Santrofi out with Making Moves

Five years after their celebrated debut album, Alewa which introduced the 8-piece Santrofi band, the group is back with another album, Making Moves, released on Friday, February 14.

Recorded and mixed by four-time Grammy Award winner Jerry Boys, the new album is a celebration of Santrofi’s roots and future of Highlife.

The album delves deep into raw Highlife grooves but also introduces a new vibe of funk driven dancefloor bangers and soulful songs about life. 

The songs on the album are title track, Making Moves ft AratheJay and Kofi Jamar, Amina, Su Nkwa, Domebi, Gyae Me How, SanSu, No Money, No Honey and Woara wosempa.

All songs were recorded and mixed by Jerry Boys except Making moves and Woara wosempa which were mixed in Tema by Martin Mawutor at Sweetcola recording studios. 

Emmanuel Kwadwo Ofori, the lead member of Santrofi wrote all the songs. 

Santrofi is a group of talented young artistes who have been representing the new vintage-inspired Highlife, Highlife-Funk, and presently Afrobeats.

According to the Ofori, their goal is to honour classic Highlife music in all of its forms and fusions, from early Afro-Cuban and Calypso strains to funky soul workouts and Nigeria’s Fela Kuti Juju grooves, all expertly executed with the requisite rippling guitars, tight horn section, driving percussion and fine harmony.

The band has played over 80 shows since 2019 and has been billed for some of the biggest festivals in Europe such as Paléo Festival Nyon in Switzerland, Festival Rio Loco in France, Hiesige&dosige Festival in Austria where they shared stages with well-renowned music icons such as Eryka Badu, Ziggie Marley, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber, Macy Grey, American band, Earth Wind and Fire among others.

The members have played in bands of countless Ghanaian artists including Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Ambolley, AK Yeboah, as well as Highlife pioneer AB Crentsil, with whom they recorded just before he passed away.

 They have also collaborated with Ghana’s popular new stars jamming and recording with the likes of KiDi, Yaw Tog, AratheJay, shooting star Black Sherif and many more.  

 Since their formation, Santrofi have brought their fresh Highlife energy to stages all over Europe, including Roskilde (Denmark), FMM Sines (Portugal) and WOMAD (UK).

In the words of Emmanuel Kwadwo Ofori, “If you think it is impossible to play a funk groove (or even drill) over a pulsing Highlife clave, Santrofi will prove you wrong. Santrofi is pushing Ghana's Highlife grooves into the future without losing its sweet soul and that is Making Moves achieved”.