| “Glory” combines hip-hop with a swirl of South African influences, including Amapiano, jazz and deep house. It’s the perfect bed for both artists’ contrasting styles; God Know’s light-footed flow fits well on the jumpy club rhythms and Senita’s room-filling, almost euphoric vocals were purpose-built for the SA club energy” – Complex |
| God Knows is one of the founders of Ireland’s most prolific and exciting labels, narolane records. As a collective, narolane’s creative output conveys their ethos with surety, authenticity and unapologetic ambition. That ethos is to be true to what is right, what is excellent and what is unexpected. This commitment to excellence has caught the attention of a range of influential media, with NME, The Guardian, BBC, The FADER, VICE, NPR, The Irish Times, RTÉ, The New York Times andFrance 24 all turning their attention to this revolutionary collective. God Knows has been patiently waiting for the right time to drop his first release on his own label – and that time arrived with his current single ‘Glory’. The track’s profile is now heightened as God Knows share its official video. WATCH HERE. The ‘Glory’ video cuts between two energising styles: the main element of the visual fuels the dance-inspiring exuberance of the Amapiano sound, as God Knows and featured vocalist Senita bring their charisma within the feel of an old school ‘90s music video. It’s interspersed with lo-fi video footage of a family BBQ, which delivers feelgood nostalgia and reflects the authenticity behind everything that God Knows does. It was directed by Stephen Hall of narolane records, and was filmed in Limerick and Clare. Stephen Hall commented, “I wanted to create something that was authentically God Knows, and something that had subtle nods to his previous music videos, whilst forging a new path for his narolane journey. It was such an incredible experience shooting this music video. I’ve never had a shoot where people listened to the song on repeat between takes when the camera wasn’t rolling, just because they couldn’t get enough of it.” Featuring the vocal stylings of Senita, this Amapiano track draws on the South African jazz and deep house rhythms that are making waves the world over – and God Knows has long been known for paying homage to great music and great artists in his own innovative way. Often credited as the architect of Irish hip-hop, God Knows adds: “The genre is new on this side of the world, but once upon a time so were we, and there was power in not compromising who we are then, and so we chose not to compromise here either.” Since he first began making music, God Knows has been held up as a mentor of the rap scene in Ireland. Although this is a role he relishes, having encouraged so many along the way, ‘Glory’ is all about bringing it back to his roots. Produced by his brother, Godwin Jonas, God Knows explains the importance of the song’s message: “Glory means to bring honour. It means having the courage to risk it all. It means not blinking first. To take advantage of everything that has ever been taken for granted. To find the places where we have abandoned ourselves. To accept that you’ll get punched in the face and smile while your nose bleeds, knowing that we never fight for victory. We fight from victory. And so we give honour to the people who give us joy. Unapologetically black, Irish, diasporan, complex, fluid, and grounded. Glory is not a feeling, not ego worship, not insecurity. A lifestyle of praise and truth. Excellence, honour, praise, celebration, power, respect, integrity, purpose. This is what it means to walk in the Knowledge of God. Glory.” |
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