Music
Eoin Murray
16 June 2023, 13:50

Premiere: Samrai ‘Yellow Crocus’

Samrai shares a buoyant piano-led ode to springtime from his debut album, ‘Work & Roti’

Balraj Singh Samrai looking to the left of the camera. He's in front of a low wall with a leafy tree above it. He's wearing a pinkish red collarless shirt. his black hair is shoulder length
Credit: Hark1Karan

Samrai will release his debut album, ‘Work & Roti’, this month via his recently launched Sangha Industries label. Listen to ‘Yellow Crocus’ below. 

The Manchester-based DJ, producer, facilitator and publisher’s first full-length release is an eight-track collection encompassing elements of dancehall, R&B, hip-hop and amapiano.  South Asian percussion instruments and rhythms also feature heavily across the record, including the tabla, dholak, kanjira, dhol and mridangam. 

The album features an array of guest vocalists and musicians, including Shanique Marie, Thai Chi Rosè, Gavsborg, LINTD and more. SCAPA, Vindya, Vikaash Sankadecha, Pops Roberts, Joey B, Raheel Khan, Chesqua and Deepikaa Sreenivasan also feature. 

A number of singles have already been shared from ‘Work & Roti’, including the double A-side ‘Create Your Own Bless​/​Dirty Dirty’ featuring Fox and Thai Chi Rosè respectively. Another recent single, ‘Oil Money’ featuring vocalist LINTD and sound artist and musician Raheel Khan, also appears on the album. Released in May, the track examines the exploitation of people for profit. 

‘Work & Roti’ explores themes relating to migrant experiences, including “healing, self-love/care, reciprocity and connections to the earth. Samrai's mother — whose maiden name influenced the Sangha Industries label name — features on the album’s opening song. A sampled phone conversation during which she described first generation Punjabi arrivals into the UK only having time to work and "eat roti", inspired the record’s title.

‘Yellow Crocus’ is a lush number that feels tailor-made for an early afternoon festival slot. A crisp, jazzy beat props up a sweet piano lead, supple bass arps and gorgeous backing vocals from Pops Roberts. You can practically feel the summer breeze coursing through its nimble composition.

Speaking about the track, Samrai said: “This one is an ode to springtime and when you first start to see the blossoms of crocuses coming up after the winter and there's a sense of renewal and hope in the air! The ever brilliant Pops Roberts provides the additional vocals on this that elevate the tune beyond my instrumentation.”

‘Work & Roti’ will be released on 30th June. Pre-order it here.