Selam selam
Selam newi inidēti newi
This song goes out to the skillful people
We talking about skillful things
We talking about skillful man
Skillful woman
And skillful children
Talking and we thinking
We're talking about skill things
Mechanics things
Taxi drivers things
Teachers things
Bank managers things
Carpenters things
Engineers things
Skill things
Cleaner things
Skill man things
Yes
Carpenters, engineers, electricians
Skillful man and skillful woman
Skill man things
Skill woman things
Skill
Skillful man
And skillful woman
Rastaman things
Hmm? You’re a skillful woman
You're a skillful man
Car-selling man things
Businesswoman things
Security things
Recording things
Single ladies skills
Life things
Professional things
Factory things
Computer things
Construction things
Dishwashing things
Teachers, electrician, doctors, lawyers
Do things
Cook things, wash things, count things
You got skills
Monday to Friday, seven till four, eight hours a day
Eight hours a day, sometimes six hours a day, doing things
That's a skill
It's New Year
Happy New Year my friends, and happy birthday
And congratulations
You're doing well
It's weekend
Enjoy
Doing things
Yeah
Ah, I forget
Ah, I remember
Skill man things
Skill woman things
Skill
Skillful man
And skillful woman
Rastaman things
Hmm? You’re a skillful woman
You're a skillful man
Things I know, things you know, things we know
Things I know
Speak, as I speak, it’s a skill
Do things well, I do the skill
Sending love to all my brothers and sisters who got skill
Monday to Friday
One love
Peace
You got skill, you know?
about
Acclaimed Ethiopian-Norwegian visual artist Olana Janfa today shares his musical debut, ‘Skillful Man’ out via NLV Records. LISTEN HERE.
Produced by Swick (M.I.A, Diplo, Tkay Maidza), ‘Skillful Man’ marks the first musical outing for the Naarm/Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artist, who in just a few short years has established an instantly recognisable presence locally and internationally for his unique style of self-expression and playful perspective on everything from politics to privilege and pop culture.
With his artwork deftly positioning sharp cultural commentary and satire alongside his signature bold imagery, Olana has emerged as a unique new voice on the Australian art scene, and his work has appeared across large-scale murals, book illustration, fashion collaborations and creative projects with names including Nike, Nicholas Daley, NGV, SBS and more. Along the way, he’s garnered widespread local and international media recognition with outlets including Vogue UK, Vogue Living, It’s Nice That, Hypebeast, ABC TV, SBS Radio, Broadsheet, The Design Files, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Design Review and Fashion Journal, among others.
His voyage into songwriting and performance sees Olana dive deep into his passion for Jamaican music to craft a lyrical sound that represents a fitting sonic translation of his distinctive visual aesthetic. Set against a deep reggae bassline, melodic flute and bright kineticism, Olana opens with a welcome in his native Amharic tongue before launching into a witty broken-English monologue that shines a light on the working class and the everyday deeds that keep the world turning; offering an upbeat nod to the unheralded ‘skillful people’ who earn their living in factories, kitchens and taxis.
'Skillful Man' travels through Olana’s richly nuanced worldview with a distinctive offbeat reggae sound that captures his fearless creative approach, of which Olana shares: “Music has always been a big part of the art that I make – reggae, hip hop and afrobeat lyrics have often been a starting place for my works. Sometimes just one line is enough to inspire a new painting.”
Having met Swick in Melbourne's northern suburbs in late 2023, the pair instantly connected and organically forged a creative partnership. Of the collaboration, Olana explains “When I linked up with Swick over ice cream last year we quickly bonded over a shared passion for music, art, Africa and soccer. Heading into his studio was unintentional, very organic. In his quiet way, Swick got me to put my thoughts down and get on the mic. There’s an easy energy between us that just made everything flow.”
Melbourne-based Ethiopian-Norwegian artist Olana has teamed up with acclaimed producer Swick (M.I.A, Diplo, Tkay Maidza),
for his maiden voyage into songwriting and performance. His debut track 'Skillful Man' sees Olana dive deep into his passion for Jamaican music to craft a lyrical sound that represents a fitting sonic translation of his distinctive creative aesthetic....more