In an age where political discourse and conversation is often polarizing at best, Toronto folksinger Larry Folk brings a call for unity and equality with his warm, inviting single “There Is A Power.” The poly-rhythmic song was inspired in part by the 1986 Mark Mathabane autobiography Kaffir Boy, which appeared on the New York Times bestseller lists detailing life under South Africa’s Apartheid regime and the writer’s escape from it.
“Upon reading Mark Mathabane’s Kaffir Boy (A derogatory word used by the ruling whites in South Africa towards black men), I learned of the chant of the black majority at rallies to end Apartheid,” Folk says. “The chant, Amandla! Ngawethu! (Power is with us!) inspired me to write a song with the Zulu words, which I sang on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill and Toronto City Hall at rallies to end Apartheid. After the end of the oppressive regime in South Africa, and the victory of the ANC (African National Congress led by Nelson Mandela), there was no longer a need for the song, and it was shelved.”
However, as the years passed, Folk realized how powerful the message was when he rediscovered the song. “I was sorting through some old demos when I came across the song, and it occurred to me that there might be a place for it now,” he says. “We live in challenging times. I decided to revise the lyric, write a new chorus, and create an exciting new arrangement. The result is a song with a resounding call to unity and freedom.”
“There Is A Power” has a serious social and political message but musically is peaceful, serene, and bubbly, recalling the work of South African groups Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the late Johnny Clegg and Suvuka. Folk’s delivery recalls the likes of Bruce Cockburn as he’s backed by a collective of gorgeous vocal harmonies that uses the “Amandla! Ngawethu!” refrain throughout. The soothing arrangement by Folk (who also wrote and produced the track) combined with the conscientious lyrics makes for a terrific, powerful recording.
“There Is A Power” is the latest solid single from Lessen The Blue and the follow up to “Hey Politician!’ Folk, who has written and performed for well over four decades, has worked with or shared the stage with the late John Allan Cameron, the late Rita MacNeil, Sylvia Tyson, Susan Aglukark, and George Olliver among others. He also worked on various CBC programs and Christmas specials hosted by MacNeil.
Now with “There Is A Power,” Folk hopes to alleviate the division and fractionalization in these challenging, uncertain times. “There’s a lot of blue in the world these days,” he says. “Feels like a good time to lessen it.” With this latest single, he has certainly made a solid step in that direction.
