“Music is a medicine that can always be relied on to blow the confusion away, at least for a while.”
The Beatroot Road’s new single, It’s A Laugh in The West, is a vibrant and genre-defying track that explores culture and human experience with honesty and wit. The song, originally inspired by the 1980s track Your Dinner, has been reimagined over 40 years later into something that feels both timeless and contemporary. Starting as a jangly afro-reggae piece, it took on unexpected textures with jazz horns, rockabilly fiddle, and bodhrán percussion, creating a soundscape that’s complex but immediately engaging.
Performed by musicians across 13 countries and processed at Laboratory X Studio near North Vancouver, the track reflects a truly global collaboration while remaining deeply human. Vocals by Sophie Smith from the UK, tenor sax from Ian Putz, and contributions from The Trueheart Choir in Nigeria add layers of emotion and cultural richness. Despite the experimental blending of instruments and genres, the track retains a heart that is unmistakably danceable.
It’s A Laugh in The West comes from the album Humanimal, a collection of 10 songs that take sideways looks at different aspects of being human. From joy to pain, the music is a “time out” in a polarized world, celebrating human connection without taking sides. Mark Russell and Hazel Fairbairn anchor the project with left-field rhythms, inventive fiddle, and immersive audio textures, giving each track depth while maintaining accessibility. The Beatroot Road has created music that is at once reflective, playful, and alive with rhythm. It’s A Laugh in The West is a testament to the power of collaboration and the universal language of music—a track that encourages both thought and movement.
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