PURE Guest.050 Coby Sey
A sonic voyager's odyssey.
In the vibrant landscape of South East London's DIY artistry, Coby Sey stands as a polymath—songwriter, producer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ. After years immersed in the local creative circuit, Sey has forged a distinct identity as an artist and performer. His recorded work traverses live instrumentation, sample-based productions, and experimental music, blending hip-hop, noise, jazz, and grime into a dubbed-out anaesthesia. On stage, the dreamlike compositions are imbued with a heavy, uneasy dancefloor energy, and fleshed out by live instrumentation courtesy of his revolving band of close South East London cohorts including Alpha Maid, Ben Vince, Charlie Hope, CJ Calderwood and Momoko "MettaShiba" Gill.
Coby Sey's collaborative spirit extends to partnerships with Mica Levi and Tirzah, as well as with Speakers Corner Quartet, Klein, TYSON, Laurel Halo and more, reflecting an open-door approach to music. As a founding member of the CURL collective, he fosters a progressive community of artists. Hosting a monthly radio show on NTS since 2015, Sey provides a glimpse into his enigmatic musical world.
His debut album, "Conduit," released in September 2022 through AD 93, is a sonic exploration inspired by nomadic experiences. Seamlessly blending genres from contemporary classical to grime, Sey's sound is rooted in the rich musical heritage of his Lewisham upbringing. "Conduit" delves into political themes, addressing contemporary issues like the Windrush scandal. Sey's nuanced approach demands listeners to explore beneath the surface, as vocals, obscured by delay effects, create an intimate, unfiltered inner monologue.
Coby Sey's childhood fascination with Prince's "Batman" album and his immersion in video games laid the foundation for his evolution into music production on computers. Sey's journey is a fusion of sonic experimentation, geographical influence, and a deep engagement with political and cultural narratives. His works invite the audience to embark on a pilgrimage towards diverse territories, transcending the boundaries of time and genres, establishing Coby Sey as a pioneering figure in contemporary music.
Photography by Ksenia Burnasheva
2023.12.25
Tracklist:
ãssia ghendir – Antimony (Sb51)
Tujiko Noriko – At The Sea
Nite Jewel – #14
Hilary Woods – The Mouth
Jefre Cantu Ledesma & Ilyas Ahmed – Never Sleep At Night
Benoît Pioulard – Vigil (Live from La Berceuse)
Lubomyr Melnyk with Melvyn Poore – THE VOICE OF TREES... Part I
Shabaka – Explore inner space
Constance Demby – Om Mani Padme Hum
Carmen Villain – Portals
KMRU – Wind Bags (Nyokabi Kariuki Remix)
Tirzah – their Love
Laurel Halo – Atlas (feat. Lucy Railton and James Underwood)
cosmo – Desmond (from here to there)
rest symbol – 6
Liz Harris & Jefre Cantu-Ledesma (RAUM) – Lullaby
Madlib – Sound Ancestors
Gabriel Ferrandini – Beginnings - Part I
Alpha Maid & Mica Levi – dinner
Gabriel Ferrandini – Beginnings - Part II
Speakers Corner Quartet feat. Lafawndah & Trustfall – Behind The Sun
Nyokbi Kariuki – home piano
Klein – black timbs
Kwes. – Chagall