Kamasi Washington’s new EP Harmony of Difference is out today, the new music is an original six-movement suite, featuring artwork by Kamasi’s sister Amani Washington. Watch the short film to the single ‘Truth’ below.
The EP explores the philosophical possibilities of the musical technique known as “counterpoint,” which Kamasi defines as “the art of balancing similarity and difference to create harmony between separate melodies.” Beyond the artistic impulse to expand the possibilities within counterpoint, Washington wanted to create something that opened people’s minds to the gift of diversity
Each of the first five movements is its own unique composition. ‘Truth,’ the sixth movement, fuses all five compositions into one simultaneous performance. Echoing this fusion, Amani created five paintings focused on raw shapes and colours, each inspired by one of the first five movements of the suite. Amani then combined these paintings to create a sixth: an abstract depiction of a human face.
The film, directed by A.G. Rojas, brings the metaphoric ideas found in both the music and paintings to life. While still quite abstract, it focuses on the harmony found in people from South Central and East Los Angeles and shows the beauty in their differences.
Harmony Of Difference will be available on all digital services, as well as on 12” vinyl with a 14-page concertina booklet featuring original artwork by Amani Washington and still images from the film by A.G. Rojas.
Listen / purchase Harmony of Difference here.
