Ubunye - Tell Me The Truth Or Don't Tell Me Anything (2025)

In their new album, Ubunye immortalises the energy and spirit of their revered live shows, on a recorded body of work that is destined to attract further positive attention to their distinctive, high-energy sound.

Ubunye (loosely translated as ‘Oneness’ or ‘Unity’) is the conception of keyboard player and lead songwriter David Evans, who first collaborated with baritone singer Xolani Mbatha at a festival that he was running in Leeds. Having put together a successful project for the festival, the working relationship between Evans and Mbatha flourished, eventually resulting in the recruitment of their most talented colleagues. The new exciting Ubunye line up consists of the renowned jazz drummer Steve Hanley, distinguished Leeds musicians Nik Svarc and Sam Dutton-Taylor on guitar and bass respectively, as well as singers Xolani Mbatha and Nokuthula Zondi, who as a trio (along with Evans on backing vocals) perfectly compliment each other and provide a robust sonic force that is as soulful as it is compelling. Joining the band on ‘Tell me the truth or don’t tell me anything’ are the incredible Soothsayers horn section of Idris Rahman and Robin Hopcraft, legendary percussionist Dave Hassell, horn players Emma Johnson (Tenor Sax) and Aaron Wood (trumpet), Norweigen experimental cellist Maja Bugge and poet Michelle Scally Clarke.