Single of the Week: Mina feat. Bryte “Make Money”
After collaborating on “Sentah” last year London producer Mina and Ghanaian vocalist Bryte team up once again on the afro-flavoured “Make Money.”
Here at Backyard Opera we love music that crosses borders and promotes cross-cultural collaboration. Mina is an artist that perfectly encapsulates this ethos. Honing her style as a radio DJ with her Boko Boko show, she quickly moved into producing and started making waves with a string of edits and remixes of classic dancehall tunes. Collaborating with artists all over the world across her subsequent EP’s, singles and official remixes, Mina has carved a place for herself in the global club music scene.
“Make Money” is her second collaboration with Bryte, who emerged from the Ghanaian azonto movement with his track “I Like your Girlfriend.” That tune found its way on to the USB sticks of a handful of European DJs and got an official release on Ransom Note Records. “Make Money” is very much in the same style as previous releases by both artists. African style percussion is fused with a wonky kwaito style synth while the heaviness of the drums and rough bassline recall UK Funky leaving us in no doubt that this track came out of London.
Of course collaboration is nothing particularly unique nowadays. It has become almost the norm for pop songs to feature artists from the US, UK, Africa and Latin America on the same tune. However, it is refreshing to see artists genuinely inspired by music from around the world, rather than a cynical major label attempt at reaching fans in emerging markets. Through her releases, the parties she runs, her radio show as well as frequent visits to the countries of artists she collaborates with, Mina demonstrates a genuine interest and this comes across in the quality of her music.
