Young Fathers have just released their new video for most recent single ‘Toy‘. The Salomon Ligthelm directed video sees our world leaders reimagined as spoilt young children. Like Bugsy Malone does the G8, this parody adds a counterpoint to the track’s frenetic keys, quick-fire rhyming, chanted refrains and subject matter that mockingly riffs on global political affairs spinning out of control in the hands of narcissistic leaders.
Speaking about the video, Ligthelm states:
“The tone of the track is so visceral and abrasive, which I think marries the political subject matter perfectly. I honestly just really like the idea of seeing dictators behaving like spoilt little children – pissed with the world because things aren’t going their way. Looking at the political climate of our time, I’d say truth is certainly stranger than fiction.”
Young Fathers (Alloysious Massaquoi, Graham ‘G’ Hastings and Kayus Bankole) released their third album, Cocoa Sugar, via Ninja Tune.
Today, Young Fathers release the video for their latest single, ‘Toy’. The video sees the band reignite their creative relationship with renowned Stink Films Director Salomon Ligthelm, who approached the trio with the video concept after hearing the track. Ligthelm previously collaborated with Young Fathers on a video for 2014’s ‘Mr Martyr’.
Cocoa Sugar is available on CD, LP, limited LP and via all digital services. It features a striking visual aesthetic, with cover photography from Julia Noni and creative direction from Tom Hingston
Meanwhile, Young Fathers will perform a run of North American shows this week. The dates included headline shows in New York (1st May) and Los Angeles (2nd May) before the band join LCD Soundsystem at the Hollywood Bowl on 4th and 5th May. Young Fathers are also set to support Massive Attack at the UK’s Eden Project on 15th and 16th June in addition to festival appearances throughout the summer. Full dates below, with further details available via http://www.young-fathers.com/
Young Fathers Live 2018
03/05/18 – Amoeba Hollywood instore, LA, US
04/05/18 – LCD Soundsystem Support, Hollywood Bowl LA, USA
05/05/18 – LCD Soundsystem Support, Hollywood Bowl LA, USA
25/05/18 – All Points East, London, UK
26/05/18 – BBC Biggest Weekend Festival, Belfast, Ireland
02/06/18 – Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
08/06/18 – Sideways Festival, Helsinki, Finland
09/06/18 – RADAR Festival, Milan, Italy
15/06/18 – Maikmarkt-Gelande, Mannheim, Germany
15/06/18 – The Eden Project (with Massive Attack), St Austell, UK
16/06/18 – The Eden Project (with Massive Attack), St Austell, UK
17/06/18 – Maifeld Derby Festival, Mannheim, Germany
21/06/18 – Arenele Romane – MA , Bucharest, Romania
23/06/18 – Papp László Budapest Sportaréna – MA, Budapest, Hungary
25/06/18 – Zorlu Performing Arts Center – MA, Istanbul, Turkey
29/06/18 – Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
12/07/18 – Mad Cool Festival 2018, Madrid, Spain
14/07/18 – BBK 2018 Bilbao, Spain
30/08/18 – Electric Fields, Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Ireland