Photo Credit: Khali Ackford
The Bristol-based collective Ishmael Ensemble, led by saxophonist & producer Pete Cunningham, is back with the drop of their brand new single, ‘The Rebuke’. The new record signals their return to the speakers, following 2021’s ‘Visions Of Light’, and finds the outfit navigating extremely personal waters as they overcome adversity in fearless fashion.
EG caught up with the Ishmael Ensemble to learn more about the drop of ‘The Rebuke’, their upcoming UK tour, their evolution, and much more.
EG: Hi guys! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you based right now?
Ishmael Ensemble: Thanks for the invite. Currently in and around the Bristol area. To be exact sat, currently sat enjoying a coffee at our mates’ Emmeline on Stokes Croft.
EG: So, what has your summer been like? Any particular highlights?
Ishmael Ensemble: Ah, it’s been great. After a couple of years off due to the pandemic, it was great to get back on stage. A massive highlight for us was the Glastonbury show on West Holts. We were able to invite all the guests and really put on a show – a true celebration of everything we’ve worked towards over the last few years.
EG: Sounds like good times! Congratulations on the release of your latest single ‘The Rebuke’! What has the initial reception been like?
Ishmael Ensemble: It’s been amazing, it’s a track we’ve sat on for a while – so it was kinda impossible to imagine hearing it for the first time, but the radio & fan response has been amazing! We just can’t wait to play it live on the upcoming tour.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘The Rebuke’? There’s a gripping concept to it. Can you elaborate more on that?
Ishmael Ensemble: Yeah, so, the track lyrically is centered around our singer Holysseus Fly’s battle with breast cancer a couple of years ago. It’s obviously a really tricky subject to navigate musically, so I, as a producer, wanted to capture that sense of injustice & difficulty Holly was experiencing. The song bubbles away with tension before exploding into a wall of angsty breaks and chest-rattling bass, finally resolving into a beautiful ensemble of horns & piano, symbolizing the triumph & relief of her survival and coming out the other side stronger than ever.
“The track lyrically is centered around our singer Holysseus Fly’s battle with breast cancer a couple of years ago. It’s obviously a really tricky subject to navigate musically, so I, as a producer, wanted to capture that sense of injustice & difficulty Holly was experiencing”
EG: ‘The Rebuke’ is your first single since 2021’s ‘Visions Of Light’ LP. How has your sound matured since? Are you exploring new waters?
Ishmael Ensemble: Yes we’re actually working more as a traditional band on this one. The project has always been about big open collaborations with lots of artists but after touring as a solid 5 piece for the last year I really wanted to capture the sound we’ve developed on stage.
EG: And now you’re about to go off on your new UK tour. What can fans expect on that front?
Ishmael Ensemble: There’s lots of new music in the set, some of which isn’t out until next year, so it’s a great opportunity to road-test it and get a genuine audience response. It’s the first time we’ve done things that way round so we’re all really excited about it!
EG: How do you guys usually keep entertained when not in the studio? Where does your inspiration come from? Any new books, movies, or series you’d recommend?
Ishmael Ensemble: I’ve just had a baby, so that’s been pretty all-consuming! Perhaps the next record will inadvertently be full of nursery rhymes and rattles!
EG: What are your thoughts on the current state of the scene? What would you like to see more and less of?
Ishmael Ensemble: We’re at an interesting crossroads post covid, I feel touring has become harder financially on everyone, from venues to promoters to artists. I think we may reach a breaking point soon where even larger acts can’t make it work. I think it’s both a political & cultural problem. We need an intervention on a government level to help keep venues & festivals going. Streaming has cheapened the value of our art as musicians – luckily our audience willingly invests in our records & merch.
“We’re at an interesting crossroads post covid, I feel touring has become harder financially on everyone, from venues to promoters to artists. I think we may reach a breaking point soon where even larger acts can’t make it work”
EG: What’s next for Ishmael Ensemble? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to now?
Ishmael Ensemble: We’re starting work on album 3, which is equally daunting and exciting. There’s loads of finished music to come out between now and then though so you’ll still be hearing plenty from us!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, guys! We wish you all the best for the future.
Ishmael Ensemble: thanks for having us!
Ishmael Ensemble’s ‘The Rebuke’ is out now. Purchase your copy here.
You can find scheduled dates and tickets to Ishmael Ensemble’s UK tour here.
Follow Ishmael Ensemble: Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify
