Track of the Day: Love Ghost – Dope Man (2023)
While the US-based band Love Ghost captivates hearts with their distinctive pop-punk style, the lads are not afraid to up the ante and try new things. Over the past year, frontman Finnegan Bell has enlisted the talent of Mexican artists adding flavours of rap-rock, alternative rock, nu-metal and trap into the mix. From the emo-rap gymnastics of FLVCKKA in ‘Haunted House’ to the alternative rock stylings of Ritorukai in ‘Human Error 404’ and the gut-wrenchingly fierce rap of Dan Garcia in ‘GLOCK’, Bell intertwines the Love Ghost sound; however, just as the sounds weave together, there is an individuality present from both sides.
Setting off on a tangent, Bell approaches one of the least likely genres I expect Love Ghost to explore: afrobeat. Joined by acclaimed chart-topping, BET Award-nominated Ghanaian musician Camidoh, as well as DJ Switch Ghana – the youngest person to win Ghana’s annual DJ award, reach the Top 100 Child Prodigies list, and perform as the warmup act to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event, Love Ghost matches the crème de la crème of African Afrobeat. Can Bell hold his own?
Following the well-received ‘LEFT ON READ’, Finnegan Bell slides into the African roots sound with his distinctive vocals in ‘Dope Man’. Mellifluous and smooth, ‘Dope Man’ is laidback, chilled and filled with a toe-tapping afrobeat vibe. Opening, you feel you might be listening to a pop ballad with Bell’s easy voice leading you to a soothing sonic river. The bouncing beats belying Bell’s tones give you a soft shove and it remains like this…sort of. No, the song is not stagnating or repetitive by any means. A shimmering flow floats atop the beat but the bold African flavours heighten the melody’s vivacity, intensity and allure.
Melding with Camidoh’s bold rapping, the sonic waves chase one another in a kaleidoscopic serenity yet there is further obscurity to the piece. ‘Dope Man’ floods minds with its captivating African beat but a tinge of pop-punk dusts the arrangement with a hint of Love Ghost. As we approach the end, DJ Switch Ghana breaks through alongside Camidoh and Bell. If I had to choose one, my favourite part would be the children’s choir dancing in the background as the song peters out. Lighting, inspiring and a grin-inducing flutter, ‘Dope Man’ closes with a heart-stirring swirl.
I’ll admit, when I heard of this collaboration, I was apprehensive. Entirely different to the darker, grittier, intense rock style, I found it hard to imagine the immersion of Afrobeat to Love Ghost. ‘Dope Man’ exceeds expectations with a complete revamp and evolution of the tried-and-tested sound. Will there be more in this style? I sit with bated breath.
In addition to the discography, Love Ghost released an official music video with Camidoh and DJ Switch Ghana. You can view the video below or via Love Ghost’s YouTube channel.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
For more from Love Ghost, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
For more from Camidah, check out his Spotify.
For more from DJ Switch Ghana, check out her Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Discover more Afrobeat tunes on The Other Side Reviews Afrobeat playlist:
