Multi-instrumentalist Jake Ferguson, who is also the bassist and co-founder of The Heliocentrics, has a new solo project called The Brkn Record. His first album under that name as a bandleader and orchestrator, The Architecture of Oppression Part 1, is set for release on November 5th through Mr Bongo.
A longtime activist committed and engaged in racial justice and social equity, Ferguson’s upcoming The Architecture of Oppression Part 1 “manifests as a committed and soulful response to ongoing and systemic anti-black racism, social oppression and state violence both at home in London and across the globe”, as the press release describes, adding that the album “is a singular and urgent chronicle of the black British experience, an upful expression of Pan-African creative unity and community solidarity, and a militant and unbending missive from the frontline.”
Ferguson enlisted the help of bandmate Malcolm Catto on drums and other collaborators hailing from the worlds of community activism, cultural education, politics and music, including singer and political activist Jermain Jackman, soul-jazz vocalist Zara MacFarlane; Chicagoan activist, poet and singer Ugochi Nwaogwugwu; British politician and racial justice activist Lee Jasper; performance poet Dylema; Hackney community leader Janette Collins and British author Leroy Logan, a former Metropolitan police superintendent and founder and former chair of the Black Police Association.
Ahead of the album’s release, The Brkn Record has shared two singles, ‘On the Daily’ featuring Ugochi Nwaogwugwu and ‘Lifeline’ featuring Zara McFarlane.
‘On the Daily’ is described by Nwaogwugwu as an “attempt to express the degree of power, resilience and focus it takes to be black and in this world. So many forces trying to take our peace of heart and mind. Though the battle rages on, those on the frontline win when we keep our poise and expose the perpetrators of racism and white terrorism.”
Speaking about ‘Lifeline’, McFarlane stated it is “an observation of how decisions, made by ourselves and others, affect our circumstances and consequences and thus the pulse of our lives from that moment on.” Ferguson also offered a few words about their collaboration:
“The clarity and precision of Zara’s vocals offered a real juxtaposition to the ‘roughness’ of the bluesy drone. Also, Zara dug deep to give her own perspective on racism that I hadn’t heard before.”
Both tracks are offered with accompanying videos, the video for ‘Lifeline’ was directed by Mark James and Ruffmercy has animated the video for ‘On the Daily’. Watch them below.