I Hit the Water by Lollise

Recalling the immense diversity of influences that a transcontinental immigrant experiences, I Hit the Water by Lollise brings a New York art rock writing sensibility to a variety of African styles, including principally South African bubblegum pop and Botswanan folk music. The resulting cleanly produced, tightly composed, meticulously detailed afrobeat album illustrates Lollise’s identity as a New York musician whose childhood musical interests vary dramatically from most of her American peers. Thus, this record bridges this split identity into an integrated whole, inviting a broad cast of instrumentalists along to contribute to this sweeping autobiography that forms unity from difference, stability from transition. Every section of this orchestra gets a turn at speaking to influences from each side of the Atlantic, with percussion that flows flawlessly between electronically sequenced drum n bass and traditional, acoustic folk drumming, along with vocals that meander between languages, inflections, hooks, and ballads. By the end, we get a cohesive view of Lollise’s musical mission, contextualizing her contributions to all of her many credits in the New York scene.