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Stewart Copeland announces new album Police Beyond Borders— The Police’s Greatest Hits with musicians from around the world.
Created with collaborator on two-time world music Grammy-Winner Divine Tides, Ricky Kej.
“The flavours of all these amazing languages on Police – Beyond Borders light up these tunes that are so familiar. The Police were always a global band, and Sting wrote songs about the bigger picture of humanity. Music brings us together, and my humble hope is that this record can contribute to that special human bonding experience that we need now more than ever.“
(Stewart Copeland – OTTplay interview)
Speaking about the new album, Ricky said, “It is a huge honour to collaborate with Stewart Copeland yet again. These are songs that I have grown up listening to and that have shaped my career. I have paid a lot of respect to their legacy, and I can’t wait to share this album with you“
(Ricky Kej – OTTplay interview)
The creative duo of two-time Grammy-winning album Divine Tides — Stewart Copeland and Grammy-winning Indian musician/composer Ricky Kej — announce their latest world music collaboration, Police Beyond Borders. Furthering their mission to feature leading talent from around the world, the album, recorded in Bangalore, is a reinterpretation of the seminal 80s band’s classic songs with diverse interpretations and artist representation from South Africa, India, Japan, China, Canada, the U.K., and more.
Copeland and Kej have enlisted top international artists, including South Africa’s Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir; China’s “Father Of Rock” Cui Jian; U.S.-based Berklee Indian Ensemble; Japanese Grammy-winner for Best Global Music Album, Masa Takumi; South Africa’s acclaimed Mzansi Youth Choir; leading Indian composer/singer Shankar Mahadevan; renowned British classical trumpeter Alison Balsom; multi-award winning Canadian flutist Ron Korb; legendary Bollywood composers and brother duo Salim-Sulaiman, hammered dulcimer virtuoso Max ZT; and multi-instrumentalist Serj Tankian of metal band System of a Down.
“The idea of hearing the songs in exotic languages was immediately inspiring and Ricky set about finding the magnificent talents on this record. As with all of the musicians and singers on this record, we exhorted them to step beyond, to take the songs into new places. They sure did do that!
The Police’ music essentially derives from Black culture, and it was particularly spine-tingling to hear that culture arriving back in Africa. Every Breath You Take in Zulu! All the flavors of the different languages lit up these tunes that are so familiar. I hope that familiarity will give a comfortable vantage point for anyone to experience music styles that might otherwise sound alien.
Music evolved in Homo sapiens as a bonding social skill. My humble hope is that this record can contribute to that human bonding on this shrinking planet.”
“It was a huge honor to collaborate with my musical idol Stewart Copeland yet again. After having won 2 Grammy awards with Stewart, Police Beyond Borders is now the biggest, most epic album I have ever been a part of. It is a truly global album featuring musicians, voices and languages from across the world. These are songs that I have grown up listening to, songs that have shaped my music career.. so during the making of this album I paid a lot of respect to its legacy. I am certain our listeners will enjoy these legendary songs in a way they would have never imagined, and realize that music is the most universal language,” said Ricky Kej.
POLICE BEYOND BORDERS TRACKLIST
- King of Pain (feat. Berklee Indian Ensemble)
- Roxanne (feat. Mzansi Youth Choir)
- Message in a Bottle (feat. Salim-Sulaiman, Masa Takumi)
- Tea in the Sahara (Cui Jian)
- Don’t Stand So Close To Me (Soweto Gospel Choir, Ron Korb)
- Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (feat. Berklee Indian Ensemble)
- Can’t Stand Losing You (Mzansi Youth Choir, Max ZT)
- Murder By Numbers (Alison Balsom, Shankar Mahadevan, Max ZT)
- Demolition Man (featuring Serj Tankian)
- Every Breath You Take (Soweto Gospel Choir)
Oder your copy at www.stewartcopeland.net
ABOUT THE POLICE BEYOND BORDERS ARTISTS:
Mzansi Youth Choir of South Africa was established to give talented, underprivileged teenagers and young adults the opportunity to perform proficiently locally and abroad. Their repertoire is an exciting mix of South African music, which has elements of traditional music, pop, and jazz. They have performed on America’s Got Talent, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, The South African Music Awards, and many more.
Berklee Indian Ensemble was founded in 2011 by the first Indian musician on Berklee’s faculty, Annette Philip. It’s a world-renowned collective, known for its global Indian sound along with a cross-pollination of genres and cultures. With nearly 300 million views, the ensemble was in such demand globally that it transitioned to a professional band in 2021.Their album Shuruaat was Grammy-nominated in 2022.
Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in 2002 to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. The choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. The Choir has won three Grammy Awards in the Traditional World Music category and was nominated for an Academy Award for “Down to Earth” from the film Wall-E.
Cui Jian (pronounced Swan Jen), Beijing-born multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist, is the most influential rock musician in China. The former leader of Chinese rock band Ado, Jian’s music as a soloist has continued to be embraced by the youth of China. His albums have sold more than ten million copies in Asia. He is often called “the father of Chinese rock.”
Alison Balsom is an English trumpet soloist, arranger, producer, and music educator. She was named Artist of the Year at the 2013 Gramophone Awards and has won three Classic Brit Awards and three German Echo Awards. In 2014 Balsom was chosen as one of 27 artists, including Stevie Wonder and Elton John, in one of BBC Music’s first broadcasts, with an extravagant cover of the Beach Boys classic, “God Only Knows”.
Shankar Mahadevan is recognized as one of the greatest composers/singers in India. He has composed music for over 100 Bollywood films, and also tours as part of John McLaughlin’s Shakti as its lead singer. Mahadevan has more than 11 million followers across FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Masa Takumi is a Japanese multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer. He won a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Global Album for his solo album Sakura, and was Grammy-nominated in 2014 for Best Reggae Album.
Salim-Sulaiman (brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant) are among India’s most respected composers, having scored more than 100 films and tv shows and released several records incorporating electronica, cinematic folk and sufi influences in their music.
Ron Korb is a multi-award-winning flutist, famous for playing a wide variety indigenous woodwinds from around the world. He has 5 Grammy Certificates, 4 of them from winning albums including “Divine Tides” by Stewart Copeland and Ricky Kej for Best Immersive Audio Album and “Sakura” by Masa Takumi for Best Global Music Album.
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American songwriter, composer, artist, activist, and producer best known for his role as the lead singer of System Of A Down, his innovative visual art style, and human rights advocacy.
To know more about Ricky Kej: www.rickykej.com/
