Steam Down - “Five Fruit”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Davido

Since debuting in 2019 with explorative, Afrobeat-jazz single “Free My Skin”, Steam Down have continued to grow in unexpected ways leading to 2021 EP Five Fruit. These tracks are a little more pop-oriented, at least in an R&B/hip-hop way, using the big-band jazz elements more sparingly to put the spotlight on their political and personal songwriting. Mostly collaborations with fellow UK vocalists, Steam Down welcome diverse perspectives on Five Fruit while still maintaining their tight musicianship and percussive strength. Catch Steam Down with the British Music Embassy at Cedar Street on Friday night, closing a night including Priya Ragu, Poppy Ajudha, and Baby Queen. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Steam Down is an explosion of Jazz energy, a London based collective of multi-disciplinary musicians, vocalists, poets, and producers. Founded by multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Ahnansé in May 2017, the group consists of a central eight-member core of artists that effortlessly collaborates with many likeminded artists. Steam Down hosts a weekly event where the collective creates and collaborates spontaneously. They’re an extension of the creative jazz revitalization happening across the UK. The collective differentiates their sound by creating a unique mix of modern jazz, west African rhythms, spoken word poetry, soulful singing, and laid-back rapping.