amandla

Fusing soul-rock, folk psychedelia, and and alternative R & B sound, Claude Coleman, Jr, the 25 years and still going veteran of Ween, is taking amandla and their newest album, Laughing Hearts, on the road. Laughing Hearts is the third Amandla release on Coleman’s imprint label Marshall Hotel Records.

Used by Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress in the days of resistance to apartheid, Amandla is a Zulu word meaning “power.” Leaders would shout out “Amandla!” and the crowds would respond with “Awethi!” or “Ngawethu!” Together, it translates to South African version of “Power to the People!”

This call and response between the stage and the crowd provides the inspiration for Amandla’s frontman, Claude Coleman, Jr, the versatile drummer for Ween the last 25 years.

“The songs I write take me into places I cannot always expect. Music reaches people you sometimes can’t. You build a relationship with the crowd. You build a relationship with yourself, with your expression and with your voice. You come to know you. And that’s powerful.”

Laughing Hearts is a portrayal of journeys and landscapes, and the discoveries of new truths. Showcasing Coleman’s strong musical abilities, it is also Coleman’s strongest record to date and has garnered raving early reviews. Guests on Laughing Hearts included Kirk Kirkwood and Mike Dillon.