Otis Mensah - Come Beautify The Night (2026) [Hi-Res]

Interdisciplinary artist, musician, and Sheffield’s inaugural poet laureate Otis Mensah has released their sophomore album, 'Come Beautifully the Night', via the First Terrace label, blending rap poetry, avant-jazz, and elements of wyrd theatre. Conceptually, the record traces Mensah’s biographical and creative journey from northern England to Berlin, evoking the spirit of works by Life is Beautiful, Tony Njoku, and Space Afrika.

The narrative is divided into two distinct emotional phases. The first, "night" period focuses on Mensah’s early career in Sheffield—struggling through the local scene before receiving official recognition from Mayor Magid Magid in 2018. The somber atmosphere of this section is shaped by the intense spoken-word delivery on 'the night was wet and enduring', contrasting vocals from Berlin-born artist LIE NING, and dramatic woodwind arrangements by Adebola Oyekanmi on 'a fire named homecoming'.

In the second half of the album, the mood shifts toward finding inner light and embracing queer self-actualization. The emotional peak of this section arrives with Pakistani singer Wooly Aziz’s vocals floating over delicate harp runs on 'orisons of the body that soared', followed by a collaboration with Berlin-based singer-songwriter Oihane Roach on 'black requiem of burnt lips'. The album reaches a serene conclusion with 'prayerhands and headnods', featuring Otis Mensah on Rhodes piano backed by Georgia Anne Muldrow.

Tracklist:
01-01 Otis Mensah, LIE NING - the night was wet and enduring [2:47]
01-02 Otis Mensah, Adebola Oyekanmi - a fire named homecoming [4:59]
01-03 Otis Mensah, Savanna 'Sweetwater' Morgan - blue legged exodus [4:08]
01-04 Otis Mensah, Adebola Oyekanmi - they can't colonise the spirit [6:25]
01-05 Otis Mensah, Wooly Aziz, Marysia Osu - orisons of the body that soared [8:02]
01-06 Otis Mensah, Oihane Roach - black requiem of burnt lips [8:34]
01-07 Otis Mensah, Georgia Anne Muldrow - prayerhands and headnods [3:13]