After a quiet build-up, Cold Chinese Food steps back into the spotlight with the release of their eclectic new single, “Ethiopian Coffee,” the lead offering from their forthcoming debut album Vital Ital. Teasing a full body of work to come, this standout track is a high-energy, genre-blurring meditation on the hustle, pressure, and surreal beauty of urban life.
Led by the dynamic lyricism of Sam Turpin, textured by the rich saxophone tones of Muhammad Dawjee, and elevated by Rāms’s soulful chorus, “Ethiopian Coffee” is a cosmopolitan rap cut that sits firmly at the intersection of jazz, hip-hop, and cinematic storytelling. The track speaks directly to youth grinding in the world’s major cities—those navigating ambition, anxiety, and moments of quiet magic between it all.
Sonically rich and lyrically sharp, Turpin’s performance is a highlight, well-paced, confident, and rhythmically locked in with the upbeat instrumental. The lyrics are poetic and vivid, with clever rhyme schemes that bring out the song’s emotional core. The hook, carried by Rāms, gives the record a vibrant, unexpected twist that stays with you long after it ends.
The accompanying self-produced and directed visuals dive into Sam Turpin’s introspective world while celebrating the everyday material cultures that give our lives texture. Featuring archival and performance footage, the video takes viewers on a nostalgic journey through the artists’ pasts, reflecting on growth, memory, and the passage of time.
Is time our friend? Is time our enemy? As we reflect, Cold Chinese Food invites us to pause—and sip on some Ethiopian Coffee.
Released under the independent Charles Géne Suite collective, Ethiopian Coffee offers a taste of what’s to come from Vital Ital, an album that promises bold sonic experimentation and thought-provoking themes rooted in lived experience.
“Ethiopian Coffee” is now available on all major streaming platforms:open.spotify.com/track/6l22
