores including Rough Trade and VMP (Vinyl Me, Please). [1] [6]

Mustafa appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 27, 2021, to promote the release of the record. [14] In the year leading up the release, Mustafa received significant press coverage, including profiles by The New York Times , GQ Middle East , Pitchfork , and American Songwriter . [3] [15] [5] [4]

Overall, the album received generally favorable review from critics, with particularly positive support from Canadian publications like Exclaim!

Track listing

Songwriting credits adapted from SOCAN and liner notes. [16] [17]

When Smoke Rises track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stay Alive"
3:01
2."Air Forces"
2:58
3."Separate"
  • Ahmed
  • cityboymoe
  • Feeney
  • Hessman
  • Dukes
  • Hessman [b]
2:27
4."The Hearse"
  • Dukes
  • Jamie xx [b]
  • Hessman [b]
2:04
5."Capo" (featuring Sampha)
Dukes2:55
6."Ali"
  • Ahmed
  • Tavares
  • Feeney
  • Hessman
3:12
7."What About Heaven"
  • Ahmed
  • Dylan Wiggins
  • Feeney
  • Hessman
3:38
8."Come Back"
  • Ahmed
  • Feeney
  • Blake
  • Dukes
  • Blake
3:12
Total length:23:42
Japanese edition (bonus tracks) [18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Come Back" (Live) (featuring James Blake)
  • Ahmed
  • Feeney
  • Blake
 
10."Ali" (Live)
  • Ahmed
  • Tavared
  • Feeney
  • Hessman
 
11."Stay Alive" (Live) (featuring James Blake)
  • Ahmed
  • cityboymoe
  • Feeney
  • Hessman
 

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from TIDAL, Jaxsta, and liner notes. [19] [13] [17]

Musicians

Spoken word and dialogue

Technical

Related Research Articles

Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994. They are best known for their debut album, Becoming X (1996), and its singles "6 Underground" and "Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an article the Beastie Boys published in their Grand Royal magazine about a man they hired to track down classic sneakers.

<i>Keepin the Summer Alive</i> 1980 studio album by The Beach Boys

Keepin' the Summer Alive is the 24th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released March 24, 1980, on Brother, Caribou and CBS Records. Produced by Bruce Johnston, the album peaked at number 75 in the US, during a chart stay of 6 weeks, and number 54 in the UK. It is the group's last album recorded with Dennis Wilson, who drowned in 1983, although he only appears on one song.

<i>Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich</i> 1989 debut album by Warrant

Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich is the debut studio album by American glam metal band Warrant, released in 1989.

<i>Long May You Run</i> 1976 studio album by The Stills–Young Band

Long May You Run is a studio album credited to the Stills–Young Band, a collaboration between Stephen Stills and Neil Young, released in 1976 on Reprise Records. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. The album is the sole studio release by Stills and Young as a duo.

<i>No. 1 in Heaven</i> 1979 studio album by Sparks

Nº 1 in Heaven is the eighth studio album by American rock band Sparks. Recorded with Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder, the album marked a change of musical direction for the group and became influential on later synth-pop bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dukes of Windsor</span> Australian electronic rock group

Dukes of Windsor were an Australian electronic rock group. Although formed in Melbourne, Australia, they were based in Berlin, Germany. They are notable for their single "It's a War", released in Australia in 2008 and in Europe in early 2010, as well as their song "The Others", remixed by Australian electronic group TV Rock. They "fuse minimalist rhythms, punchy bass-lines, cascading guitar riffs, and glacial synths". Their music has been described as "angular and reductive, groovy and melodic", and has been termed the beautiful paradox of "robotic soul".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Live with You</span> 1991 song by Queen

"I Can't Live with You" is a song by the British rock band Queen, which was released in 1991 as the fourth single from their fourteenth studio album Innuendo. The song was written by Brian May but credited to all four members of Queen. It was produced by Queen and David Richards. "I Can't Live with You" was released as a promotional single in the United States only, where it reached No. 28 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in June 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Keep Us Alive</span> 1994 single by Eagles

"Love Will Keep Us Alive" is a song written by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale and produced by the Eagles, Elliot Scheiner, and Rob Jacobs. It was first performed by the Eagles in 1994, during their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour, with lead vocals by bassist Timothy B. Schmit. This is the last single to feature Don Felder, who was terminated from the band in 2001.

<i>Pleasure One</i> 1986 studio album by Heaven 17

Pleasure One is the fourth studio album by English synth-pop band Heaven 17, released on 17 November 1986 by Virgin Records. It was the band's last studio album chart entry within the UK Top 100.

<i>Smoke & Mirrors</i> (Lifehouse album) 2010 studio album by Lifehouse

Smoke & Mirrors is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Lifehouse. It was released on March 2, 2010, by Geffen Records. Lifehouse began to work on the album with record producer Jude Cole in the fall of 2008 at Cole's Ironworks Studio. The band collaborated with American singer-songwriter Kevin Rudolf and Chris Daughtry of the band Daughtry while working on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alive (Goldfrapp song)</span> 2010 single by Goldfrapp

"Alive" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First (2010). It was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Richard X. The song was released on 7 June 2010 as the album's second single. The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart, while becoming Goldfrapp's fifth single to top the Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Man's Party (song)</span> 1986 single by Oingo Boingo

"Dead Man's Party" is a song by American band Oingo Boingo, released as the third single from their album of the same name.

<i>Drunk with Passion</i> 1991 studio album by The Golden Palominos

Drunk with Passion is the fifth album by the Golden Palominos. It was released in 1991 via Nation/Charisma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teo Halm</span> American record producer, songwriter, and actor

Teo Lucas Halm is an American record producer, songwriter, singer, and actor. Halm's notable production and songwriting credits include the Rosalía singles "Con Altura" with J Balvin and "TKN" with Travis Scott, the former which won a Latin Grammy Award, Evergreen by Omar Apollo, as well as two songs from the Beyoncé-produced The Lion King: The Gift. As an actor, Halm is best known for starring in the 2014 film Earth to Echo.

"She Loves Control" is a song by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, included on her debut studio album Camila (2018). It was written by the singer, Ilsey Juber and Mustafa Ahmed and its producers Skrillex, Frank Dukes and Louis Bell. Musically, "She Loves Control" is an EDM and reggaeton track that uses elements of moombahton. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who commended its production. Commercially, it debuted in Norway and the United Kingdom, peaking at 36 and 40, respectively. Moreover, it charted in Switzerland, Spain, Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, peaking at 59, 69, 77, 77 and 81, respectively. In the United Kingdom, "She Loves Control" received a silver certification for 200,000 copies sold in the country.

<i>The Trigger Complex</i> 2017 album by TSOL

The Trigger Complex is the tenth studio album by American punk rock band T.S.O.L.. It was released in 2017 under the Rise label and produced by Paul Roessler.

Mustafa Ahmed, known as Mustafa, formerly known as Mustafa the Poet, is a Sudanese-Canadian poet, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker from Toronto. He released his debut studio album When Smoke Rises in May 2021.

<i>Country Again: Side A</i> 2021 studio album by Thomas Rhett

Country Again: Side A is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Thomas Rhett, and the first release of the Country Again double album project. It includes the singles "What's Your Country Song" and the project's title track. The album was released on April 30, 2021 through the Valory Music Co., with its follow-up Country Again: Side B intended for release in late 2022, which did not eventuate.

<i>Apocalypse Whenever</i> 2022 studio album by Bad Suns

Apocalypse Whenever is the fourth studio album by indie rock band Bad Suns, released on Epitaph Records on January 28, 2022. it is their first album since 2019's album: Mystic Truth (2019)

<i>Lahai</i> 2023 studio album by Sampha

Lahai is the second studio album by English musician Sampha, released on 20 October 2023 through Young, marking his first release in over six years. The album is named after Sampha's paternal grandfather. The album features contributions from Yaeji, Léa Sen, Sheila Maurice Grey, Ibeyi, Morgan Simpson, Yussef Dayes, Laura Groves and Kwake Bass.

References

  1. 1 2 "Mustafa - When Smoke Rises - LP+". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  2. ↑ David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star , July 15, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Caramanica, Jon (2021-05-28). "Mustafa, a Folk Hero for a Weary Generation". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mustafa Speaks To His Experience, Not Through It". American Songwriter. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  5. 1 2 3 Kameir, Rawiya. "Mustafa's Meditative Songs of Mourning". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  6. 1 2 "When Smoke Rises". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  7. ↑ When Smoke Rises by Mustafa , retrieved 2021-06-07
  8. ↑ Smyth, David (2021-05-28). "Mustafa - When Smoke Rises review: a sad, beautiful tribute". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  9. ↑ "Mustafa Honours His Grief Through Beautiful Poetry on 'When Smoke Rises' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  10. ↑ "Mustafa: When Smoke Rises review – 21st-century folk meets bereft R&B". The Guardian. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  11. ↑ "Mustafa: When Smoke Rises". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  12. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (2021-05-28). "Mustafa's 'When Smoke Rises' is a Softly Stunning Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  13. 1 2 "Overview: When Smoke Rises". Jaxsta . Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  14. ↑ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon - Season 8 Episode 148 , retrieved 2021-05-27
  15. ↑ Nagy, Andrew (2 February 2021). "Mustafa Is Realising His Purpose". GQ Middle East . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  16. ↑ When Smoke Rises - Mustafa | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic , retrieved 2021-05-27
  17. 1 2 Liner notes for When Smoke Rises, Mustafa. Regent Park Songs RPS004DA, 2021, vinyl record.
  18. ↑ "BEATINK.COM When Smoke Rises". Beatink.com. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Credits: When Smoke Rises". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.