Gonjasufi Explained

Gonjasufi
Birth Name:Sumach Ecks
Alias:Sumach Valentine
Origin:San Diego, California, United States
Years Active:1990s–present
Associated Acts:Flying Lotus, Pearl Thompson

Sumach Ecks[1] (born 1978),[2] better known by his stage name Gonjasufi, is an American vocalist, producer, disc jockey, and yogi.

Life and career

Ecks was born in 1978 to a Mexican mother and an American-Ethiopian father.[1] He spent his formative years in Chula Vista, California.

Ecks got involved early on in the arts, playing Helios the Sun God in the opera Persephone.[3]

In the early 1990s, he began releasing music within the San Diego hip hop scene; notably with the Masters of the Universe crew.[4] Touring under the stage names Sumach Valentine and Randy Johnson,[4] his first band was called Plant Lyphe.[3]

Ecks gained notice from Warp Records in 2008 after an appearance on Californian musician Flying Lotus' album Los Angeles, on which he sings on the track "Testament".[5] His Warp debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, was released March 8, 2010.[6]

Ecks' voice has been described by Pitchfork as "a scraggly, scary, smoked-out croak that creeps like the spiritual offspring of George Clinton and Lead Belly".[5] He attributes his singing style to his day job teaching yoga, where he was forced to learn how to "project from [his] stomach more".[5] His music is largely experimental, fusing urban beats with psychedelic flourishes.[7] [8]

Besides singing and rapping,[9] Ecks also serves as a producer,[10] DJ,[11] and yoga teacher.[12]

On August 19, 2016, Gonjasufi released the album, Callus, which featured contributions from Pearl Thompson.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

Remix albums

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

Notes and References

  1. News: Meer. Malik. Gonjasufi – the electro Hendrix. . March 6, 2010. July 4, 2010.
  2. Web site: theartsdesk Q&A: Musician Gonjasufi. The Arts Desk. Thomas H.. Green. January 14, 2012. April 15, 2015.
  3. http://gimme5.tumblr.com/post/426604212/gimme5-interview-gonjasufi-eng Gimme5 Interview: Gonjasufi
  4. Web site: Gonjasufi Biography. Lymangrover. Jason. AllMusic. March 8, 2010.
  5. Web site: Rising: Gonjasufi. Dombal. Ryan. Pitchfork. February 25, 2010. March 6, 2010.
  6. Web site: Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer. MusicOMH. Ben. Hogwood. March 8, 2010. April 15, 2015.
  7. Web site: Gonjasufi: A Sufi And A Killer. Exclaim!. David. Dacks. May 13, 2010. April 15, 2015.
  8. Web site: Gonjasufi: Musings Of A Hip-Hop Mystic. NPR. Anthony. Fantano. June 8, 2010. April 15, 2015.
  9. Web site: New Mini-Album From Gonjasufi. CMJ. Andrew. Olshevski. November 2, 2011. April 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150415235856/http://www.cmj.com/news/new-mini-album-from-gonjasufi/. April 15, 2015. dead.
  10. Web site: Video premiere: Gonjasufi roams downtown L.A.. Los Angeles Times. Randall. Roberts. February 21, 2012. April 15, 2015.
  11. Web site: Tonight In Rock: She & Him, Gonjasufi, Moonrats, The Delta Mirror. LAist. Joshua. Pressman. March 15, 2010. April 15, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130155442/http://laist.com/2010/03/15/tonight_in_rock_she_him_gonjasufi_m.php. January 30, 2016.
  12. News: Gonjasufi Extended Interview. . Chad. Deal. January 20, 2012. April 15, 2015.
  13. Web site: Gonjasufi Returns with 'Callus'. Exclaim!. Brock. Thiessen. July 7, 2016. January 12, 2017.

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