Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis has always loved Fela Kuti, especially his drummer in Africa 70, Tony Allen. When the opportunity arose in 2016 for Philippakis to collaborate with Allen, he jumped at it. Over the years, the two musicians would jam together from dusk to dawn, drinking whiskey and bonding over records.
When Allen died at the age of 79 in April 2020, Philippakis knew that he needed to finish the project that he started with his late, legendary friend. Under the name Yannis & The Yaw, that project has become fully realized as Lagos Paris London, an EP that Philippakis culled from their various recording sessions together. Mixing Afrobeats, funk, and indie rock, Lagos Paris London is a relic of one of the greatest drummers to ever do it.
Ahead of the EP’s release this Friday, Philippakis sat down with Uproxx to talk about Jai Paul, gardening, and Geordie Greep in our latest Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Searching, intense, beautiful, true.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
